BaptistWay Bible Series for May 30: Joseph: Participating in God’s purpose

Recognition of the work of God goes hand in hand with love and forgiveness

We know the story. Joseph’s true identity is revealed to his brothers. Joseph points out that God’s purpose has been carried out—that it was not his brothers but God who has sent him to Egypt (Genesis 45:7). Not only has Joseph been God’s vessel to save Egypt, but he also has ironically become the way to save his own family. Truly, what his brothers had meant for evil has been used by God for good (50:20).

Not to be missed in that story is Joseph’s reaction to his brothers. There is no question that Joseph has reason to be angry, even vengeful, toward his brothers. Instead, he brings them close to him, asks after his father and joyously lays out for them the workings of God through his life in Egypt.

There is no question that Joseph could tell the same story to them and yet have them all hauled away to jail—the story could have been something along the lines of: “Not that you had anything to do with it, but this turned out alright in spite of you. Think about that while you rot in your cells.”

That, however, is not the Joseph of Genesis. Instead, he is a man of love for his brothers, forgiving them and wrapping his arms around young Benjamin. His overwhelming reaction is affection and weeping for joy (45:15).

The lesson for us is that our horizontal relationships need not be sacrificed for “the bigger picture.” Saving Egypt is not enough for Joseph—he is taking the lead in reconciling himself to his family. There is no reason not to do both.

What if … ?

Much of the lesson of Joseph is seen in what did not happen.

What if Joseph had failed the test in Potiphar’s house? If Joseph had succumbed to the temptation before him, who knows what would have happened?

Perhaps there would have been a long-running affair about which Potiphar never would have known. Joseph would not have gone to prison, and instead he slowly would have become another self-seeking man, cheating his master and following his own pleasure. Surely he would have been unable to rise to the huge task that God had planned for him. How many of us have no clue what we could have been because of simple bad decisions we made early on?

What if Joseph had become wrapped up in self-pity during his two years in jail after the cupbearer’s release (40:21–41:9)? What if he had spent his time wallowing in the mire of victimization and chagrin, cursing God and feeling sorry for himself? He had every apparent reason—abandoned and literally sold by his brothers, falsely accused of rape, forgotten by Pharoah’s staff whom he had helped, rotting in prison as an innocent man.

We are not told a lot about Joseph’s time in the cell, but we know enough about Joseph to know he did not curse God, and we know that when his opportunity arose, he took it. He cleaned up, shaved and talked to Pharoah about the power of God (41:14-16).

What if Joseph had given in to revenge? We see some natural indecision in Joseph in chapters 42 through 44. He keeps Simeon as the others return, he hides treasure in their luggage and he toys with the brothers through the placement of a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.

These actions pale, however, in comparison to what Joseph could have done. Reconciliation was not a foregone conclusion here. What if he had killed his brothers? What if the sin that was surely crouching at his door, as it had been for Cain, overcame Joseph’s love? How could God have used Joseph then?

Joseph understood his place in the larger work of God

Joseph’s last words are instructive. He speaks to his family and indicates his understanding that his own death will not interfere with the plan of God. That plan did not start with Joseph, but instead was announced decades earlier to his great-grandfather Abraham (50:24). Joseph critically comprehends that his role—great as it has been—is not the sine qua non of God’s relationship with his people. Instead, Joseph points his family toward the saving power of God, who will carry out his will just as he promised.
The Israelites will have little to rely upon other than these last words of Joseph for quite some time. After his death, and after Pharoah’s death, there will come to Egypt a king “who knew not Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). The Israelites will be oppressed and will suffer mightily as slaves, forced to make bricks without straw under the arm of a vengeful and evil realm. The words of God that have been clear to Abraham and Isaac and Joseph will seem to go silent, yet the promise made to them—and announced clearly in Joseph’s dying words—will sustain the faithful among the people until Moses rises up.

We learn much from Joseph’s final words. First, God will surely come to our aid. That is the promise of Scripture. We do not rely on patriarchs, kings or even family—ultimately, our hope is only in God. Second, God does not forget his promise. The land of Egypt was a temporary oasis in a time of famine, but it was not the Promised Land. God’s word had been given to Abraham, and it would not return void. God’s promise is sure.

Joseph has quite a place in this story—helping his people survive the famine and showing the power of God to Pharoah; but Joseph is, like you and me, merely a player in the work laid out by God.  Joseph models for us his recognition of that role.  He knows it and he relishes it, and as a result, God uses him mightily.

May it be so for us.