Yesterday we got a walk by, or maybe a run by would be a more accurate description, of Joseph. Today we will look at Gods work in his life and the lives of everyone around him.
Joseph was one of the two sonsof Jacob and Rachel. Rachel was thepretty wife who Jacob loved and worked 7 years for her father so he could marryher. Joseph was well loved by his father Jacob because of who his mother was. He received special privileges and gifts from his father. He received things like a fancy coat.
Joseph also started having dreams. The dreams he was havening indicated that he would rule over his brothers. When the dreams started happening his brothers had had enough. They plotted to kill him. His brother Reuben prevented the murder and they all decided to throw him into a pit instead. While they were having lunch a few Ishmaelite travelers were traveling past. The brothers decided it was a better idea to sell him into slavery instead of just letting him die in a pit.
Joseph became a successfulman. People noticed that success and he ended up in a place of prestige. The man he was working for was named Potipher. Potipher had a wife who had an eye for Joseph. She was not shy and let Joseph know she was interested in him. She used more than words. Joseph declined her offer. She persisted and grabbed a hold of him. He ran away from her but she ripped his clothes off as he fled. Left with a wounded ego and Josephs clothes in her hand she went to her husband. She told a story to her husband that was the exact opposite of reality. Joseph was thrown into jail. Again, Joseph finds himself in a pit, prison.
Through out the story of Joseph we are shown hope when Joseph is found in these pits. Whether it is a pit in the wilderness, the pit in a jail, or in a pit of famine.
“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love.”
{Genesis 39:21}
The steadfast love of God was with Joseph.
The steadfast love of God is with us.
While Joseph was in prison God used him to interpret the dreams of the baker and the wine taster. When Pharaoh begins having dreams that he does not understand and no one around him can interpret Joseph is called out of prison to tell Pharaoh what these dreams mean. When Joseph is praised for his ability this is his response. “It is not in me, God gave Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
After he interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh he was promoted once again to a place of power.
Just as predicted the good years came and the good years went. After the good years famine struck Egypt and the surrounding areas.
The surrounding areas included the area where Joseph’s father Jacob and all of his brothers lived. They were feeling the effects of the famine. Jacob sent his sons to go and purchase grain from Egypt. The brothers do not recognize the man in charge of the grain. The man they are purchasing grain from to keep themselves alive is the brother they threw in a pit and then sold into slavery. They purchase their grain and head home. On their way home they discover all the money they purchased the grain with is in their sacks! This worries them. The brothers fears they will be accused of theft.
The grain runs out and they need to head back to Egypt. The brothers need to go back to the place where they received grain that would keep them alive without paying for it. They beg theirfather to bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, with. Benjamin is the other son born to Rachel (the pretty wife that Jacob loved). As far as Jacob knows this is the only son he has remaining from Rachel. Jacob was convinced of Josephs death then the brothers brought his coat back covered in blood. Jacob fears for Benjamins life and does not want him to go with. Jacob also realizes if they do not travel to Egypt with Benjamin they will all starve in the wilderness.
The brothers, including Benjamin, arrive in Egypt. They are invited to have supper with their brother Joseph but at this point they only know him as the man in charge of the grain that will keep them alive. When Joseph sees his brother Benjamin he is overcome with compassion for him and rushes out of the room.
Finally the time goes and Joseph can not hold it in any longer and he declares to his brothers
“I am Joseph! Is my Father still alive”
{Genesis 45:3}
Once the story has unfolded and Joseph reveals to his brother who he is this is what Joseph has to say about everything
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And Godsent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all house and ruler over all the land of Egypt…You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your childrens children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household,and all that you have, do not come to poverty…And he kissed all his brothersand wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.”
This is the story of us
We are confronted with our sin. Just as Joseph’s brothers were confronted with their sin when they once again saw their brothers face.
Joseph knew the sins of his brothers. He was the one who suffered because of it. Our Savior already know sour sin intimately, he was the one who suffered because of our sin.
Joseph assures his brothers that all of their sin was used for good. God took their sin and used it to preserve a whole nation. He assures us that he has turned all of our sin and used it for good. On the cross he exchanged all of our bad and gave us His good.
Joseph embraced his brothers and kissed each of them. We know that CBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBhrist suffered agony on the cross but we will see him in all his glory one day. And when we do he will weep tears of joy over us just as Joseph did with his brothers,. He will embrace and kiss ourforeheads just as Joseph did with his brothers.
We are confronted with our sin just as Josephs brothers were confronted with their sin.
Joseph suffered because of the sins of his brothers, Jesus suffered because of our sin.
Joseph embrased and kissed his brothers. Jesus will embrace us and kiss our foreheads when we see Him.
Christ redeems sin. Christ preserves in a famine
Loved In Spite of Self 