I think one of my favorite people in the OT is Jacob’s son Joseph. His story is detailed in Genesis 37-50. While his story is familiar, I’d like to highlight a few things from Joseph’s life that we would do well to heed.
First, from Joseph’s life we learn the danger of arrogance and the necessity of humility. In chapter 37, we learn that Joseph was his father’s favorite son. And while a coat of many colors seems benign to us, at that time, such a coat was a luxury that would have cost a significant amount of money. Jacob gave Joseph this coat because he loved him and favored him above his other sons. Clearly there is a lesson here for parents, but I want to focus on Joseph. I believe that Joseph’s privileged place encouraged him to boastfully share the dreams that God had given him. It’s clear from his brothers’ response (and his father’s response) that they understood Joseph to be prideful. And while the dreams would find fulfillment after the famine throughout the land, did Joseph have to communicate his dreams to his family? I believe that Joseph intended to exalt himself in telling the dreams.
As we continue reading in Genesis 37, we see that the brothers were not big fans of their father’s favorite son. They put him in a pit, manufactured evidence that caused Jacob to believe that Joseph was torn apart by a wild animal, and then sold Joseph into slavery. While the brothers were 100% wrong in their actions, I wonder how Joseph’s arrogance influenced their decisions to harm Joseph. Humility goes a long way when it comes to relational harmony. Pride almost always leads to relational strife.
Second, from Joseph’s life, we see the value of integrity. As you know, Joseph ends up a slave in Egypt and becomes the servant Potipher, captain of the guard, an officer of Pharaoh (ch. 39). But God was with Joseph. Potipher recognized that there was something different about him and put Joseph in charge of his house. Everything was going great for Joseph until Potipher’s wife approached him with lustful intentions. While she continued to approach him, Joseph’s integrity and resolve was great. He told her that Potipher had entrusted him with everything and that if he were to give in to her demands, Joseph would be sinning against God (and Potipher).
Well, you know the story. Potipher’s wife fabricated a story, and Joseph was thrown into prison. However, even in jail, God’s favor was with Joseph as the jailer elevated Joseph to a place of authority. In my opinion, God’s favor was on Joseph because he was a man of integrity.
Third, from Joseph’s life we see the importance of giving God the glory. While in prison, two of Pharaoh’s servants are thrown into prison and put under Joseph’s care. Both the cupbearer and the baker were given dreams. When Joseph learned that they were troubled by the dreams because they did not understand them, Joseph humbly asserted that interpretations belong to God and asked the two servants to share their dreams (40:8). It seems that Joseph was learning humility as he could have tried to take credit for the interpretations. Instead, Joseph gives glory to God. Eventually, Pharaoh himself would have a dream which he didn’t understand. When Pharaoh learned that Joseph interpreted his servants’ dreams previously, he called for Joseph. Again, Joseph didn’t seek attention or glory. He admited that the ability to interpret the dream is not in him, but in God (41:16). Joseph would become powerful in the land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. God’s hand was clearly on Joseph’s life, in part because Joseph learned to give God the glory rather than be driven by pride.
While there are other lessons from Joseph’s life that stand out (such as the importance of forgiveness and the value of faithfulness), for now I will comment on just one more. Finally, from Joseph’s life, we see the importance of trusting God, even while things don’t seem to make sense. I’m sure there were many moments when Joseph just threw his hands up in the air and shook his head. From his brothers’ betrayal, to the false accusation of Potipher’s wife, to the cupbearer’s forgetfulness of Joseph, Joseph’s life wasn’t easy. That said, by all indications, Joseph kept his integrity, learned humility, glorified God, and trusted Him through it all. Most of you know how the story ends. Eventually, Jospeh’s family would arrive in Egypt to buy food because of the famine. While Joseph recognized his brothers, his brothers did not recognize him. After a series of tests, Joseph finally revealed himself and poured out love on his family, moving them to the land of Goshen where they are cared for and blessed for years.
If you recall, after Jacob died, the brothers become afraid of what Jospeh would do to them. It’s in this context that Joseph told them not to fear because what they meant for evil, God meant for good (50:20). God providentially worked to save His people through Joseph. If Joseph had not been in Egypt and endured what he did, Jacob’s family would have died in the famine. And while Joesph didn’t know or understand the why of everything that was happening, his life proves that he was trusting God and resting in Him.
This is a good word for us. May we learn to trust God in both good times and tough times, believing that He is not only working for our good (Rom 8:28), but also providentially orchestrating events and occurrences in our lives for the good of others and for His own glory.
Pastor Nate