Let me tell you about Joseph. His father, Jacob, loved him more than all his other sons. His brothers knew it too—because Joseph got a special robe, and they didn’t. The finest robe was reserved for their father’s beloved son. And get this—Jacob favored Joseph because he was the son of his favorite wife. Talk about family drama!
“So he said to him, ‘Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.’” —Genesis 37:14
Joseph obeyed his father’s instructions and went to check on his older brothers.
Trouble Came
Joseph’s brothers were done with him.
“‘Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.’ When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. ‘Let’s not take his life,’ he said.” —Genesis 37:20-21
They hated him, but not enough to kill him. Instead, they despised him just enough to sell him into slavery.
The Lord Blessed Joseph
Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of the guard. But instead of sulking in his misfortune, he worked hard and gave his best in everything he did.
“From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph.” —Genesis 39:5
Think about it—Joseph’s obedience to his father got him thrown into a well and sold into slavery. But even in slavery, God was with him. He could have given up and done the bare minimum. After all, he was just a servant. But that wasn’t his character. He honored God in his work, and because of that, Potiphar’s house was blessed.
Joseph was also so attractive that Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him—over and over again. But he refused, saying:
“No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” —Genesis 39:9
Notice something? He didn’t say, “How could I do this to Potiphar?” He said, “How could I sin against God?” Joseph’s relationship with God was so strong that even in a place of hardship, he refused to compromise his faith.
What about you? Is your relationship with God strong enough that when you’re tempted, you can stand firm? Joseph resisted temptation, but could he keep this up forever?
Falsely Accused
Eventually, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of trying to seduce her. The nerve! Did Potiphar actually believe her? Maybe not. Maybe he knew both his wife’s character and Joseph’s. But to save face, he had Joseph thrown in prison.
Even in prison, though, Joseph was blessed:
“The LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” —Genesis 39:21
Pharaoh’s Troubling Dream
One day, Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret. But word got around that Joseph, the prisoner, had the gift of dream interpretation. When Pharaoh called him in, Joseph didn’t hesitate to give credit where it was due:
“‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’” —Genesis 41:16
Imagine standing before the most powerful ruler in the world and saying, “I can’t do it—but God can.” That’s faith!
And guess what? God gave Joseph the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, along with the wisdom to know what to do next. As a result, Joseph was promoted to second-in-command over all of Egypt. All the hardship he had endured suddenly made sense—he was being prepared for something greater.
Famine in Israel
Years later, famine struck Israel, and Joseph’s brothers found themselves desperate for food. They heard there was grain in Egypt, so they traveled there—completely unaware that their long-lost brother was now running the place.
Joseph recognized them immediately. And instead of revealing himself right away, he played mind games with them. (Can you blame him?) But in the end, he couldn’t hold back any longer. He finally told them who he was and reassured them, saying:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” —Genesis 50:20
Sibling rivalry, anyone? His was major. His own brothers sold him into slavery! I can understand wanting nothing to do with them. I even understand why he tested them. But in the end, Joseph saw the bigger picture.
Faith in God
Joseph chose to forgive. He let go of bitterness and trusted that God had a purpose for everything he went through. That’s why his life reflects the truth of Proverbs 16:20:
“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.”
If you haven’t read his full story, check it out in Genesis 37, 39-50. It’s an incredible example of how God can use even the worst situations for good.
Now, think about your own life. How does Joseph’s story strengthen your faith and trust in God?
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Sources and References:
Bible Gateway. “Genesis 37:14, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2037%3A14&version=NIV.
Bible Gateway. “Genesis 37:20-31, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2037%3A20-31&version=NIV.
Bible Gateway. “Genesis 39:5, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2039%3A5&version=NIV.
Bible Gateway. “Proverbs 16:20, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2016%3A20&version=NIV.
Bible Gateway. “Genesis 39:9, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2039%3A9&version=NIV.
Bible Gateway. “Genesis 41:16, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2041%3A16&version=NIV.
Bible Gateway. “Genesis 50:20, New International Version.” BibleGateway, Zondervan, https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2050%3A20&version=NIV.