The story of Joseph and his brothers is told in Genesis chapters 37-50. Joseph was the favored son of his father Jacob, being born to Jacob’s favorite wife Rachel in his old age. Jacob gave Joseph a coat of many colors, signifying his favored status. This caused great jealousy among Joseph’s older brothers, who were born to Jacob’s first wife Leah and their handmaids.
One day when Joseph was 17 years old, his brothers had gone to tend the flocks and Jacob sent Joseph to check on them. When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they plotted to kill him. However, Reuben and Judah argued against directly murdering Joseph, so instead they threw him into a pit and decided to leave him to die. As the brothers were eating, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites approaching. Judah suggested they sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites instead of leaving him to die. The brothers agreed and sold Joseph for 20 shekels of silver. To deceive their father Jacob, the brothers dipped Joseph’s coat in goat blood and brought it back to Jacob, leading him to believe Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.
The Ishmaelites brought Joseph to Egypt and sold him as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. As Joseph served in Potiphar’s household, God blessed everything Joseph did. Potiphar eventually promoted Joseph to be overseer of his entire household. However, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of making advances on her, so Potiphar had Joseph thrown in Pharaoh’s prison. While in prison, Joseph correctly interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants who were also imprisoned. He asked the cupbearer to mention him to Pharaoh in order to be released from prison, but the cupbearer forgot about Joseph for two years.
Two years later, Pharaoh had two troubling dreams that none of his magicians could interpret. At this point the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about his ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh summoned Joseph from prison and told him the dreams, which Joseph said foretold of seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. Impressed by Joseph’s wisdom, Pharaoh appointed him to oversee the storage of surplus food during the seven good years to provide for the seven years of famine. At age 30, Joseph became ruler over all the land of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh himself.
When the famine arrived, it extended beyond Egypt to surrounding lands including Canaan, where Joseph’s family lived. Jacob sent ten of Joseph’s brothers to Egypt to buy grain, keeping only Benjamin at home. The brothers came before the Egyptian governor to get grain, not realizing it was Joseph. Joseph recognized them but concealed his identity at first, accusing them of being spies. After interrogating them and keeping Simeon as a hostage, Joseph sent the brothers back to Canaan with grain, ordering them to return with Benjamin to prove they were not spies. After telling Jacob all that had transpired, the brothers returned to Egypt with Benjamin.
Joseph continued to conceal his identity while interacting with the brothers and even framing Benjamin for stealing a valuable cup. Judah pleaded for Benjamin’s release by offering to take his place, as he could not bear to return to their father in Canaan without him. Upon witnessing the brothers’ concern for Benjamin and Judah’s offer of substitutionary sacrifice, Joseph was overcome with emotion and revealed his identity to his brothers. The brothers were astonished, thinking Joseph would now seek vengeance. But Joseph told them not to fear, saying that while they intended evil against him, God meant it for good to save many lives. Joseph invited Jacob and all his household to relocate to Egypt to survive the famine.
When Jacob learned Joseph was alive and ruler of Egypt, his spirit revived. Jacob’s entire family, 70 in all, settled in the land of Goshen as Joseph instructed. There Jacob requested Joseph swear an oath that he would bury him in Canaan with his fathers rather than in Egypt. The book of Genesis ends with Jacob’s death in Egypt at age 147, with Joseph having him embalmed and buried in Canaan. Before his own death, Joseph told his brothers that God would surely take them back to Canaan and charged them to carry his bones out of Egypt. Thus Joseph demonstrated faith that God would fulfill His promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham’s descendants.
The story of Joseph and his brothers is a powerful example of God’s sovereignty, foreknowledge and redemptive power. While Joseph’s brothers intended evil by selling him into slavery, God worked it for good according to His divine plan. Joseph foreshadows the Messiah Jesus, being rejected by his own yet later becoming the rescuer and savior of the world. Though severely tested, Joseph maintained faith in God and integrity in character. He forgave rather than sought revenge. As a type of Christ, Joseph provides a clear portrait of biblical redemption.
The story spans approximately 23 years, described in 13 chapters of Genesis – the longest continuous narrative of any individual in the Bible. Joseph’s life is presented as a progressive ascent to power, at age 17 sold as a slave, age 30 made ruler of Egypt second only to Pharaoh. The story is meticulously crafted, with parallels, structure and intricate repetition revealing the handiwork of God. Joseph’s family saga provides a theological explanation for how the children of Israel came to live in Egypt for over 400 years, which sets the stage for the Exodus under Moses.
Some key themes and lessons from the account of Joseph and his brothers include:
- God’s sovereignty – He is able to work all things together for good for those who love Him and fulfill His redemptive purposes even through mankind’s evil actions.
- God’s foreknowledge and providential care – The dreams He gave Joseph demonstrated His knowledge and plan.
- Sin’s consequences – The brothers faced years of remorse over selling Joseph.
- Forgiveness – Joseph forgave rather than sought revenge against those who wronged him.
- Integrity and purity – Joseph refused to sin against God even under great temptation and pressure.
- Humility and wisdom – Joseph gave God glory rather than taking credit himself for his giftings.
- God’s faithfulness – In fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham’s descendants.
- Typology – Joseph as a type of Christ, rejected by his own but later became their savior.
In summary, the account of Joseph and his brothers forms one of the most cherished and theologically significant portions of Genesis. It provides a vivid example of God’s divine providence in using both good and evil to further His redemptive plan. And it establishes the context for Israel’s Egyptian captivity that sets the stage for the Exodus.
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