Joseph: the one who suffered for the salvation of many

Joseph: the one who suffered for the salvation of many

This morning I want to spend our time together examining the life of a man:

• who was loved by His father
• who was hated by his brothers to such a degree that they plotted out his death
• who was anointed by the Spirit of God
• who grew in wisdom and in favor with God and men
• who was prophesied to be ruler over the children of Israel but was rejected by them
• who was tempted but resisted that temptation
• who was falsely accused and then punished for sins he did not commit
• who was exalted to the right hand of the sovereign king
• who was given a name that means savior
• designated as the one to whom men must come if they want to live
• who was not recognized by his own brothers
• whose brothers are terrified of when his true identity is revealed – a man at whose presence men fear for their lives because of the way they treated him
• whose grief, sorrows, troubles, pain & hardships served to bring salvation to many

That’s right; I want to look at the life of Jesus Christ.  But I want to do so by examining the life of Joseph, who is a type of Christ.  Everything that I just listed off – all of those descriptions apply to both Joseph and Jesus.  And those are just a few.  In my studies of types and shadows I have found that nobody foreshadows our Jesus in as many ways as Joseph.  In fact, I would say Joseph is not just a type of Christ, but THE type of Christ.

Let’s open our Bibles together to Gen 37.

I mentioned that Joseph is a type of Christ.  For the past few weeks, we have been studying types and shadows, OT people, places and things that pointed forward to NT realities.  Last week we looked at Isaac as a type of Christ.  Isaac married Rebekah and together they had two sons, twins – but before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad in order that God’s purpose in election might stand not by works but by him who calls – she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”  Just as it is written “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”  Though Esau was born first, God chose Jacob to be the father of His chosen people.  

So we have at this point Abraham, who had two sons Ishmael and Isaac but it was through Isaac that his offspring would be reckoned.  This Isaac had twins, Jacob and Esau, but God chose Jacob.  Last week we saw how God changes people’s names at times and that names have meanings.  One night Jacob wrestled with God and God changed Jacob’s name to Israel (which means struggles with God).  This Jacob, now known as Israel had 12 sons and these 12 men became the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel.  One of these 12 sons is Joseph.  

He is our focus this morning.  Joseph is a type of Christ.

Let’s jump into the text.  We’re going to cover a lot of ground this morning.  Joseph’s story spans from Gen 37-50.  As we walk through the text we will expand upon the ways in which Joseph foreshadows Christ…

Genesis 37  Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. ² This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them. 

JOSEPH IS TENDING THE FLOCKS.  He is a shepherd.  This foreshadows Jesus Christ who is the good shepherd of His people. John 10:14  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.

Continuing in verse 3…

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, 

JOSEPH WAS PARTICULARLY CHOSEN AND LOVED DEARLY BY HIS FATHER.  This foreshadows Jesus, particularly chosen and loved dearly by his father.  Matt 12:18  “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight 

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him. ⁴ When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. 

Joseph’s brothers hated him and spoke unkind words to him.  This foreshadows Jesus, whose BROTHERS HATED HIM AND SPOKE UNKIND WORDS TO HIM.  Matt 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.”  John 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

⁵ Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. ⁶ He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: ⁷ We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” 

This dream was a prophecy about Joseph ruling over his brothers.  Jesus was also prophesied to be ruler over the tribes of Israel.  Micah 5:2  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

⁸ His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. 

The first century brothers of Jesus were skeptical and essentially questioned him: do you intend to reign over us?  Will you actually rule us?”  And they hated shim all the more because of what He said.  Luke 19:11-14

Back to Joseph…

⁹ Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”  ¹⁰ When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.  

Jesus’ family was skeptical of him John 7:3-5.

¹² Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem, ¹³ and Israel said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I am going to send you to them.” 

Here we have Joseph’s father sending him to his brothers.  Jesus was sent by his father to his brothers.  John 8:42, Matt 15:24, Acts 3:26 

“Very well,” he replied. ¹⁴ 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.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem, ¹⁵ a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?” ¹⁶ He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?” 

¹⁷ “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ ” 

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. ¹⁸ But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. 

Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him.  Jesus’ brothers plotted to kill him.  Matthew 12:14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.

¹⁹ “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. ²⁰ “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.” 

