The wheel of Joseph's life

November 4, 2020 (Wednesday)

 

Joseph’s life is a roller coaster. He goes from favorite, to slave, to favorite, to prisoner, to favorite. For teaching purposes, I'm going to call this the wheel of Joseph's life. The ups and downs of his life are whiplash worthy. Yet they demonstrate a very essential element in Christian theology: God’s sovereignty.

 

We start with Israel (a.k.a. Jacob) starting the wheel, “Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe.” [Genesis 37:3 NLT] He is following a trend he learned from his parents. The trouble is while learning the behavior, he has not grasped the lesson: Favoritism is poison to families. But God can make something good happen out of unhealthy family stuff.

 

Joseph doesn’t help the situation. “Joseph had a dream and told it to his brothers, which made them hate him even more.” [Genesis 37:5 CEB] It was one thing to be daddy’s favorite, it was another thing to rub it in their faces. His arrogance digs his hole deeper. He then tells his father and brothers another dream, and dad scolds him. Both dreams foretell of a time when his family will bow down to him. God can make something good out of our own flaws and foibles. 

 

Jacob deepens the bad blood, “Jacob said to him, “Go! Find out how your brothers are and how the flock is, and report back to me.” [Genesis 37:17 CEB] Basically Jacob sends him to spy on his brothers. The hatred boils up when an opportunity presents itself. “But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.” [Genesis 37:18 NIV] 

 

Reuben comes to his rescue. “But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue.” [Genesis 37:21 NLT] God’s purpose will not be thwarted by a human plan. God provides Joseph a protective cover, but that does not mean this is easy for Joseph.

 

They take Joseph, stripped of his robe and tossed him in an empty cistern. A cistern was something used to collect water during the winter (rainy season). Along came some Midianite traders. Verse 28 also identifies them as Ishmaelites. I’ll give you some time to go back and figure out the family relations.

 

To cover their dirty deed, the brothers take Joseph’s special robe, dip it in blood, and took it to their father. He begins a lifelong mourning secession that devastate Joseph’s family. “His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.” [Genesis 37:35 NLT] Sometimes we are allowed to suffer.

 

Cue the dramatic music. Joseph ends up in a very special place in Egypt. “Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.” [Genesis 37:36 ESV] What we have seems like the bottom for Joseph, but it is the avenue God is going to use.

 

The cool part is Joseph does not seem to wallow is self-pity. He will through himself into his work. Stay tuned the wheel continues to turn.