Now that we are entering a new stage in our study of the book of Genesis, I think it is more proper for us to review what has been studied so far for us to have an overview of what God was trying to do to save mankind.
In Genesis 35, we learn the blessedness of a life that is centered on the house of God. We see that living such a life requires total surrender, ends our troubles, and leads to personal change and productivity.
And then in the last part of chapter 35 and the whole of chapter 36, we read there about the deaths of Rachel and Isaac, and a long account concerning the brother of Jacob, Esau. This death account is an important theme in the story of the patriarchs showing both the end of one generation and the continuity of God's covenant into the next generation.
And then here in chapter 37, we encounter a different character, Joseph, whose story plays a very important place in God's redemptive plan.
At the outset, we should bear in mind that yes, Joseph's story is an extension of his father's account, Jacob, but it also tells us about the broad plan of God both for mankind and Israel. As we all know, mankind has been departing away from God, and the reason why God called Abraham was to create a nation to preserve genuine religion. We see the continuation of this religion in the lives of the patriarchs and the formation of Israel as a nation. In this narrative, Joseph played a significant role.
And so in this article, I want to invite you to take a look once again at how the hand of God unfolds in this young boy's life, Joseph. In particular, I would like to share with you how God's mind is so different from the human mind and we can see it in the reversal of Joseph's life, which I describe as his worst nightmare that he never anticipated.
First, we see this nightmare through a reversal from a life that enjoys love to a life that is separated from the object of your love.
I am referring to the love relationship between father and son, Jacob and Joseph. Among his twelve sons, Jacob loved Joseph above all. But I think Jacob was not wise in showing his love for Joseph. This caused anger and jealousy among his sons. By giving special attention to Joseph, Jacob failed to give his other sons the love that they wanted.
This shows that, unlike our heavenly Father, Jacob is just like many fathers who have weaknesses and shortcomings. Jacob is not a perfect father despite his age. He had no idea that the special affection he was giving to Joseph would cause hatred and jealousy among his sons. Such hatred and jealousy resulted in Joseph's betrayal which caused lifelong problems and suffering in Jacob's family. I think if Jacob and his sons had just found comfort in God's love, this suffering would be unnecessary. We learn at least three things here:
- First, if you will just learn to find comfort in God's love, there is no room for hatred to enter into your heart.
Jacob's other sons longed for their father's love. They hated Joseph for seeing how their father gave him special attention. I think they failed to find comfort in God's love. If they had, this family's suffering would have been unnecessary.
We read that Joseph at that time was a young man of 17 and loved by his father so much. His brothers did not like such favoritism. It caused them to hate Joseph in their hearts. Their hatred for Joseph was a disguise for their longing for their father's love.
- Second, if you will just learn to find comfort in God's love, there is no room for envy to enter into your heart.
Envy is a dangerous thing. Jacob's other children for sure long for their father's love, but Jacob had set his heart only on Joseph. He made a special robe just for him. The other sons just watched in envy while seeing Joseph wearing such a robe. Every time they see that robe, it reminds them of their misery, the misery of not experiencing the love of their father as Joseph enjoyed. They envied him all the more.
- And finally, if you will just learn to find comfort in God's love, losing the object of your love will never devastate you.
Yes, it will cause you pain for we are still human. It is just normal for us to suffer pain when we are separated from the objects of our love. However, in times like that, our ultimate comfort should be in God's love. If we learn this lesson, we can go on living despite our situation.
We also see this nightmare through a reversal from a life that thinks big dreams to a life that is the exact opposite of your dreams.
Joseph had two unusual dreams. These dreams were interpreted by his family as Joseph lording over them. They didn't like his dreams. For them, those dreams just confirmed their inferior position before their younger brother. Their hatred for him grew even more because of his dreams.
Perhaps, Joseph was so excited when he received those dreams. He was thinking that God would have prepared a great future for him. He was right, but he never realized the process that he had to undertake before reaching that great future. He never thought that his brothers would betray him. He never thought that he would be separated from his family. What happened to him was the exact opposite of what he was anticipating in his dreams.
This tells us that the mind of God is different from our minds. God used the most unexpected means and situations to implement his plan. What we know is that when God acts, no man can claim the honor for himself. The ways and means of God are aimed to bring him all the honor and glory that he deserves. When God acts nobody can boast that it is his wisdom or anything in himself that deserves the praise. No, that is not the case. We know it is God acting when humans cannot boast of it, and all the glory is given only unto Him.
Finally, this nightmare comes through a reversal from a life that is free to a life of slavery.
Joseph's story is extraordinary and is only suitable for movie production. I remember the story of the film "Gladiator" where a Roman general Maximus was betrayed by the emperor's son and became a slave, and later a gladiator who defied the emperor. The same spirits were at work that conspired against Maximus, a faithful servant and general of the Roman Empire; they were hatred and jealousy due to political ambition.
However, unlike that movie, politics had nothing to do with Joseph's betrayal which robbed him of freedom and brought him to slavery. This betrayal happened among family members who professed to worship the true God. This makes the story too difficult to believe that something like this happens in a family of those who worship God. This tells us that even God's people are not exempted from anger, jealousy, betrayal, and suffering.
Someone said that to be betrayed by people whom you trust is far worse than death. It would cause indescribable suffering. Imagine and compare Joseph's life before and after the betrayal of his brothers. Joseph enjoyed his father's love, but due to the betrayal of his brothers, he was now separated from his father. He would no longer enjoy the comforts of his father's love.
Moreover, Joseph too was a free man before. As a result of his brothers' betrayal, he was sold as a slave. His life, his time, and his talents were all now under the control of his owner. He could no longer use them for himself but for his master's benefit.
Conclusion
The story of Joseph directs our minds to the wisdom and power of God and how he used human situations to bring about his redemptive plan for mankind. God is a master of life reversals where those whom he intends to use could temporarily be deprived of human comforts and love, could experience the exact opposite of what they anticipate, and could be deprived of their freedom. In situations like these, no human effort can bring us lasting comfort. It is only God who is capable of bringing healing, recovery, and reversal in such impossible situations. After everything has been said and done, no man can boast about anything, and everyone will recognize that indeed it is nothing but the work of God. Only then that your worst nightmare turn into the sweetest dream.
Grace and peace!
Note: Due to a lack of appropriate images from both AI and pexels.com, the blogger decided to use Wikipedia. As to the use of the image in this post, the blogger, after checking the source, the following description is indicated there:
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In case the hivewatcher considers this a violation of the chain rules, I am willing to edit this post and remove the above image.