Thoughts on the Life of Joseph # 3

In this post on the life of Joseph, I've thought a lot about Joseph's reunion with his brothers.  

Those who know this story will remember how Joseph finally got out of prison one day when Pharaoh summoned Joseph to interpret his dreams for him. Pharaoh's dreams didn't make sense to him or to his magicians, the Bible says. But to Joseph, those dreams made perfect sense because of the wisdom and insight God gave him. Joseph gave full credit and glory to God for that.  

Pharaoh was so impressed by how wisely and precisely Joseph interpreted his dreams (seven years of plenty and seven years of famine), and because of that, Pharaoh made Joseph second in command under himself. This meant that Joseph was second in command in the entire world then. Egypt was a superpower in the world at that time.

Joseph married, and his wife gave birth to their two boys which Joseph named Manasseh and Ephraim. The meaning behind his sons names reflect that God helped Joseph to experience both fruitfulness and joy - forgetting the pain he experienced at home with his family. 

Joseph wisely prepared for the seven year famine which the Bible says was upon the face of the entire earth. (Genesis 41:56) The Bible says that all countries came to Egypt to buy grain (corn) from Joseph. 

Among all those people and nations that went to Egypt to buy corn from Joseph were his brothers. They showed up in Egypt one day, and I cannot help but wonder what went through Joseph's mind when he suddenly realized that this group of men bowing down to him were his brothers! 

I wonder... did Joseph recognize his brothers right away? Or did it take him a minute or two to realize who they were? 

I also wonder how quickly Joseph had a "flash back" to his dreams at the age of 17. By doing some basic math in accordance with what the Bible tells us, Joseph would've been 39 years old at this time.  

Something I find very fascinating about Joseph's first encounter with his brothers after so many years (22 years to be exact!) is that he did not reveal himself to his brothers right away. Why? 

Joseph knew that his brothers had no clue who he was. In knowing that, Joseph had an advantage over them. I think the reason Joseph didn't tell his brothers who he was at first was because he wondered how his brothers might treat him if they knew. Would they treat him with kindness? Or would they treat him exactly like they had before?   

To find out, Joseph asked them some questions. I marvel at what Joseph did and asked of them. He told them to bring their youngest brother (Benjamin) down to Egypt. Then, Joseph put all his brothers in prison for three days. Why did Joseph do that? I think it was to make a very strong point to them - he meant what he said! After three days, he let his brothers out of prison, all except for Simeon. His point? Bring Benjamin down to Egypt if you want Simeon let out of prison.

Why was Joseph doing all this? After hearing his brothers share, Joseph understood what had happened back at home while he was away. They thought Joseph was dead. Benjamin was now, very clearly, his father's favorite son. That is why Benjamin didn't come down to Egypt with them. 

So, Joseph decided to put his brothers to the test. Were they treating Benjamin like they treated him? Joseph knew he would find out this way. 

Sure enough! The brothers returned to Egypt a second time, this time, bringing Benjamin with them. And at his word, Joseph let Simeon out of prison. 

At that point, Joseph had a meal with all of his brothers with them still being clueless as to who he really was. Joseph curiously asked them about their father (his father!) and then the Bible says that Joseph asked about Benjamin who was standing directly in front of him. I have to hold back tears when I read this part of the story in the Bible. Benjamin! His brother! 

I can only imagine the enormous will power it took for Joseph not to cry directly in front of them when he saw Benjamin after 22 years, knowing full well that this was his one and only brother, one who never treated Joseph badly like his other brothers had. The Bible says that Joseph had to "make haste"; he had to run out and cry because, I'm sure, he ached to give his brother a hug! I'm nearly crying as I type this. 

I've often wondered... why didn't Joseph finally tell them at that point who he was? I believe because Joseph still wasn't sure how his brothers might treat him. His test wasn't done yet. 

His final test was when he sent all his brothers away with their sacks full of corn, making sure that a certain silver cup of his was put inside of his brother Benjamin's sack of grain, unaware to Benjamin. 

Why did he do that? Joseph wanted to make it look like Benjamin had stolen his silver cup, even though Joseph knew he didn't steal anything. 

But why would Joseph do that to his brother? Because Joseph wanted a good excuse to keep Benjamin there in Egypt.   

