Genesis 37:3 “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.”
The days are dark, perhaps sad and wearisome. In the case of Joseph, his favorite coat had been torn off, only to be left helpless in a pit. Father Jacob had that coat specially made for his favorite son, the son of his old age. But now his very own brothers conspired to rid themselves of this “dreamer.” Brother Rueben forbade them to kill Joseph, but instead they spied a Medianite caravan of merchants — they sold their brother to these men. The coat, they took back to Father, saturated with the blood of a slain goat. Jacob, aghast at the sight, waxed bitter. Joseph, meanwhile, was being sold again to an official of Pharaoh’s court. Egypt became his new residence, a slave in the house of Potiphar.
Prior to this ultimate horror story, Joseph not only had received the colorful coat as a favorite son, but also had two dreams. In the first dream, bundles of corn was the contextual picture. The brothers, each representing a bundle or sheave, made obeisance to Joseph’s sheave. In the other dream, the sun, moon, and stars bowed to Joseph. The dreams caused great envy with the brothers and suspicion. Father was also surprised and rebuked his young son. However, the Bible teaches that Jacob regarded the stories. Genesis 37:11
Well, the Lord was with Joseph. And even Potiphar recognized that he was a man prospering of his Lord. However his great trust of Joseph was halted when his wife accused the Hebrew slave of initiating a sexual action toward her. In reality, she had been trying to seduce him. For this, Joseph was imprisoned wrongfully, since Joseph in his integrity did no such thing. Genesis 39.
Nevertheless, Genesis 39:21 tells us, “But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”
In chapter 40 of Genesis, Joseph finds himself still in prison, however he is given charge over two men, one a Butler and the other a Baker. These two have dreams, and Joseph interprets their dreams. The Butler is restored to his former position, while the Baker is executed. In spite of Joseph’s accurate interpretation of the dreams which led to the restoration of the Butler , that man forgot about Joseph’s help until the Pharaoh himself had a dream. Now it was time to recall Joseph. And Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream.
Genesis 41:29 is the interpretation, “Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine.”
With these interpretations, Joseph advised the king to establish a leader who would supervise the stockpiling of grain for the seven years of plenty, and so providing for the coming famine. Joseph became that man.
So, “And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands”. Gen 41:56 -57
Guess what? Jacob now send his boys to Egypt, the famine had hit they’re home also. see Gen 42
Beloved, the providential paradox of Joseph’s life is now becoming evident. Sent by God to interpret a dream of Pharaoh, Egypt now has a surplus through Joseph’s wisdom, which becomes a supply for not only Egypt but for the entire world, including Jacob and his family.
Finally there came a day,
“And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 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 45:4-5
” …it was not you that sent me hither, but God” v8
Can we imagine Jacob’s surprise when he hears the words, “Joseph is yet alive.”
In closing, the glorious lesson of this story is contained in these words in Genesis 50:20
“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.”
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