One of the Old Testament narratives I often return to is that of Joseph’s story. Chapter 37 of the Book of Genesis through to chapter 50 – 15 chapters, or 28% of the entire Genesis record – is devoted to Joseph’s story. The story is filled with pathos and many highs and lows. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers this Hebrew teenager rises from obscurity to national prominence in ancient Egypt. In fact, he becomes Prime Minister, with only Pharaoh outranking him.
Even as a youngster, Joseph had an amazing gift: he received prophetic dreams and could interpret them accurately. This gift was imparted by God, of course, and would one day by used by God for very high purposes. As an immature youngster with such an amazing gift, he drove his brothers crazy with his air of superiority. And what made matters more difficult, his father, Jacob, doted on him and even made for him a gaudy coat fashioned out of different bits and pieces of coloured fabric. The coat really stood out and emphasised Joseph’s uniqueness and probably was symbolic of his future ministry – but that’s a debate for another time.
As the narrative goes, Joseph went through some anguishing, dark times. From when his jealous brothers – who almost killed him – sold him off into slavery, he was not seen again for many years. He ended up in Egypt as a slave working for Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s personal guard. Talk about strategic! But Joseph was not to know this; he was a slave - that was it. The narrative comments …
Genesis 39:2 (NIV)
“The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered,
and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.”
But wait, there’s more …
Genesis 39:3 (NIV)
“When his master saw that the LORD was with him
and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, …”
Joseph excelled at his menial work, and impressed Potiphar with his acumen and integrity so much that he was placed in charge of the captain’s whole household and all his affairs. However, there is more going on here. Potiphar has realised that God is with Joseph, and we should note that. He had a deep appreciation for the way Joseph lived and worshipped- that led to Potiphar coming to understand something of Joseph’s God, and valuing that connection. But then, Joseph was falsely accused of molesting Potiphar’s wife when he refused her advances, and ends up in jail. He was lucky not to have been killed. This was another bitter low for Joseph. However, God had not forgotten Joseph …
Genesis 39:20-21 (NIV)
“Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the LORD was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favour in the eyes of the prison warden.”
A similar thing happened in that Egyptian jail. Joseph continued to impress, apparently without even trying. He excelled again and this time he so impressed the prison warden that he was put in charge of running the joint. The narrative again notes …
Genesis 39:23 (NIV)
“The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”
This is but one chapter in Joseph’s life, and it is incredibly instructive when we realise the bigger picture. There are times when life is unfair; perhaps, brutally so. But God is always with His faithful son or daughter, no matter the circumstances. From the narrative in chapter 39, it might appear as if the more faithful Joseph was, the more hardship and difficulty he faced. This hardship was no manifestation of God’s disapproval. No, the narrative points out four times, in fact, that through it all, the Lord was with Joseph. Joseph’s life becomes a demonstration of the grace and purposes of God for all believers, and that, even in the darkest periods of our lives when circumstances are beyond our control, are unfair, and even painful, God is with us and is working to refine us and work His great purposes in us and through us.
This is the life of the disciple. This is the way it is-for God’s purposes and His glory.
Life is often unfair, or harsh, but this never means God has abandoned us. He is with us, and working in ways we often cannot see or begin to understand. The faithful believer needs to understand this and trust that God is working behind the scenes. In the end, He is the One who vindicates us through His great purposes, invested in us, coming to fruition. Following Jesus will not remove all of your trials, but God will use them.
Joseph had to learn a few things about himself, to be refined, matured and made ready to stand before the Pharaoh one day – and what a momentous day that was! God’s saving grace touched a great king and a great nation.
Hardships and trials are never fun. But God uses them to refine us, teach us, to prepare us and to show His presence to others, through how we handle ourselves in these times. And in this way, even in difficult circumstances where we may not be immediately released from them, God’s favour rests on us. And this is not just for us, either.
Thirteen years passed from the time Joseph stood on the block at a slave auction in Egypt, until he finally stood before Pharaoh and became Prime Minister of Egypt. God had not kept Joseph from being sold as a slave by jealous siblings. He didn’t intervene when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him. He didn’t give Joseph a get-of-jail-free card. He was released in God’s kairos timing when he was thirty years old – and ready for God’s great purposes. God had not chosen a path of comfort and ease for Joseph. He hadn’t shielded him from the pain of abuse, the wound of betrayal, or the frustration of delay. Instead, the Lord chose to be with Joseph, to give him favour, and to bless all that he did with success in those adverse, lonely situations. And Joseph died, full of years … and with no regrets. None at all. Just before he died, he said to his brothers who had hated him and had so wanted to kill him …
Genesis 50:20 (NIV) “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
And so,
Genesis 50:26 (NIV)
26 “Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.”
God was with Joseph, and He is with you and me, as well.
Romans 8:28 (NIV) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Think on these things …
Ps Milton
[Sources: Jim Stephens, in Resource Ministries International; various commentaries on the Book of Genesis, Hebrew Old Testament]