[Joseph]
- The eleventh and favorite son of Jacob.
- Sold into slavery by his brothers.
- Became the second most powerful man in Egypt.
[His ten older brothers]
- The sons of Jacob from his first wife (Leah) and his two mistresses.
- Bitter, scheming and jealous.
- Ended up owing their lives to Joseph.
Basically, this was what happened:
Maybe Joseph had never heard the old saying, "Some things are better left unsaid." Whether he was naive or cocky, Joseph made the mistake of telling his brothers about an odd dream he had in which he ruled over them.
That was the final straw as far as Joseph's brothers were concerned. They already had to deal with the fact that Joseph was their father's favorite son - something their father, Jacob, made no effort to hide.
Their payback turned out to be brutal. The first chance the brothers got, they beat the stuffing out of their kid brother and threw him into an underground water tank. A little while later, they yanked him out and sold him to some traders who were passing by. Then when they returned to their father, they pretended Joseph was dead.
Things seemed to go from bad to worse for Joseph. He ended up a common slave in faraway Egypt. Over the next few years, he was falsely accused and convicted of attempted rape and thrown into prison.
Yet through it all, Joseph didn't give up his faith or compromise his character. Years passed, and through a remarkable series of God-ordained events, Joseph became like the "vice president" of Egypt as he was put as the second in charge right under Pharaoh.
When a terrible famine hit the region, everyone was forced to travel to Egypt to buy grain, including Joseph's long-lost family. When God orchestrated a reunion between Joseph and his brothers, it was literally a dream come true. There was Joseph, ruling over his brothers!
What sticks out more than anything else is God's sovereignty and Joseph's amazing response. Joseph wasn't bitter or angry or vengeful. Though his brothers fully expected retaliation for their evil actions years earlier, Joseph chose instead to forgive and bless them. In fact, he showered them with gifts and moved the entire family to Egypt, where they could enjoy ample food and the protection of Pharaoh.
This "Joseph V.S. His Brothers" match-up is a helpful reminder for us that God is always in control, and he can bring good out of any situation. How can you follow Joseph's example today in the relationships you have and the decisions you make?
In Genesis 50:20, Joseph tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
Isn't it amazing how God can turn bad situations into good? Joseph's brothers could only think of the spur of that moment, while Joseph sees the bigger picture as he looks back at how the Lord has led him.
The thing is, no problem is too hard for Him to solve. No situation is too helpless for Him to change. He can bring good from even the worst circumstances. In fact, it's His specialty. When you can't see any way out, look to Him. Trust Him to lead you and take care of you the rest of your life.
P.S: In Christ alone, I place my trust, And find my glory in the power of the cross, In every victory, Let it be said of me, My source of strength, My source of hope, Is Christ alone.
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