And why would Joseph try to keep Benjamin in Egypt? Because Joseph wanted to see how his other brothers would react to that. Would they be glad to see Benjamin stay there? Or would they want Benjamin to go home with them? 

Joseph knew this final test on his brothers would give him the answer he was looking for. Joseph was very wise. 

What happened? Joseph got his answer. 

His brothers pleaded for their brother Benjamin. They knew it would brake their father's heart if Benjamin didn't return home. 

Through that, Joseph was able to see, clearly, that his brothers cared not only about their brother Benjamin, but they also cared about their father Jacob. His brothers had changed. They were no longer the way they used to be towards Joseph. It was then that Joseph finally revealed his identity to them. 

I can only imagine the shock, the surprise, and perhaps the disbelief, when Joseph told his brothers who he was! The Bible says that Joseph's brothers were troubled when he told them. Why? Because they knew they had done wrong to him years ago. What might Joseph do to them? 

Joseph's response to his brothers inspires me. Joseph didn't get angry. Joseph didn't punish them or desire to "get even" with them. Instead, Joseph told them to "come near" the Bible says.

An artist depicting Joseph with his brothers. 

I can only imagine the tears and the hugs that went around! This part of the story gets me every time. I'm crying while typing this. 

Joseph displayed love and true forgiveness to his brothers, even though they had done wrong to him. There is no doubt, Joseph suffered tremendously because of them.  

But Joseph was able to love and forgive his brothers because Joseph looked beyond the things he suffered at their hands. Because Joseph walked with God, Joseph saw the bigger picture. 

I love Joseph's response to his brothers in Genesis 45:5:

"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." 

Joseph repeats this a few verses later by saying: 

"And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God..." Genesis 45:7-8 

Joseph reassured his brothers, three times, that it was God who sent him down to Egypt, not them. Joseph chose to focus on God's purpose and sovereignty, even amidst all his pain and suffering. I believe that is what enabled Joseph to love and forgive his brothers the way that he did. 

Joseph's life inspires me in so many different ways. Joseph was, truly, a man who walked with God. I look forward to meeting Joseph in heaven someday!   

Thoughts on the Life of Joseph # 2

In thinking about Joseph, my mind frequently goes to his time in prison in Egypt.

Those who know this Bible story will remember that, after Joseph arrived in Egypt, he was taken to serve in Potiphar's house - captain of the guard of Pharaoh. 

The Bible doesn't tell us how long Joseph was in Potiphar's house. Perhaps a month or two? Perhaps a year or two? We don't know. But sometime later, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar's wife. Because of that, Joseph was put into a prison in Egypt.

At that point, I cannot help but think what might have gone through Joseph's mind. The Bible says, repeatedly, in Genesis 39 that the Lord was with him. What a comfort that must have been to Joseph. And yet, Joseph was human. While in prison, far away from home, I wonder if Joseph ever had thoughts like these go through his mind... 

What did I do to be here in prison? 

Did I do something wrong, perhaps unknowingly, against God back at home?

Maybe I'm being punished by God for something?

I don't know. Joseph may not have had thoughts like that go through his mind. I know that, if I was in a prison far away from home, thoughts like that would have surely entered my mind. 

There are several things about this time frame in Joseph's life that strike me as being significant.

Once again, we don't know Joseph's exact age when he was put in prison. He was 17 years of age when he went into Potiphar's house, and the Bible says he didn't get out of prison until age 30. This means that, for 13 years (age 17-30), Joseph was in a place he did not want to be, far away from home where he didn't know anyone. 

Many people would call those years the "prime" years of a person's life. And where did God have Joseph during those prime years of his life? 

Primarily, in a prison. To me, it doesn't get much worse than that. 

I've wondered why God had him there in prison. What could Joseph do for God there? 

In thinking about Joseph's situation, several things have inspired me about Joseph. 

For one, I'm certain that Joseph did not continually feel sorry for himself. Although he may have had days of deep depression and grief (which would be only natural considering all he went through), clearly, Joseph did not stay in that constant state. How do I know this? 

The Bible says that both Potiphar and the keeper of the prison could see that the Lord was with Joseph. That says to me that they could see something very different about Joseph's life - something Godly. I believe Joseph served the Lord, even in prison, because Genesis 39:22 says that the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. God had Joseph in a place of ministry, even in prison. 

