I love this story!! --> Actually, it's not a story - it's a true historical account!!
Recently, we taught the kids at Sunday School the story about Joseph and how God was able to turn the bad things that happened to Joseph into good.
If you're unfamiliar with the story of Joseph (one of the great patriachs of the Old Testament - Genesis 37-50), let me give you a brief overview.
1) Joseph, being one of the 12 sons of Jacob and his favourite son, was despised by his brothers, who then planned on killing him, but in the end sold him to traders as a slave to Egypt. As a slave to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, Joseph found favour in his sight and was made the overseer of the house.
2) But Potiphar's wife started to lust after him. Joseph refused her advances and she lied to her husband about what happened, making Potiphar angry enough to throw Joseph in prison. However, in prison, God gave him favour in the sight of the prisonkeeper and was put in charge of all the prisoners.
3) Later on, God helped Joseph interprete dreams of two prisoners who worked with the Pharaoh. After 2 years in prison, he was asked to interprete the Pharaoh's dream, and the Pharaoh seeing how wise he was, made him the Governor of Egypt (2nd in charge after the Pharaoh). Because he was the governor, he was able to bring his family to Egypt during the dreadful time of the famine.
And so, God was with Joseph all this while....even though things seemed bad, God had a purpose for Joseph.
Anyway, why I find this story so fascinating is the depth of emotions in Joseph. As I was reading the passage, it hit me how much suffering Joseph went through. And how much he trusted God and truly forgave his brothers for what they had done to him because he could see that God had a purpose for it all.
"Gen 41: 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."
Joseph is already Governor and his brothers came to Egypt to seek grain, but was accused of being spies by Joseph, whom they didn't recognise.
"42: 22 Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood." 23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. 24 He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again."
After his brothers brought back Benjamin as requested:
"42:29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 43: 31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food." "
He wept loudly again when he finally revealed himself to his brothers, after seeing that they had changed. He wept again on his father's shoulders when he sees him after so many years. And when his father died, Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him.
I think the account of Joseph is so real, the emotional pain vividly expressed. It's such an amazing story. I think a film of the story would be equally as touching. The depth of his love for his father, his brothers after years of separation and pain.
Recently, we taught the kids at Sunday School the story about Joseph and how God was able to turn the bad things that happened to Joseph into good.
If you're unfamiliar with the story of Joseph (one of the great patriachs of the Old Testament - Genesis 37-50), let me give you a brief overview.
1) Joseph, being one of the 12 sons of Jacob and his favourite son, was despised by his brothers, who then planned on killing him, but in the end sold him to traders as a slave to Egypt. As a slave to Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh, Joseph found favour in his sight and was made the overseer of the house.
2) But Potiphar's wife started to lust after him. Joseph refused her advances and she lied to her husband about what happened, making Potiphar angry enough to throw Joseph in prison. However, in prison, God gave him favour in the sight of the prisonkeeper and was put in charge of all the prisoners.
3) Later on, God helped Joseph interprete dreams of two prisoners who worked with the Pharaoh. After 2 years in prison, he was asked to interprete the Pharaoh's dream, and the Pharaoh seeing how wise he was, made him the Governor of Egypt (2nd in charge after the Pharaoh). Because he was the governor, he was able to bring his family to Egypt during the dreadful time of the famine.
And so, God was with Joseph all this while....even though things seemed bad, God had a purpose for Joseph.
Anyway, why I find this story so fascinating is the depth of emotions in Joseph. As I was reading the passage, it hit me how much suffering Joseph went through. And how much he trusted God and truly forgave his brothers for what they had done to him because he could see that God had a purpose for it all.
"Gen 41: 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."
Joseph is already Governor and his brothers came to Egypt to seek grain, but was accused of being spies by Joseph, whom they didn't recognise.
"42: 22 Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood." 23 They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter. 24 He turned away from them and began to weep, but then came back and spoke to them again."
After his brothers brought back Benjamin as requested:
"42:29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 43: 31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food." "
He wept loudly again when he finally revealed himself to his brothers, after seeing that they had changed. He wept again on his father's shoulders when he sees him after so many years. And when his father died, Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him.
I think the account of Joseph is so real, the emotional pain vividly expressed. It's such an amazing story. I think a film of the story would be equally as touching. The depth of his love for his father, his brothers after years of separation and pain.
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