Day 10: Joseph

Jacob's second-to-last son is the central figure in the remaining chapters in Genesis, and his story is nothing short of epic. Joseph was reviled by his brothers. Parental favoritism fueled the brothers' envy: "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children…. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him" (Genesis 37:3-4). The brothers conspired to kill him but, somewhat mercifully, sold him to passersby who were on their way to Egypt. They even staged Joseph's death to cover up their misdeed, presenting their father with Joseph's tunic dipped in goat's blood.

In Egypt, Joseph was enslaved to Potiphar, a prominent officer of Pharaoh. Although he was rejected by his own brothers and sold into slavery in another country, "The Lord was with [Joseph] and…made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight…. The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake" (Genesis 39:3-5). Then Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce Joseph. When he refused, she deceived her husband and reversed the entire story, and Potiphar imprisoned Joseph.

One night, two fellow prisoners each had a dream. God had given Joseph the incredible ability to interpret dreams, and Joseph accurately interpreted theirs. Joseph knew that one of the men would soon be restored to his position in Pharaoh's house, so he said, "Remember me when it is well with you, and please show kindness to me; make mention of me to Pharaoh, and get me out of this house" (Genesis 40:14). 

But Joseph was forgotten—left imprisoned for two full years—until one night Pharaoh had a troubling dream and was unable to find anyone in Egypt who could interpret it. Finally, Joseph's former cellmate remembered him, and Joseph was brought to Pharaoh. 

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream, saying, "Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land" (Genesis 41:29-30). 

Joseph's words were so wise, even Pharaoh acknowledged that the Spirit of God was in Joseph, and he was elevated to the highest place of honor and power in Egypt. The famine was indeed so severe throughout the region that Joseph's brothers had to travel to Egypt from Canaan to buy grain from Pharaoh's storehouses, administered by Joseph. Over the next several chapters, Joseph hid his identity from his brothers as he tested their hearts.

When Joseph revealed himself, his brothers were distraught. But Joseph said, "Do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life…. God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God" (Genesis 45:4-5, 7-8). 

Joseph understood that God is sovereign. The circumstances of your life really don't matter if you resolve to trust the overruling, providential will of God in your life. The book of Genesis closes with a promise, spoken by Joseph at the end of his life: "I am dying; but God will surely visit you…and you shall carry up my bones from here" (Genesis 50:24-25).

The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph wants to visit you in the person of Jesus Christ. In Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, God introduces us to His Son, the Seed that would crush the head of Satan (see Genesis 3:15). Sixty-six books later, in Revelation 3:20, Jesus extends this invitation: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." 

Don't wait another second to open the door of your heart to Jesus.

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