Lesson
3
The
Chosen Nation, Continued
IV. Joseph
God had reaffirmed his
covenant with Jacob (Israel), and Jacob fathered twelve sons (Genesis
35:22-26). One of Jacob's sons, Joseph, was chosen by God to be a preserver of
the family of Jacob (Genesis 45:5).
A. Joseph Sold into
Egypt
Joseph was sensitive
to the Lord, and a person of high moral character. His brothers became jealous
of him, when they saw that their father loved him above the other sons. Later,
Joseph had some dreams which suggested that his brothers and mother and father
would bow down to him. Predictably, their hatred for him increased. Then
one day, when Joseph was sent of his father to check on his brothers, they saw
an opportunity to rid themselves of him forever. After casting him into a pit,
they sold him to some Midianite merchant men for twenty pieces of silver. The
Midianites took him into Egypt, where they sold him to Potiphar, who was one of
Pharoah's officers, and a captain of the guard.
B. Jacob Deceived
After having disposed
of Joseph, his brothers took a goat and killed it, dipping Joseph's coat in the
blood. They brought the coat to their father, and asked, "Is this thy
son's coat?" "It is my son's coat," Jacob declared.
"An evil beast hath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent in
pieces." In his despair, Jacob refused to be comforted, and mourned with
tears for Joseph (Genesis 37:31-35). Meanwhile, Joseph, being the
conscientious, godly man that he was, did his very best as a servant to
Potiphar. He would have had every reason for bitterness and an excuse to be
sullen. Instead he served his master diligently. Potiphar saw that God was with
him, and that everything Joseph did prospered. Finally, Potiphar made Joseph
the overseer of all that he had. Potiphar concerned himself only with the food
that was set before him to eat. Joseph took care of everything.
C. Joseph's
Temptation
Joseph's trials were
not over, however. Potiphar's wife became infatuated with Joseph and daily
tempted him to commit immorality with her. He steadfastly refused her advances,
until one day, as he fled from her presence, she grasped part of his clothing.
Seeing that she was rebuffed, she contrived to blame Joseph with trying to
assault her, using his clothing as proof. Potiphar, his wrath kindled, put
Joseph in the prison where the
king's prisoners were. A beautiful statue was formed by a great sculptor,
representing the soul and its choice between good and evil—a child
clutching a dove to its chest and assailed by a serpent. This symbol fits
everyone. The story of human life which centers around temptation of the human
spirit is never out of date, whether it is Joseph in Egypt or anyone today.
D. Joseph in Prison
Even in the prison,
Joseph kept the right attitude. He refused bitterness, and looked for
opportunities to serve God. The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand
all the prisoners and the complete management of the prison. Even in prison,
God was blessing Joseph and preparing the way for the fulfillment of His plan. In
the prison were two men who had served Pharoah as the chief of the butlers and
the chief of the bakers. They both had dreams, which Joseph interpreted. True
to Joseph's interpretation, the butler was restored to his office, while the
baker was hung.
E. Joseph's
Elevation under Pharoah
At the end of two
years, Pharoah had a dream, which none of his men could interpret. Then the
butler remembered Joseph, and suggested to Pharoah that Joseph might be able to
interpret Pharoah's dream. Pharoah called for Joseph, who told him the
significiance of his dream: Egypt would experience seven years of plenty,
followed by seven years of famine. Pharoah promoted
Joseph to the position of second most powerful ruler in all of Egypt, and gave
to this thirty-year-old Hebrew the responsibility of storing up food during the
seven years of plenty in preparation for the drastic famine which was to follow
(Genesis 41:46).
F. Joseph's
Brothers Come to Egypt
When the famine came
to Egypt, it also affected the land of Canaan, where Joseph's family still
lived. When Jacob heard that Egypt had corn, he sent his sons—all except
the youngest son, Benjamin—to buy corn. The person in charge of selling
corn was Joseph, and just as he had dreamed many years previously, his brethren
came before him bowing down to the earth! Recognizing them,
Joseph disguised himself and spoke roughly, trying to find out if his father
were still alive, and attempting to devise a plan whereby his father could be
brought to Egypt. He accused his brothers of being spies. When they denied the
charges, and said that they were all the sons of one man, Joseph took one of
them, Simeon, and bound him until the others could return with their youngest
brother, Benjamin, as proof of their innocence. Jacob was
greatly troubled, and refused to send Benjamin for fear that he, too, would
never return. But when the famine grew worse, they had no choice but to comply
with Joseph's instructions. Judah took personal responsibility for Benjamin,
and they traveled to Egypt once again. This time, Joseph
devised a plan to keep Benjamin, which involved returning their money in the
mouth of the sacks, and putting his personal silver cup in the sack of
Benjamin. When the brothers had been stopped by Joseph's servant, and returned
to him, Joseph could no longer refrain from revealing to them exactly who he
was. He wept aloud, and said, "I am Joseph; doth my father yet live?"
G. Joseph Forgives
His Brothers
His brothers, troubled
and surprised, could not answer. Then Joseph, who had every reason to be bitter,
harsh and unforgiving, said, "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with
yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve
life" (Genesis 45:5).Long before the New Testament was ever written,
Joseph had learned one of the most valuable lessons that can ever be learned:
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). As he
was to say later, "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,
to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis
50:20).
H. Jacob and His
Family Settle in Goshen
Joseph supplied his
brethren with wagons and equipment. They returned to Canaan and brought their
father, Jacob, back to Egypt, to settle in the land of Goshen, the choice land
of all Egypt. Here they enjoyed many years of blessings, peace and plenty,
while Joseph was alive.
I. Israel in
Egyptian bondage
After Joseph's death, a new king arose in Egypt, which
did not know Joseph. This Pharoah began to be fearful of the Israelites, for
they were numerous and strong. He was afraid that they would side with the
enemy to help overthrow Egypt, in case of war. So, in his fear, the new Pharoah
set taskmasters over the Israelites, and made slaves of them. But the more the
Egyptians afflicted the Israelites (Hebrews), the more the Israelites
multiplied and grew. God was preparing them for the great exodus from Egypt,
back to their promised land of Canaan.