Week 7

The Story of Joseph, Part 1

Joseph is the big dreamer and interpreter of dreams.

He is the youngest and most beloved son of Jacob/Israel. Jacob makes him a robe with long sleeves, and his brothers are immensely angry at the favoritism. 

Then Joseph reports 2 dreams: that their sheaves of wheat in the field bowed down to his; and that the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed down to him. 

One day, Joseph is sent to check on his brothers in the field, and they want to kill him and throw him into a pit. Only Reuben steps into stop them, convincing them to just leave him to die in the pit instead. Reuben intends on coming back to rescue Joseph. 

They do, and strip him of his robe, but then the opportunity presents itself to sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt, and they do it. Why just leave him behind if they can get some money for him?

Then they dip his robe in goat blood and tell their father a wild animal devoured Joseph. Jacob is devastated over the loss of his favorite son.

Joseph is now a servant in Potiphar's house. Potiphar is an Egyptian official. He's exceedingly successful at managing the household, so he is made overseer. 

Joseph was reportedly good looking, and Potiphar's wife fancied him, and when he turned down her advances, she grew resentful. One one occasion, she grabbed him and he escaped naked as she snatched his clothes off. She then told everyone he tried to have her, and Joseph was thrown in prison.

But again, he was so winsome and wise that the chief jailer put him in charge of the care of the other prisoners. He correctly interprets 2 of their dreams. 

Read Genesis 41:14-57 - Joseph's Rise to Power

Pharaoh has troubling dreams and no one can satisfactorily interpret them. His cupbearer was one of those prisoners Joseph interpreted dreams for, and he recommends Joseph.

Joseph's dream interpretation pleases Pharaoh, and he is promoted up the ranks to be Pharaoh's right hand man. According to Pharaoh's dream, he prepares during the seven years of plenty for the seven years of famine, and there is then provision enough. 

At every turn in Joseph's story, he reports being blessed by God and receiving God's favor.

1) Dreams are one way God has of speaking with people. Have you ever experienced a dream to be more than what your brain does while you're sleeping? More meaningful than a passing experience? 

2) Joseph is yet another youngest brother that God elevates to success. I think of Jesus speaking in Matthew 20:16 that the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. Why do you think God is specifically using the most unlikely candidates to fulfill his plans? What do we take away from how God acts? 

3) Joseph repeatedly shows great resolve amidst hardship. He credits God with success in circumstances that certainly would have overwhelmed most people. He never doubted God would make a way for him, even sold in slavery in Egypt. Has faith ever given you the resolve to face an overwhelming situation?

4) Joseph's faith manifests itself in discerning God's messages in dreams, in his ethical conduct and in his shrewd management of resources and people. He is THE best steward in scripture. Yet, Joseph doesn't get the attention due him. We overlook one of the most capable people of faith. Do we give enough attention to the ways in which people can live out their faith in the workplace through their ethics, stewardship of resources, management of people? 

5) Joseph's work life is very successful, but there's still the matter of his family life - we'll wrap up Genesis next week with how he reconciles with them after having been sold into slavery.