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. ²² “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the desert, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.  

A man attempted to rescue Joseph.  Pilate attempted to rescue Jesus.  Matt 27:23-24.

²³ So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the richly  ornamented robe he was wearing—

Jesus was disrobed as the soldiers mocked him prior to crucifying him Matt 27:27-28.

²⁴ and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. ²⁵ As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. ²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. ²⁸ So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.  

Joseph was sold for silver.  Jesus was sold out for silver by Judas.  Matt 26:14-16.

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. ³⁰ He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?” ³¹ Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. ³² They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.” ³³ He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.” ³⁴ Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave to my son.” So his father wept for him. ³⁶ Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. 

So far, in chapter 37 alone we see 10 parallels between the life of Joseph and Jesus.  

They are both:

• shepherds
• loved by their father
• hated by brothers who spoke unkindly to them
• prophesied to be rulers over Israel
• family was skeptical of them & rejected their rule
• sent by father to his brothers
• brothers plotted their death
• a man attempted to rescue both
• disrobed
• sold for silver

We’ll skip chapter 38 as it is about Judah.

Picking up in Gen 39:1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt.  Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. ² The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. ³ When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, ⁴ Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. ⁵ 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. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. ⁶ So he left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.  

Joseph grew in wisdom and in favor with God and men.  Stephen recalls this well.  Acts 7:9-10  ⁹ “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt.  But God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.  He grew in wisdom and in favor with God and men.  The same is true for Jesus- Luke 2:52.

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, ⁷ and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” ⁸ But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. ⁹ 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?” ¹⁰ And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.  

Joseph underwent a time of temptation but resisted as did Jesus – Matt 4:1-11.

¹¹ One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. ¹² She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 

¹³ When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, ¹⁴ she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. ¹⁵ When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 

Though Joseph was innocent he was falsely accused, as was Christ. Matt 26:59-60

¹⁶ She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. ¹⁷ Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. ¹⁸ But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 

¹⁹ When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. ²⁰ Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. 

Joseph was not only falsely accused, but now punished for sins he did not commit.  This foreshadows Jesus who was also punished for sins he did not commit 1 Pet 2:20-24.

But while Joseph was there in the prison, ²¹ the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. ²² So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. ²³ 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.  

The LORD was with him – we saw this in vv2 & 3.  Now in 21 & 23.  The Lord was with Him.   Same with Jesus, God was with Him Acts 10:38.

Here in chapter 39 we see 5 more parallels between the lives of Joseph and Jesus.  

They  both:

• grew in wisdom and in favor with God and men
• were tempted but resisted
• falsely accused
• punished for sins they did not commit
• God was with them both

Paraphrase chapter 40 

At this point, Joseph is in prison.  One day he is joined by the cupbearer and the baker.  They each have dreams.  They tell Joseph their dreams.  God gave Joseph the interpretation of their dreams.  Ultimately, in 3 days the baker would be executed and in 3 days the cupbearer would be restored to his position.  Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him, but he forgot him.

Paraphrase beginning of chapter 41

Then after 2 years went by Pharaoh had 2 dreams.  In one he saw 7 fat cows and 7 ugly gaunt cows.  In another he saw 7 healthy heads of grain and 7 heads scorched by the east wind.  Nobody could interpret his dreams for him and finally the cupbearer said, “oh yeah…there’s this guy Joseph in the prison who can interpret dreams.  So Pharoah sent for Joseph and Joseph interpreted the dreams as having one and the same meaning.  There would be 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine. 

Let’s pick up reading in verse 33…

³³ “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. ³⁵ They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. ³⁶ This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” 

³⁷ The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. ³⁸ So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”   This is interesting…one of the few pre-Pentecost occurances of the HS anointing.  Pharaoh declares that the spirit of God is in Joseph.  Peter declared that Spirit of God was also upon Jesus Acts 10:38.

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 

⁴⁰ You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. 

⁴⁴ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.”   Joseph is exalted to the right hand of the King. The king of Egypt made Joseph ruler over all to bring all under the king's rule.  Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God to bring all under His rule.  Acts 2:32-33, Eph 1:9-10, 19b-23

⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah This name means "Savior of the World" or "Sustainer of Life" Jesus is also given a name that means salvation "Yahweh is Salvation" or “Jehovah saves” Matt 1:21

⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife.  Joseph was given a bride by the king.  Jesus was also given a bride by the king Eph 5, 2 Cor 11:2, Rev 21:2.

