The Story of Joseph
1. Joseph’s Dreams and His Brothers’ Jealousy
Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and the first son of Rachel, born after many years of longing and prayer. His birth was a source of great joy and pride for Jacob, who favored him over his other sons. This favoritism was symbolized by the special coat of many colors that Jacob gave Joseph.
Genesis 37:3-4: "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 an ornate robe for him. 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 favored status and his dreams, which foretold his future greatness, further fueled his brothers' jealousy. In one dream, he saw himself and his brothers binding sheaves of grain in a field, and his sheaf stood upright while their sheaves gathered around and bowed down to it. In another dream, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him. These dreams implied that Joseph would rule over his family, a notion that infuriated his brothers.
Genesis 37:9-11: "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.' 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?' His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind."
2. Betrayal and Slavery
The jealousy of Joseph’s brothers reached a boiling point, leading them to conspire against him. One day, when Joseph was sent by his father to check on his brothers who were grazing their flocks, they saw an opportunity to get rid of him. Initially, they planned to kill him, but Reuben, the eldest brother, intervened, suggesting they throw Joseph into a cistern instead, intending to rescue him later.
Genesis 37:19-22: "'Here comes that dreamer!' they said to each other. '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.' When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. 'Let’s not take his life,' he said. 'Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.' Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father."
However, while Reuben was away, the other brothers decided to sell Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelite merchants traveling to Egypt. They sold him for twenty pieces of silver and deceived their father by dipping Joseph’s coat in goat's blood, making Jacob believe that a wild animal had killed Joseph.
Genesis 37:28: "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."
3. Joseph in Potiphar’s House
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh. Despite his dire circumstances, Joseph excelled in Potiphar’s house due to the presence and favor of God.
Genesis 39:2-4: "The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 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."
Joseph’s integrity and skill led to his promotion, and he managed all of Potiphar’s affairs. However, Joseph faced a grave challenge when Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of attempting to seduce her after he consistently rejected her advances. This resulted in Joseph being thrown into prison.
Genesis 39:20: "Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined."
4. Joseph in Prison
Even in prison, God’s favor was upon Joseph. He gained the trust of the prison warden, who put him in charge of all the prisoners and made him responsible for everything done there.
Genesis 39:21-23: "The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 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. 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."
During his time in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, both of whom were also imprisoned. The cupbearer’s dream foretold his reinstatement to his position, while the baker’s dream foretold his execution. Joseph’s interpretations proved accurate.
Genesis 40:12-13: "'This is what it means,' Joseph said to him. 'The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer.'"
Despite Joseph’s request for the cupbearer to remember him upon his release, he was forgotten and remained in prison for two more years.
5. Joseph’s Rise to Power
Two years later, Pharaoh had disturbing dreams that none of his magicians or wise men could interpret. The cupbearer then remembered Joseph and mentioned him to Pharaoh. Joseph was summoned, and with God’s guidance, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, predicting seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine.
Genesis 41:15-16: "Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.' 'I cannot do it,' Joseph replied to Pharaoh, 'but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.'"
Joseph’s interpretation and the wisdom of his advice impressed Pharaoh, who appointed him as second-in-command over Egypt, responsible for preparing the nation for the impending famine.
Genesis 41:39-41: "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 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.' So Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.'"
6. Reunion with His Family
During the famine, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy grain. Unrecognizable to them, Joseph tested their character and integrity before finally revealing his identity. This dramatic reunion brought about reconciliation and forgiveness.
Genesis 45:4-5: "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! 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.'"
Joseph arranged for his entire family to move to Egypt, where they were provided for during the remaining years of famine.
Genesis 47:11-12: "So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their children."
7. Legacy and Lessons
Joseph’s story is one of remarkable resilience, faith, and providence. Despite being betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned, Joseph’s unwavering faith in God saw him rise to a position of immense power and influence. His journey teaches lessons about forgiveness, the sovereignty of God, and the importance of integrity and perseverance.
Romans 8:28: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Joseph’s life exemplifies how God can use even the most challenging circumstances for His greater purpose, bringing about redemption and blessing through adversity.
In our journey through life, we often seek guidance and wisdom beyond our own understanding. St. Mykul’s prayer is a beautiful expression of this desire, a heartfelt plea for divine intervention and alignment with Jehovah’s will. It serves as a reminder of the profound connection we can cultivate with the divine, allowing us to become vessels of His wisdom and love.
St. Mykul’s prayer:
“I pray for Jehovah to speak through me all the time, and I pray for Jehovah to remove all my thoughts, and implant His thoughts all the time, as I do not even want my thoughts.”
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