Today I read the end of Genesis with the account of the colorful life of Joseph. He knew people and had experienced what we all experience – betrayal. What God did in his life was remarkable. I noticed something I have never seen before concerning his brother’s assignment to bring their Father and household to Egypt. For a refresher, Joseph sounded like a gifted and bratty boy. He was the favorite and knew it. That’s enough of a challenge with pride but he strutted around in some fashion-statement coat. Maybe it was unintentional (he was correct) but if he rubbed his brother’s nose in their inferiority it was unkind. Something stirred them up or maybe they were just rotten. This is another example that God can use any one of us. The brother’s plan for murder was extreme but Joseph was sold as a slave instead – from bad to better. Joseph was handsome and his master’s wife in Egypt cast longing eyes on him but he ignored her. An important verse here is Gen 39:23, “The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because THE LORD WAS WITH HIM; AND WHATEVER HE DID, THE LORD MADE IT PROSPER.” This is an excellent reminder that we can ask God to enter into every day with us and ask for His help. Can you imagine being a prisoner then suddenly you are running the prison? That is what God did for Joseph. And there are Pharaoh’s dreams and Joseph’s ability to interpret them (again God – because we do not have any gift apart from God). Joseph is now second in command over the entire country of Egypt. We don’t get much detail in this account of his responsibilities except that he was diligent and pleased his earthly boss. Jacob (Joseph’s Father) asks his ten sons a question that explores their inability to provide for the family, Gen 42:1, “When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, ‘Why do you look at one another?'” Then he tells them to go to Egypt. These are grown men unable to solve their challenges without their Father’s leadership. The following account of redemption lends forgiveness envy because I am not good at that. Some wounded take longer than others. The verse that surprised me is Gen 45:13, “So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.” Joseph could be accused of vanity again. Is he so grateful for what God has done or is he taking credit for all this success himself? Next Joseph sends them to gather all their people and property to return to Egypt for their survival. We know why Benjamin is his favorite because they share a mother but it must have been how things were done in that time. In verse 24 you know that Joseph knows his brother’s well and some people never change, “…see that you do not become troubled along the way.” In other words – behave yourselves. We are the lucky ones. Our stories can only get better when we belong to God.
