We saw yesterday that there was a Bigger Picture or Purpose in Joseph’s life. We should ask God to help us to know something of His ultimate plan for our lives. (Ultimate, infers Final and also Best). We can become absorbed by the day to day situations, which may be difficult, but God is looking towards the final outcome for each of us.
Joseph’s mother, Rachel, was Jacob’s favourite wife but she waited some time to conceive and give birth to their first born son;
22 Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and enabled her to conceive. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, ‘God has taken away my disgrace.’ 24 She named him Joseph, and said, ‘May the Lord add to me another son.’ Genesis 30
Joseph was born the second youngest brother of the twelve, God had His purpose in the timing of his birth. Joseph was to be a Deliverer for the family, God’s chosen people on the whole earth in that day.
Joseph was born in Aram (present day Syria, SE Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, all North of Israel) but God spoke to his father Jacob;
13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land. Genesis 31
So Jacob left Aram with his family and flocks and returned to Canaan. Joseph was raised in Canaan until he was seventeen and sent to look for his brothers by Jacob. As we said yesterday, that was the last time that Jacob and Joseph saw one another for over thirteen years. Jacob believed his son was dead from his blood stained garment. He probably regretted sending him out alone to look for his brothers. We can blame ourselves for things that may not be our fault, that have been destined for our and other’s lives!
Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, into the house of Potiphar and his wife. His next step was wrongful imprisonment after the wife tried to seduce him and then lied about him.
14 But when all goes well with you (Pharaoh’s cupbearer), remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. 15 I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon. Genesis 40
Joseph had been a good and honest servant, while in charge of Potiphar’s house, but once again circumstances seemed to go very wrong for him. Joseph’s life had many twists and turns, which he couldn’t understand, but there was a great plan and destiny for his future. Only God knew the plan and He didn’t tell anyone, it had to be walked out. (I’ve often wondered what Nelson Mandela’s prison guards thought when he became President of South Africa? What did Potiphar’s wife think when Joseph became second in all Egypt? Neither seemed to retaliate for the wrongs done to them.)
We may never understand the many twists and turns in our own lives, but if we keep going forward looking to God, He will work it out for good. Joseph never lost faith in God, despite all he’d gone through in life.
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. Genesis 45
God bless and keep you today.