THE STORY OF JOSEPH: EPISODE 1 GENESIS 37-50: A MAN ON A MISSION

 

INTRODUCTION: 13 CHAPTERS, NO SIN

The story of Joseph the Hebrew patriarch is set out in the Book of Genesis in the Bible. In terms of modern day calendar, most historians will place it somewhere between 1800 to 1600 BC.

The Book of Genesis is about the origins of humanity and the universe. It can be divided into two sections: Primitive History and Patriarchal History. Primitive history records (1) Creation (Genesis chapters 1-2); (2) the Fall of man (Genesis chapters 3-5); (3) the Flood (Genesis chapters 6-9); and (4) the dispersion (Genesis chapters 10-11).

Patriarchal history records the lives of four great men: (1) Abraham (Genesis 12-25:8); (2) Isaac (Genesis 21:1-35-29); (3) Jacob (Genesis 25:21-50:14); and (4) Joseph (Genesis 30:22-50:26). (adopted from https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-Genesis.html)

The story of Joseph is therefore a major part of the history of the Hebrews and indeed the bigger soteriological history (the history of our salvation). Without the story, the Jewish race would possibly have been wiped out from the earth by the great famine and that would somehow have an effect on the promise that God had made to Abraham for an everlasting covenant. But God in his providence made a way to have Joseph be the forerunner for his people in a land where there would be plenty while the famine ravaged the world back then. What the brothers of Joseph meant for evil God turned around for good. 

The book of Genesis traces the partial fulfillment of these promises through the chosen lines of Abraham’s descendants, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacob’s sons. Among them all, it is in Joseph that God most directly fulfills his promise to bless the nations through the people of Abraham. Indeed, people from “all the world” were sustained by the food system that Joseph managed (Gen. 41:57). Joseph understood this mission and articulated the purpose of his life in line with God’s intention: “the saving of many lives” (Gen. 50:20) (https://www.theologyofwork.org/old-testament/genesis-12-50-and-work/joseph-genesis-372-5026/)

 

Joseph is the second last son of Jacob and was born to him through Rachel his second and favorite wife. His full brother was Benjamin who Rachel bore on her death bed.

For clarity, the following are the 12 sons of Jacob who his two wives and two female servants bore to him. They are listed in Genesis 35:24-26 as follows:

The sons of Leah: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.

The sons of Rachel’s servant Bilhah: Dan and Naphtali.

The sons of Leah’s servant Zilpah: Gad and Asher.

The story of Joseph is exclusively recorded in a total of 13 chapters in the book of genesis namely chapters 37, 39-50.

Joseph is however first mentioned in the book in chapter 30 verse 24. His name means “God will add.” Joseph is some sort of a miracle baby, as his mother had been barren for a long time prior to bearing him. Like many sons in the bible who were born of previously barren women, Joseph would go on to become a great leader with huge influence in Jewish history.  Other such “miracle” babies would include Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Samsom and John the baptizer. It is interesting to see how God can make a great story from the most hopeless situations.

The story of joseph is really a journey, the journey of life. The birth of Joseph takes place in Paddan Aram where his father had sojourned or went into hiding from Esau his brother. Immediately Joseph is born, Jacob declares his intentions to depart from there where his uncle-cum- father-in-law was hosting him, to journey back to the land of his birth.

Some of the common themes in the story include family, faith, favor, providence, and work.

One of the most interesting things about this story is that in the entire 13 chapters in which it is set out, not a single instance of sin is marked against his name. We mentioned that the second part of the book of Genesis is termed as the patriarchal history. And of the patriarchs, Joseph has the most chapters dedicated to him yet the only one of who no sin is recorded. Abraham lied twice, Isaac lied once, and Jacob stole his brothers birth right!

In fact, the bible does not hide the sins of its biggest heroes.  Noah got drunk and was uncovered in his tent (Genesis 9:21). Moses struck the rock (Numbers 20:11). Eli was a bad father (1 Samuel 3:13). David committed adultery and murder (2 Samuel 11). Solomon’s wives turned his heart from God (Nehemiah 13:26). Peter denied his Lord (Matthew 26:69-75). Thomas doubted (John 20:27-29). Paul persecuted believers prior to conversion(Acts 9). (Adopted from https://housetohouse.com/thirteen-chapters-and-no-sin)

Joseph was faced with various circumstances that would have led him to sin but he did not. He is his father’s favorite yet he does not result to pride. He is openly hated by his brothers but he does not hate back. He is entrusted with Potiphar’s household and the prime ministerial position and wealth of Egypt but does engage in embezzlement or pride. He is sexually tempted by Potiphar’s wife yet doesn’t not give in to sexual sin. His brothers betray him and attempt to take his life yet he still loved them and did not revenge.

“Young people growing up in this generation are much like Joseph in Egypt. Like Joseph, our young people have been sold into spiritual Egypt—by drug dealers, by moviemakers, by TV producers, by textbook writers, by popular musicians, by pornography pushers, and by fashion designers. In some ways, today is like the days of Noah when every imagination of man’s heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). It is like living in Sodom when homosexuals openly parade and make their demands (Genesis 19). It is like living in Jerusalem in the apostles’ generation, a crooked and “untoward generation” (Acts 2:41). Gus Nichols used to say, “All of us are living in Potiphar’s house. We may not be able to destroy Egypt, but we can raise up our boys and girls to be Josephs.”” (Adopted from https://housetohouse.com/thirteen-chapters-and-no-sin)

A good example of how corrupt and evil the world we’re living in is the opening ceremony of Olympics 2024 in France. The unfiltered display of demonic and anti-Christian content in the name of art and entertainment was shocking to say the least. Perhaps the most striking display was the one here they recreated or reenacted the famous painting of the Last Supper by replacing Jesus and the twelve disciples with drag queens, being mostly men dressed as women. In a blatant act of blasphemy, the place of Jesus at the table was conspicuously taken by an oversized drag queen. It was so badly provocative that even non-Christians online were angry at it and could not hold back their views on how disgusting the whole circus was. Considering that this is possibly the most watched live event of the year globally, one begins to see how the world has gravitated towards evil. But Joseph lived in such a world yet he remained a God-fearing man, refusing to conform to the patterns of the world he lived in.

However, it is important to note that I am not suggesting that Joseph never sinned, not at all. The bible teaches that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). I believe this verse destroys the argument by roman Catholicism that Virgin Mary was sinless. There is only one Man(Human being) who walked the face of the earth and who never sinned, the Man Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:21-22 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. (ESV) Also Hebrews 4:15.

It is therefore important to note that Joseph likely sinned, but of his sins, God chose to not record them here, may be because they were minor but more importantly that Joseph may paint a picture of the Christ who was completely without sin. We shall see in this exciting story and journey how Joseph exemplifies Christ.

We will also learn in this story some of the ways through which Joseph avoided/fled from sin while living in a perverse generation. The following verse might very well summarize the goal of this study in that sense:

Phillipians 2:15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (ESV)