Let’s skip down to verse 53…

⁵³ The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, ⁵⁴ and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. ⁵⁵ When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” 

The king of Egypt appointed Joseph to be the sole source of life for all. God appointed Jesus to be our sole source of eternal life.  “If you want to live, look to HIM”  Acts 4:12, 1John 5:11-12.

⁵⁶ When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. ⁵⁷ And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.  It was not just the Egyptians who were saved through Joseph, but all the nations.  In the same way, all nations are saved through Jesus. Gen 22:18, Is 2:2 & 11:10

In chapter 41 we see 6 more parallels between the lives of Joseph and Jesus:

• Both anointed by the Spirit of God
• Both exalted to the right hand of the sovereign king
• Both given a bride by the sovereign king
• Both given a name that means savior
• Both are designated as the source of life
• All nations were saved through them, not just their own

That is over 20 parallels so far!!!

Chapter 42   When Jacob (aka Israel) learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” ² He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”  (if you want life, seek out Joseph – he is the one who gives life.  Apart from going to him, you will die)

³ Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him. ⁵ So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also. 

⁶ Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. (just as was prophesied in his dreams) ⁷ As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” ⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. 

Joseph was not recognized by his own brothers, those of the house of Israel.  They failed to recognize their brother.  This foreshadowed Jesus as he was not recognized by His brothers.  Acts 13:27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.

Paraphrase the rest of chapter 42.

At this point Joseph questions them and finds out about his youngest brother, Benjamin, his only full blood brother from the same mom, Rachel.  He then basically keeps one of the brothers in prison and tells his other brothers to bring back their youngest brother, Benjamin.  They returned home and Jacob, their father was not happy with that.  His mentality was: Joseph was gone, now Simeon was gone, there was no way he was going to let them take Benjamin.

Paraphrase chapter 43.

Then in chapter 43 they had run out of grain and needed to go back to Egypt for it.  Judah finally convinced Jacob to let them take Benjamin, but they were super-nervous because when they left, the silver they paid for the grain was returned to them and mysteriously showed up in their bags.  So they brought some extra silver and goodies.  Joseph met with them at noon and they presented gifts to him.  He met his little brother just lost it – went to his private room to weep.  He got composure, washed his face and then feasted with them.  He served Benjamin up with a portion 5 times more than the rest.

Paraphrase chapter 44.

Afterwards he sent them on their way.  Before doing so he gave these instructions to his servant.  Send them on their way with as much food as they can carry, put the silver they paid back in their bags and put my silver cup in the youngest one’s bag. Then Joseph sent the servant after them to catch them in the act of stealing the silver cup.  Of course Benjamin was found with the cup and you can imagine how these poor guys are feeling at this point.  We told dad that nothing would happen to Benjamin.  Joseph said Benjamin is to remain here as a slave with me.  Then Judah unpacked the whole thing to explain to Joseph how there was no way he could go back to his father without Benjamin, so Judah pled with Joseph, let me stay in your service and let the boy return to his father.

He ends his plea in Gen 44:34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me?  No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father.

That’s where we pick up in Gen 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. 

³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.  

Now first of all, can you imagine what these guys must be feeling right now?  You sold your brother into slavery thinking that you would never see him again.  Now he is the most powerful man in the land, second only to Pharaoh.  I would be terrified after I treated him that way because at this point I deserve to be killed and he has the power to do that!  Look what the text says.  V1 he made himself known to his brothers.  V3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.  Wow!  So much to this.  When Joseph was finally revealed to his brothers as the one on the throne at the right hand of the sovereign king they were terrified at his presence.  They feared his epiphany, his revelation.  They were terrified at his parousia, his presence.  In the same way when Christ was finally revealed to his brothers as the one on the throne at the right hand of the sovereign king, they were terrified at his presence; Christ’s epiphany, his parousia was terrifying for his brothers.  Matt 24:30, Rev 6:15-17.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

The evil Joseph's brothers intended God meant for good to save them. The same is true of the evil Jesus' own people intended to him... Acts 3:12-18

⁸ “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. ⁹ Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. ¹⁰ You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. ¹¹ I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’ 

¹² “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. ¹³ Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.” 

