Joseph

MEMORY VERSE: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” —Genesis 50:20

GENESIS 37:3,4; 39:20-22; 45:3-8

JOSEPH, a son of Jacob, was a faithful servant of God, and the account of his being sold into slavery by his brethren, his exaltation to power in the Egyptian government, and the manner in which the Lord used him to preserve the seed of Abraham, is one of the most stirring narratives of the Old Testament.

One of the New Testament references to Joseph is found in Hebrews 11:20-22. Here Paul includes him among the heroes of faith who he said proved worthy of a “better resurrection.” (vs. 35) This would indicate that Joseph will be among the Ancient Worthies who, in the visible phase of Christ’s kingdom, will be made “princes in all the earth.”—Ps. 45:16

Joseph was born when his father was old, and his father loved him more than he did his other sons. He probably saw in Joseph certain godlike traits of character not possessed to the same degree by the others.

Joseph had two dreams which he related to his brethren. They interpreted these two dreams as meaning that Joseph believed he would one day rule over them, and that they would bow down to him. (Gen. 37:5-11) This made them even more envious of him, so much so that eventually, in order to thwart what they supposed to be his ambitions, they decided to kill him, but afterward sold him into slavery instead.

To cover up their treachery, Joseph’s brethren took his coat of many colors, or “pieces” (margin, Gen. 37:3), which his father had given him, smeared it with the blood of a young goat, and presented it to their father, Jacob. He interpreted this “evidence” as they wanted him to, and believed that Joseph had been slain by wild beasts. He was brokenhearted, and said, “I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning.”—vss. 31-35

Here the Hebrew word translated “grave” is sheol, which is translated “hell” thirty-one times in the Old Testament. From Jacob’s use of it we learn that he believed that Joseph, whom he supposed to be dead, was in the Bible hell, and that he expected also to go to this hell when he died. The Bible hell is the state of death, not a place of torture.

As a slave in Egypt, Joseph’s integrity in the face of temptation resulted in his imprisonment. But the Lord showed him favor, and the prison keeper had confidence in him, and exalted him, even as a prisoner, to a high position of trust. Because God was with Joseph, he was able to interpret the dreams of two important prisoners, and this information was sent to the ruling Pharaoh,

Joseph was sent for, and his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams was that there were to be seven years of plenty in the land, followed by seven years of famine. He recommended to the king that he appoint what we would today call a food administrator. Pharaoh agreed, and appointed Joseph to this new, high post in the government.—Gen. 41: 2

When the famine years arrived Canaan was hard hit, and Jacob, learning that there was food for sale in Egypt, sent his sons—with the exception of Benjamin—to purchase a supply. Arriving in Egypt, these were brought before Joseph. He recognized them, but they did not recognize him. He supplied them with food, and insisted that the next time they came they must bring Benjamin.

Benjamin did go with them the next time, and finally Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. Naturally they feared what he might now do to punish them, but he reassured them that the whole experience was of the Lord, who had sent him before them into Egypt to preserve life, as stated in our memory text.

One of the important lessons for us in this account is the fact that God is able to preserve his people. And he is now again demonstrating his keeping power over them in the Promised Land.

QUESTIONS

Who was Joseph, and what is one of the New Testament references to him?

Explain the meaning of Jacob’s remark when he supposed Joseph had been slain.

What is one of the important lessons for us in the account of Joseph and his brethren?

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