Why is Joseph’s story appealing and inspiring to so many people? If you asked folks familiar with Biblical stories, ” What are some of your favorite Old Testament stories?”, they would likely mention this one.
The Bible’s main character is God, and the story of Joseph is one of many in which God teaches us something about Himself. He is our Creator and Redeemer, and the Bible is an instrument He uses to reveal Himself to us, to instruct us how to live, and invite us to participate in His plan to save mankind from the power and penalty of sin. Joseph’s life is a great example of how God can bless and use us when we put His will above our own.
Joseph was born to Jacob and Rachel in Haran while Jacob worked for Laban. Genesis 30:22-24. The next reference to Joseph is in Genesis 37:2-36. He is now seventeen, the favorite son of Jacob, has two dreams that deepen his brothers’ resentment, and they sell him into slavery in Egypt.
Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh, bought Joseph and later discovered what a good purchase he had made. There is a comment about the “secret ” to Joseph’s success in Genesis 39:2-4 :
“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.”
Did you discover the “secret” to Joseph’s success? “The Lord was with Joseph.” I believe Joseph knew that the Lord was taking care of him. He had spared his life. For some reason, he was sold to Potiphar. Joseph was growing in his faith that God had a plan for him. He didn’t know what God was doing, but accepted what he could not change and determined to live by faith in God. Did the dreams God had given him play a role in his confidence in God’s plan?
Last week’s blog, “Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife” https://www.cosdavis.com/joseph-and-potiphars-wife-2/ sets the stage for the next act in the drama of Joseph’s success. Being falsely accused and thrown in prison isn’t usually a likely path to success, but it is when God is with you. When Potiphar heard his wife’s accusation, “He burned with anger…and put him …where the king’s prisoners were confined.” Genesis 39:19-20.
Did he wonder why God allowed this to happen to him when he had done nothing wrong? God doesn’t abandon us when bad things happen in our lives. We may not understand what is happening, but be faithful and watch God work something good out of our problems. Here’s what we are told in Genesis 39: 20-21.
“But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him; he showed kindness and granted favor in the eyes of the prison warden.”
Like with Potiphar, the warden was so impressed with Joseph that he gave him a big responsibility. Joseph’s new role placed him in a position to hear and interpret the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. Within three days, both men were released as Joseph had said; the cupbearer was reinstated to his position, and the baker was executed. Genesis 40:1-23
After Joseph assured the cupbearer he would be restored to his position, he asked that he remember him to the Pharaoh to get him released from prison. However, the cupbearer forgot Joseph’s kindness until Pharaoh needed someone to interpret troublesome dreams. Joseph must have been disappointed, wondering why he had not been released, but God’s timing is perfect. “When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream.” Genesis 41:1
Joseph was forced to wait on the Lord and trust His timing. However, “The Lord was with Joseph,” and an opportunity is about to present itself, one that will change the history of his people and further God’s plan to bring our Savior into the world.