Joseph’s Part in God’s Plan

Genesis 47:1-7

IN ORDER that the golden thread of promise concerning the “seed” which, in the divine plan, was to bless “all the families of the earth” might not be broken, it was essential that a record be kept tracing the natural descendants of Abraham into Egypt, their growth as a people there, and their subsequent exodus into the wilderness and into the Promised Land. This record could have been very brief, with merely the essential facts being stated; but instead, and as a further evidence of God’s wisdom and love, it has been given to us in one of the greatest human interest stories ever written—the story of Joseph and his brethren.

There are many incidents in this story which should tend to increase the faith of every servant of God. Among these is the time element in the providences of God. God knew many years in advance that famine conditions would prevail in all that vast territory, so he began to shape the affairs of his people to provide for their survival when the need arose. Joseph’s dreams, in which he saw himself exalted above his brethren, and the jealousy of his brethren which was stirred up as a result of his relating these dreams, were the providences of God which ultimately led to the survival of the natural seed of Abraham.

It was doubtless difficult for Joseph, when sold by his brethren as a slave and transported to Egypt, to realize that the hand of God was in such an experience. It is true with all the Lord’s people, however, that they often do not realize the meaning of their experiences until long years after, and often it is then that their greatest trials yield their “afterward of peace.” Joseph, however, did not lose faith in God, although he certainly did not at the time comprehend the meaning of God’s providences. Nor should we doubt God’s wisdom and love simply because the way he chooses for us may be rough and difficult.

Despite misrepresentation, imprisonment, and other hardships, Joseph rose to be second only to Pharaoh in the rulership of Egypt. Moreover, God had given him prophetic insight into the future, enabling him to forecast the seven years of plenty to be followed by seven years of famine. Nov the famine was on, and through further providences of the Lord, contact had been made with his father and brethren; and Pharaoh, hearing about it, insisted that they all be brought to Egypt where they could be properly cared for.

Now the family had arrived, together with their flocks and herds, and Joseph thought it advisable that they he presented formally to Pharaoh. Consequently, in addition to Jacob, five of the brethren were chosen to represent the family, and these were taken before the king, from whom they received the official welcome. Then Jacob, appropriately enough, pronounced a blessing upon Pharaoh.

The choosing of five brethren to represent the family may suggest a clue as to why Jesus refers to five brethren of the rich man in the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. We understand that the rich man of this parable pictured those Israelites in Judea at the time of Jesus’ first advent who until then, had been enjoying a measure of God’s favor. These could be represented by Joseph who, in his day, was also being blessed by God in a very special manner.

In the parable, the rich man died to his condition; and in his distress which resulted from the loss of God’s blessing, he asked that his five brethren be warned against the same sin as he had committed. At that time there were many of the natural descendants of Abraham who had drifted far away from the covenant promises. Virtually all of the ten tribes had been taken captive into Assyria. It has been held by many that these were the ones represented by the rich man’s five brethren. This seems to be substantiated by the fact that five brethren were chosen to represent the entire family who, having little respect for the promises of God, had sold Joseph into Egypt, and for aught that they knew at the time, into death.

Genesis 50:18-24

JOSEPH’S brethren had never been quite certain that he had forgiven them their gross sin against him. Apparently they reasoned that possibly his graciousness was manifested largely on account of their father, whom Joseph loved so dearly. So now that Jacob had died, his sons felt insecure, thinking that possibly Joseph’s attitude toward them might change. In an effort to show again their repentance, they prostrated themselves before Joseph and said, “Behold, we be thy servants.”

Joseph’s reply is noteworthy, and should serve as a good lesson to all the Lord’s people. He said to them, “Fear not: for am I in the place of God?” In other words, although they had greatly wronged him, the matter of final judgment and punishment, if such was to be, was a matter for God to handle. In this Joseph recognized the principle later expressed: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19) This is a lesson which we might all take to heart with profit.

Joseph then explained to his brethren that while they had meant to do him harm in selling him as a slave, God had overruled it for his good, indeed, for their good also, for it had resulted in the salvation of all the Hebrew children from starvation of the famine. Joseph was evidently of a humble, forgiving nature in any case, and since the Lord had so manifestly revealed his overruling providence in what had happened, he could not possibly find it in his heart to hold any enmity against his brethren.

Now Joseph was old, and ready to die. As one of the Lord’s prophets he realized that the Israelites could not fulfill their destiny in God’s plan by remaining in Egypt, so he expressed his conviction that God would visit them and that they would be taken to the land which had been promised to Abraham—the land of Canaan. Because of his great faith in the divine plan, Joseph had his brethren take an oath that when God did visit them and they were led into the Promised Land, they would take along his bones with them.

Joseph’s prophecy came true, and the departure of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt is another of the great historical records of the Bible. While many others had a part, Joseph stands out as the most prominent servant of the Lord during that long period of time from Isaac to Moses, for it was God’s providences in his life that wrought the salvation of the Israelites through temporary asylum in Egypt, and it was Joseph who planted the seeds of hope in the hearts of his brethren that the nation would yet be taken into the Land of Promise.

QUESTIONS

Is it always possible to understand the providences of the Lord at the time we experience them?

Briefly, what was God’s purpose in having Joseph brought into the land of Egypt?

Why did Joseph’s brethren seem to fear him after the death of their father?

How did Joseph manifest his confidence that his family would one day leave Egypt and be taken into Canaan?

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