Who Was Joseph?
One of the most amazing characters in the Old Testament was Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel. His story gives us the longest unabridged narrative on a single person, from Genesis 37 to Genesis 50.
Joseph's life at first glance is a story of betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment. However, from God's providence perspective, it is a tale of redemption, preparation, forgiveness and faithful leadership.
God is at work behind the scenes, even when His purposes don't seem obvious, Joseph teaches us this.
Quick Facts
Father Jacob (Israel)
Mother Rachel
Tribe Ephraim and Manasseh would later come through Joseph
Brothers Eleven brothers, including Benjamin
Occupation Shepherd, Slave, Prisoner, Governor of Egypt
Prophecies: Interpreted dreams, saved Egypt from famine, forgave his brothers
Main Bible Passage Genesis 37–50
Joseph's Life at a Glance
Born to Jacob and Rachel
His father gave him a special robe to wear.
* Received prophetic dreams
A slave by his brothers
* Was in the presence of Potiphar in his house with loyalty
Be falsely accused, and be imprisoned.
Interpreted dreams in prison
To assume the role of governor in Egypt.
Saved many lives during famine
* Forgave his brothers
He has been reunited with his family.He has been reunited with his family.
A Child Loved by His Father
Joseph was Jacob's favourite son, being the son of Jacob's most beloved wife, Rachel.
Joseph received a handsome coat from Jacob, a token of favor.
The gift was a sign of Jacob's love, but it also caused a bit more jealousy in Jacob's brothers.
Wisdom is needed to choose wisely who to favour, otherwise it can lead to unintended divisions.
The Dreams That Changed Everything
God gave Joseph two dreams when he was a youngster.
In the first one, the sheaves of his brothers bent before his sheaf.
In the second his sun, his moon and the eleven stars bowed down before him.
These were dreams that foretold God's plan.
Joseph revealed them, but his brothers reacted in anger, not curiosity.
Often God makes His will known years before it is carried out.
Betrayed by His Own Brothers
Jealousy had its zen when Joseph's brothers conspired against him.
They took away his robe and put him in a dry cistern and sold him to the traders of Midian who were coming to Egypt.
They got Joseph's coat soiled with goat's blood and Jacob was tricked into believing a wild animal had killed Joseph.
Joseph looked as if his future was shattered, from a human point of view.
But God was guilelessly leading all things.
A Slave in Egypt
Joseph was sold to Potiphar, a man in Pharaoh's court.
In slavery Scripture says again and again:
Joseph was blessed with the LORD.
Joseph was hardworking, honest.
Potiphar saw God's blessing in Joseph and gave him charge of all his business.
Things had really turned around for Joseph, but not his character.
Position is not a measure of faithfulness, faithfulness is shown in daily decisions.
The Test of Integrity
Joseph's wife pressed him to have sexual relations with her.
He didn't want to, not only for betraying his master, but for being a sin against God.
In his answer, he shows his priorities:
How could I do this great evil, and sin against God?
Temptation failed and false accusation followed.
Joseph ran away, and he left his coat behind.
His integrity has landed him up in jail.
The Prison That Became God's Classroom.
Joseph was sent into prison because of something he wasn't guilty of.
Many of the people would have gotten bitter.
Joseph remained faithful.
But again Scripture says:
Joseph was blessed with the LORD.
Soon he was given the task within the prison.
God continued to prepare him, even in jail.
There are times when God is preparing in a location that's not what we would choose.
Dreams in the Prison
In Joseph's life were two prisoners:
* Pharaoh's chief cupbearer
* Pharaoh's chief baker
They had both bad dreams.
Joseph explained them correctly, and he gave glory to God, not himself.
The cupbearer was re-erected.
The baker was put to death.
Joseph asked the cupbearer to remember him.
He was left to be forgotten for two more years.
Often times, waiting is one of God's greatest gifts in developing faith.
