Genesis 37

Meeting Joseph

In Chapter 37 of Genesis, we enter into a new story, the story of Joseph. This story is significant for three reasons:

As History. The story of Joseph continues the patriarchal history of Genesis, and focuses our attention on the way in which God worked out the purposes of his redemption. From the beginning of the book we have been made aware of the sovereign God, working graciously in order to save mankind from ruin. That work is continued now, as God brings Joseph to Egypt. At the end of his life, Joseph could say that while his brothers had devised evil against him, "God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20), and that could summarise the whole of his life's story. It was God, in his goodness, that so overruled the events of Joseph's life so that the holy seed would be preserved, and so that salvation would be brought to men.

As Example. Unlike other men of God in the Bible, such as David and Peter, we do not read of Joseph committing any wrong. We know that he was not perfect, for none of us are. But the Bible record shows us that he lived for God, with a desire and a will for holiness. When he was tempted to sin, he resisted. When he was treated despicably, he committed himself to God. Such men are set before us in Scripture so that we will learn from them, emulate them and follow their example. We too are called to live exemplary lives, which will glorify God and which will be to the good of others.

As Type. One of the reasons we read of Joseph in the Old Testament is because he points us to Jesus, to the one who was separated from his brothers in order that provision might be made for those in need. It is not over-spiritualising the story of Joseph to read in it a symbolic foreshadowing of the story of Jesus. Not only are there parallels in the two lives, but for the church of God in Genesis, the person and work of Joseph was the one living symbol of God's covenant faithfulness and covenant provision. Because of that symbolism in the Old Testament, the basis is laid for a typology that points forward to a greater than Joseph, to One who, more than any other, is in Himself all that we need. As we read about God raising up Joseph, we are reading about a foundation being laid for the coming, in the fulness of time, of one who would save His people.

So what do we learn of Joseph in the first chapter of the story?

First, we learn that he was A SON GREATLY LOVED. "Israel loved Joseph more than all his children" (verse 3). Now, no doubt there was a kind of irresponsibility there -- many of the problems that Joseph encountered were perhaps bred out of the favouritism shown him by his father. He gave him special presents, and lavished gifts upon him. Much unnecessary strife in our homes and families could be avoided if we learned to love all equally, not favouring one over another.

Nonetheless, Jacob had good reason to love Joseph. First, it is interesting that verse 3 says "Israel (not Jacob) loved Joseph..." It uses the name given to Jacob in chapter 35:10, the name which symbolised the covenant provision, repeating the promises given to Abraham about a great seed which the Lord would bless. There is, therefore, a recognition here, whatever the merits or otherwise of Jacob as a father, that Joseph occupies a special place not only in Jacob's heart, but in God's, not only in Jacob's family but in Jehovah's. Joseph is a child of the covenant, and will be used by God to preserve alive the covenant people.

This is reinforced in the reason given for Jacob's special love for him: he was the son of his old age, born of Rachel. As far as Jacob's personal pilgrimage was concerned, characterised as it had been by deceit and treachery, the birth of Joseph had represented God's blessing as the crown of Jacob's life. All things do work together for good for the people of God!

Second, Joseph was A BROTHER GREATLY HATED. His brothers did not share their father's special love for Joseph. Perhaps that was where the jealousy began, but it was not helped by what Joseph told them of his dreams. God had communicated to Joseph that he was to have a special place of eminence among his brothers; perhaps he ought to have kept this to himself, but he did not, and as a result, "his brothers envied him" (verse 11).

And how much trouble and strife came into this family because of envy and jealousy! It caused untold mischief, and was at the root of much of the trouble and the pain that they endured. How we need to keep such feelings in check!

The hatred was the cause of the plot against Joseph. They were ready, first, to kill him, until Reuben stepped in. It would be enough to sell him as a slave, and pretend to Jacob that he had been mauled by an animal. The cruel deception pierced the heart of Jacob. With no feeling for him, the brothers executed their plan. Sin had taken root, and grown. God may have chosen Joseph and set him apart, but they would not acknowledge him. They rejected him, and their rejection of Joseph was a repudiation of God's covenant salvation.

Third, Joseph was A MAN GREATLY BLESSED. That story will unfold in later chapters, but the hints are here. The dreams could not have been insignificant. Nor could the change of mind, the decision to spare Joseph's life. Nor could the contingent of Midian merchants who happened to pass at that very time. Nor could the fact that Joseph ended up in the home of Potiphar, Pharaoh's captain.

The covenant God was not going to let Joseph down. Even faced with hostility and rejection, Joseph's Providence takes such remarkable turns that God must be with him. There is no other explanation for it. We too can know great blessing, even in the midst of great loss, and great anguish, and great pain. May Joseph's God be ours!