I also believe God had another purpose for Joseph being in prison. Joseph got to work with and understand the Egyptians and other prisoners on a daily basis - skills Joseph would need for a later time in his life when the entire world would come to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. God had a purpose (something Joseph couldn't see then) for Joseph being in prison during those "prime" years of his life.

Beyond that though, there is something that really stands out to me about Joseph being in Egypt, all alone, in Potiphar's house and in prison. 

Joseph had no Bible to read. 

God's Word hadn't even been written yet. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible (called the Torah in Hebrew), and Moses was born a couple hundred years after Joseph. 

Joseph did not have God's Word to read. You can fact check me on that.

Joseph also had no Godly people to talk to. No fellowship. None. 

All Joseph had was God to talk to. 

Christians know that reading God's Word and being with other Godly people are very important. Both are needful in our walk with God. I have no desire to lessen the importance of those things. 

Joseph did not have God's Word to read or anyone Godly to encourage him. And yet, Joseph walked faithfully with God even during those extremely difficult years of his life. 

The Pyramids of Egypt. Photo taken in October 2010. 

Thoughts on the Life of Joseph # 1

Joseph has been my favorite Bible character for as long as I can remember. I remember liking the story of Joseph as a child, but it wasn't until sometime later, probably in my teen years, that Joseph decidedly became my favorite.

My mom used to read a Bible story to me and my siblings almost every night before bed, especially when we were really young. (under age 10) I still remember our dark blue sofa with its fine, white lines and checks that ran through the weave of the sturdy and scratchy fabric. I have so many memories on that sofa! I would snuggle as closely as I could next to my mom with my eyes glued on the colored, picture illustrations in our Bible story book. The stories were short, but captivating. 

"Read another one!" we begged when she was finished with a really short one. Sometimes she would do that, much to our satisfaction. 

The story of Joseph and his coat of many colors was one I always loved. Joseph's dreams, Joseph's brothers throwing him in a pit, then selling him to Egypt, kept my attention closely. Poor Joseph when he was later thrown in prison and didn't do anything wrong! But the best part was when he got out of prison and then revealed himself to his brothers as a surprise later! I always loved the ending of that story. I still do. (Genesis 37 - Genesis 45 in the Bible) 

An illustration of Joseph with his father, Jacob,
 and his younger brother, Benjamin.  

As shared in a more recent blog post, I've decided to write several, short, inspirational, blog posts about Joseph's life. In reading about the life of Joseph in the Bible, I see many things that stand out to me as being both significant and inspiring. 

As a child, the story of Joseph was simply that - just a nice story. Though I knew it was true and it really did happen thousands of years ago (Joseph was a real person!), it wasn't much more to me beyond being a nice story.

But after I gave my life to the Lord at the age of 11, Bible stories, like Joseph, became more inspiring to me. Naturally, I got more out of them than I did as a young child.

Something that has stood out to me, significantly, about Joseph's life is this: he was, clearly, a Godly young man, even at the age of 17. Joseph had a relationship with God. Joseph walked with God. I think it's clear by reading the story - Joseph wanted to please God in every area of his life.  

Joseph must have made some choices in his young life, perhaps even in his childhood, that he wanted to know and walk with God. I cannot help but think of Joseph's mother, Rachel, who died giving birth to his younger brother, Benjamin. 

Many Bible preachers tend to put Rachel down. I can understand why. His mother, Rachel, stole and hid some idols, something that I believe led to her death. I don't like to hear Bible speakers and teachers put Rachel down though because I’m sure she had a tremendous influence on her son's young life. I believe there was something good, and even Godly, about Rachel. Rachel was the mother of Joseph.

The thing that stands out to me the most about Joseph's young life is this: 

Everything that Joseph went through in his life, beginning with his brothers selling him at the age of 17, says to me that Joseph was a Godly young man even before he went through all of the enormously hard things that he did. How do I know this? 

To me, there is absolutely no way Joseph could have gone through all of the difficult things that he did and remain totally faithful to God, if he did not have a strong walk with God at the age of 17. 

Joseph's trials did not make him a Godly man. 

Rather, Joseph's trials revealed the Godly man he was - even at the young age of 17.