Genesis 37-50 – Joseph favored over his brothers. Joseph hated by his brothers. Joseph in the pit. Joseph sold into slavery. Joseph in Egypt. Joseph successful in Egypt. Joseph falsely accused. Joseph in prison. Joseph forgotten. Joseph interprets dreams. Joseph favored by Pharaoh. Joseph second only to Pharaoh. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. Joseph’s brothers bow down before him and beg for mercy. Joseph makes monumental faith statement, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive”. (Genesis 50:19-20).
I don’t know about you but I think Joseph may be the greatest man of faith in the Old Testament. He has amazing trust in God – and not just in good times – Joseph stays the course and continues to do what is right even though he could have taken easier paths to prevent pain. Joseph continues to do what is right in very difficult circumstances WITHOUT getting angry at God for not making things more pleasant for him.
Keep in mind that the main character in the story of Joseph is not Joseph – it’s God. The loving Lord Almighty has an eternal plan to bring Jesus into the world. To do that He has to help establish faith in His people (descendants of Abraham) without forcing them to believe and do what is right. Unfortunately, only a remnant trust and obey God in their history from Abraham to Jesus. But in the Joseph story we see this amazing statement several times: “And the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2,3,21,23). The chief cupbearer forgot about Joseph (Genesis 40:23) but God didn’t – He remembered Joseph. As a result, God blessed Joseph greatly and then topped it off by using him in a powerful way to bring Jesus into the world to save mankind. He was with him ALL THE TIME.
Read Romans 8:28-39 and then listen to All this Time by Britt Nicole. Then trust God to be with you in all of life’s ups and downs.
Romans 8:28-39
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring charges against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or trouble, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Just as it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We were regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.