From Prison to Palace
Later, Pharaoh had some bad dreams that the wise men could not interpret.
It was only then that the cupbearer recollected of Joseph.
Pharaoh presented Joseph with himself.
Joseph replied:
Not in me is it: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Joseph, being a prophet, explained the interpretations of the dreams:
For seven years there would be abundance followed by seven years of great famine.
He also presented a feasible solution for the preparation.
Pharaoh understood that God's wisdom had been revealed in Joseph and he put him in charge of Egypt.
Joseph rose from a prisoner to a Prime Minister in one day!
The years of secret training were suddenly on display.
A Leader During Crisis
Joseph arranged for grain to be stored in Egypt.
Egypt was ready for the famine.
Foreigners from various countries were looking for food.
These included Joseph's brothers.
The dreams which God had given Joseph years earlier began to manifest themselves.
When faced with a wrong, choose forgiveness over revenge.Don't seek revenge - seek forgiveness.
Joseph's brothers did not know that he was Joseph.
He put them to the test in their hearts to see if they had turned.
Judah gave himself instead of Benjamin and Joseph saw the repentance of his brother.
Joseph could not hold himself back and revealed himself to his brothers.
His words are some of the most beautiful statements of forgiveness in Scripture:
You were planning evil, but God was planning good.
Joseph saw God's hand in spite of man's evil.
He decided to have mercy instead of revenge.
Five Deep Lessons from Joseph's Life
1. God's Silence Is Not God's Absence
Years passed without any visible fulfillment of God's promises.
Yet God was working in every chapter of Joseph's story.
When God seems silent, He may be arranging circumstances you cannot yet see.
2. Character Is Built Before Calling
Joseph was faithful:
as a son,
as a slave,
as a prisoner,
before becoming a ruler.
God often develops our character long before He expands our influence.
3. Integrity May Cost You
Joseph lost his position because he refused temptation.
Doing what is right is not always rewarded immediately.
But God honors faithful obedience in His perfect timing.
4. God Can Turn Evil Into Good
Joseph never claimed that what his brothers did was good.
It was evil.
Yet God was able to bring good out of their sinful actions.
This is one of Scripture's clearest demonstrations of God's sovereign providence.
5. Forgiveness Brings Freedom
Joseph had every human reason to hate his brothers.
Instead, he embraced them.
Forgiveness did not erase the past.
It released Joseph from being controlled by it.
Joseph as a Foreshadowing of Christ
Many Christians have noticed meaningful parallels between Joseph and Jesus. These are often understood as "types" or foreshadowings rather than exact one-to-one predictions.
Beloved by his father.
Rejected by his own people.
Sold for pieces of silver.
Falsely accused.
Suffered though innocent.
Exalted after humiliation.
Became the means through which many lives were saved.
Extended forgiveness to those who wronged him.
These parallels point readers toward God's larger story of redemption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Joseph when he was sold into slavery?
Joseph was about seventeen years old (Genesis 37:2).
How old was Joseph when he became governor of Egypt?
Joseph was thirty years old when Pharaoh appointed him (Genesis 41:46).
Did Joseph ever see his father again?
Yes. After many years apart, Joseph was reunited with Jacob in Egypt, where the family settled during the famine.
Why is Joseph's story important?
Joseph's life demonstrates God's providence, the value of integrity, the power of forgiveness, and the truth that God can work through suffering to accomplish His purposes.
Reflection
Joseph's life reminds us that God's plans often unfold through unexpected paths.
The pit was not the end.
Slavery was not the end.
Prison was not the end.
Each difficult season became part of God's preparation for something greater.
When we cannot understand what God is doing, Joseph's story encourages us to trust the One who sees the whole picture.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the example of Joseph. Help me remain faithful when life is difficult, patient when Your timing is different from mine, and gracious toward those who have hurt me. Teach me to trust that You are working even when I cannot see Your plan. Give me integrity in every circumstance and a heart that chooses forgiveness over bitterness.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