¹⁴ Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. ¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him. 

¹⁶ When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, ¹⁸ and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’ ¹⁹ “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. ²⁰ Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ”

Joseph's brothers shared Pharaoh's favor because of Joseph, not because they were worthy in and of themselves.  As Jesus’ brothers we share God's favor because we are in Christ, not because we are worthy.

Flip over to chapter 50.  Finally, their father, Israel, died and we pick up in v15…

Gen 50:15  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” ¹⁶ So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ¹⁷ ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ¹⁸ His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

The takeaway…

There are a few things I think we can really learn from the life of Joseph:

• Man of integrity
• God-centered
• Forgiving

Joseph was a man of integrity.  The man had amazing integrity to say no in the midst of that kind of temptation.  Potiphar’s wife was essentially pleading with him day after day to go to bed with her, but he wouldn’t.  The text says he refused to even be with her.  He was prudent & cautious.  When we’re tempted we can sometimes linger and think I’ve got this under control.  Joseph took caution.  But one day, with no one around she caught him by the cloak.  She was now getting physical.  It would have been easy for him to rationalize in his mind, well just a kiss won’t hurt.  But he didn’t mess around.  He fled from the temptation.  He ran out of the house.  What a great example.  

It is worth it to flee from temptation and his attitude reflected that reality.  His attitude reflected a true love for God.  Gen 39:9 How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Some people’s attitude is, “No good deed goes unpunished.  Why should I do good when the wicked prosper?”  They have a very self-centered attitude that necessitates some kind of reward for good deeds apart from the satisfaction of walking upright before the Lord and not sinning against him.  

But Joseph had a God-centered attitude.  When he was asked about his ability to interpret dreams he said I cannot, but God can do it (Gen 40:8, 41:16).

He could have held a grudge against his brothers who wronged him, but he did not.  He saw that God had put him where he was for the sake of the salvation of many.  He trusted the sovereign hand of God in the midst of everything.  Gen 45:5-7 ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

When someone has a God-centered attitude it is easy to let go of the things that would normally cause one to be angry and unforgiving toward others for their wrongs.

Finally, Joseph was forgiving.  He had every reason to be angry with his brothers.  It would be easy for anybody in his situation to harbor unforgiveness toward his brothers.  But harboring unforgiveness is harmful only to the one harboring the unforgiveness.  

Joseph let go of all reasons to be unforgiving and he was free.  

One day Jordan came down the stairs crying.  I went to see what was wrong and her hand was stuck in this canister.  I was trying to pull her hand out but it wouldn’t come and the more I pulled on it the more she cried.  Adam was there and he realized that she was trying to get a little toy out of it.  She was holding onto the toy and so her hand was in the shape of a fist and wouldn’t come out.  If she would have let go, her hand would have been skinny enough to fit through.  Adam kept telling her, Jordan, let go.  As long as she was holding on to that thing inside there she was in pain and she wasn’t free.  Once she let go, she was truly free and it wasn’t painful anymore.  That’s what it’s like for people who hold onto anger and unforgiveness – it only causes pain to themselves.  But letting go of that is freeing.  Joseph was free – free to live and free to love.

I’ve heard it said that holding on to unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.

Joseph was an amazing man.  His life story is an inspiration to us.  Everything we love about Joseph, we love about Him because those very same things are true of Jesus.

What a beautiful picture of Jesus we have in the life of Joseph, a man who, like Jesus:

• was loved by His father
• was hated by his brothers to such a degree that they plotted to kill him
• was anointed by the Spirit of God
• grew in wisdom and in favor with God and men
• was prophesied to be ruler over the children of Israel but was rejected by them
• was tempted but resisted that temptation
• was falsely accused and then punished for sins he did not commit
• was exalted to the right hand of the sovereign king
• was given a name that means savior
• was designated as the one to whom men must come if they want to live
• was not recognized by his own brothers
• was a man whose brothers were terrified of when his true identity was revealed – a man at whose presence men feared for their lives because of the way they treated him
• was a man whose grief, sorrows, troubles, pain & hardships served to bring salvation to many