Joseph Part - II

As we read through the life history of Joseph, we see that he was elevated while his offenders were thrown in to insecurity and fear for future. God’s child, will not be left to be without hope, but will be elevated, while his offenders will be thrown in to insecurity and fear for their future. God assures his children that when they seek the Kingdom of God; all their needs will be fulfilled. (Matt. 6:33)

We see how insecure Joseph’s brothers and Jacob were feeling because of their worry about future, even though they are the children of God. Seeing the circumstances around them, they were worried. Joseph’s brothers felt insecure, because of their guilt feeling that God is punishing them for selling their own brother. Jacob, in his old age was worried about his children and his own future. God’s children have a great hope in Matthew 6:34, where Jesus expressly, says, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”. In fact, as we read through the story we find that everything works for good for those who are called according to his purpose. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 It was God’s plan that there should be abundance for seven years and famine for the next seven years that should follow immediately the seven years of abundance. It was, in His plan that someone, whom he loved and thought would best fit for the disposition of food for seven years of famine, should be one from Jacob’s family and that was Joseph. It was in His plan that the blessed one, Jacob, whom He called, Israel, should survive the severe famine. It was His plan that during that period of seven years of famine, some one from the family of Jacob should be in Egypt to provide food for Jacob’s family.

Even when all this was happening at the behest of God, the children of Israel were worried about their survival, future, and, therefore, indicted themselves of having sold their brother, Joseph, many years ago. They did not know that their food was already stored for them by God many years before they knew about it. They were worried as to what their destiny would be. It was God, who was taking care of Israelites and their future, when Joseph was put in the waterless pit and when he was pulled out by Midianites and sold to Ishmaelites, who in turn, sold him to the Egyptians. Joseph proved himself worthy of calling by escaping from the seduction of Potiphar’s wife. Joseph remained true and honest to Potiphar. Things did not seem to be going in favor of Joseph, when he was trying to escape from the trouble. He actually got in to the trouble when Potiphar’s wife accused him of molesting her. Pharaoh gave credence to his wife and sent Joseph in to prison.

There, in the prison Joseph came in contact with two other prisoners, who were in very close circles of Pharaoh. Because Joseph’s interpretations of their dreams came true, one was hanged to death, and another was restored to the position as Chief Butler. While Pharaoh was searching for an interpreter of his dreams, the Chief Butler, who forgot Joseph, for two full years, remembered him and commended him to Pharaoh. Earlier in the prison, Joseph had made a request to the chief of butler, who was imprisoned along with him, but he did not remember him when he regained his position. When Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh, he was given the position as governor of the land of Egypt. It was God, who planned the redemption of Jacob (Israel) from the famine that was going to come, and it was also the God, who planned redemption of Joseph from the troubles even from the prison, and placement as the governor of the land of Egypt. In the later part of Joseph’s story we read how Joseph acknowledges God’s providence for Israel.

Benjamin is brought to Egypt and presented before Joseph. Joseph weeps because of his love toward his brethren. Later he forces them to bring their father, Jacob, from Canaan to Egypt and the brothers bring Jacob also to Egypt and they all settle there. In the brothers of Joseph coming to Egypt and falling obeisance to Joseph, and in Jacob coming to Egypt and falling obeisance to Joseph, the dreams of Joseph were fulfilled. In chief baker being released from the prison and being executed the chief baker’s dream as interpreted by Joseph is fulfilled. In chief butler being released from the prison and in his restoration as the trusted servant of Pharaoh his dream as interpreted by Joseph was fulfilled. This is how Jacob, whom God blessed by calling him as Israel, settles down in Egypt and there starts the beginning of Israelites becoming slaves to Egyptians. Later as the years pass by there comes on the scene Moses, sent by God to deliver Israelites from the bondage of slavery under Pharaoh of Egypt. The chosen generation, Israelites, are redeemed by God through his servant Moses and brought back to the blessed land Canaan.

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This article is taken from my book "Meditation on Joseph's life".
Please Click here to buy the book from www.amazon.com



This article is taken from my book "Meditation on Joseph's life".
Please Click here to buy the book from www.amazon.com