Introduction
The blessing of God on Isaac and Jephthah has been presented in our previous two Newsletters. Joseph was also treated inhumanely by his own brothers because of his dreams but in the end, God commanded His blessings over him. In this version of our presentation, the commanded blessing upon Joseph is detailed.
Joseph, the Dreamer
Joseph was hated by his own brothers because of his dreams. His dreams indicated to his family that he would be a great person in the family and that they would bow to him in future (Gen 37:5-11). Because of his dreams, he had to endure much pains and suffering. Joseph was sent to deliver food to his brothers in the field, and at the sight of him, they conspired against him to kill him (Gen 37:18-20). His life was spared as a result of the intervention of his brother, Reuben. He was, therefore, stripped naked and thrown into a pit (Gen 37:21-24). He was later sold out to them for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt for merchandise (Gen 37:25-29). Joseph, therefore, found himself in Egypt as a slave in the house of Potiphar because he had bought him from the Ishmaelites (Gen 37:36).
Joseph at Potiphar´s House
At the house of Potiphar, Joseph was tempted severally by Potiphar´s wife but he never sinned. His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand (Gen 39:36). It has been recorded that “the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Because of Joseph, the LORD blessed Potiphar, the Egyptian and his house, and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. Joseph was made an overseer over all that he had because he was good and well favored (Gen 39:1-6). Joseph went to jail because Potiphar´s wife lied about him that he had wanted to sleep with her but in the prison, the Lord was still with him (Gen 39:20-23)
While Joseph was in prison, the Lord God favored him, especially with the gift of interpretation of dreams. This enabled him to interpret the dreams of his fellow prisoners including those of Pharaoh. This gift helped him to come out of prison and he was made a governor in Egypt (Gen 40:7-8, Gen 41:12-39, Gen 41:40-46). There was plenty of food in Egypt as the dreams of Pharaoh were rightly interpreted by Joseph (Gen 41:54-57). This led the brothers of Joseph to Egypt, to look for grains because there was famine in Canaan (Gen 42:1-5).
His Brethren Bowed to Him
It is read that Joseph was the governor over the land of Egypt, and he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed down themselves before him, with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw them, and he recognized them but did not reveal his identity to them. He spake roughly unto them, and he asked them whence they come from? They answered, from the land of Canaan to buy food (Gen 42:6-8). Joseph wept as he revealed himself unto them. He said unto his brothers to come close to him, “And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt”. He told his brothers that they should not be troubled nor be angry with each other that they sold him because the Lord sent him ahead to Egypt so that he would save the lives of many (Gen 45:1-7).
The brothers of Joseph wished him dead but Joseph saw beyond the acts of his brothers. He was convinced that all things worked together for his good (Rom 8: 28). He saw that the blessing of God was upon him because God had made him a father to the king of Egypt, and the master of his house, and a governor throughout the land of Egypt (Gen 45:8-9).
Conclusion
Joseph´s father´s affection for him, coupled with his big dreams, led his elderly brothers to treat him ill. He went through series of challenges but because he upheld his integrity, and loved God deeply, God commanded His blessing upon him even in the prison. Nothing hindered him from becoming what God had planned for him. Men wished him evil but the Lord exalted him and made him a savior for many people because of the sincerity of his heart.
Prayer: May the Lord God establish your heart on Him and cause you to live your dreams in the midst of the opposing forces, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN!