Prayer: My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you (Psalms 139:15-18). I pray in Jesus name, Amen.
Main Scripture: Read Hebrews 1:22.
By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.
Associated Scriptures:
Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father's household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim's sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph's knees. Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will surely 1take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob." Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, "God will surely 1take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here." So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years, and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt (Genesis 50:22-26, NASB).
Concerning the tribe of Joseph, he said: "May his land be blessed by God with the choicest gifts of heaven and of the earth that lies below. May he be blessed with the best of what the sun makes grow, growing richly month by month, with the finest of mountain crops and of the everlasting hills (Deuteronomy 33:13-15 TLB).
"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. "You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand" (Genesis 41:39).
Then, a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. "Look," he said to his people, "the Israelites have become much too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country." So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor (Exodus 1:8-11).
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth! Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, Stir up Your strength and come and save us! Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved! O Lord God of hosts, how long will You be angry against the prayer of Your people (Psalms 80:1-4, NKJV)?
Correlative Quotes:
Ah, to Joseph, the riches of Egypt were nothing in comparison with the blessings of Zion. And so again now: when his hours on earth were numbered, Joseph thinks not of the temporal position of honor which he had occupied so long, but was engaged only with the things of God and the promised inheritance. See here the power of a godly example: Joseph had witnessed the last acts of his father, and now he follows in his steps.[1] – Arthur W. Pink
The Book of Genesis closes with the promise of the land yet unfulfilled but with the expectation of a visitation from on high. The words of Joseph, given twice, amazingly summarize the hope expressed throughout the Old Testament as well as the New: God will surely come to your aid (50:24-25). So the company of the faithful would wait in expectation for that visitation of the promised Seed, the Messiah, who will bring the curse to an end and establish in reality the long-awaited blessing of God.[2] – John Walvoord
"Just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of Saints." Morbid views of life are unwarranted. What God pleases is best, and what God pleases is sure to come to pass.[3] – Bible Illustrator
Study:
Joseph’s life could best be described as a continual roller-coaster ride. He was born the first son of Rachel. Jacob, Joseph’s father, loved Rachel more than his first wife Leah or any of the handmaidens (Genesis 29:20). Therefore, Rachel’s firstborn became Jacob’s favorite (Genesis 37:3). This gave Joseph continued access to his father and put him at the top of the roller- coaster.
However, Jacob’s love for Joseph, the multicolored coat that he gave to Joseph, and the dream Joseph interpreted predicting his rule of the others, infuriated his other brothers (Genesis 37:4-8). As a result of their hatred for Joseph, the brothers threw him in a well and then later sold him into slavery to a caravan of migrant Ishmaelites and Midianites (Genesis 37:19-28). At this point, Joseph had reached a low point in his life. However, the ride was only beginning.
The caravan of migrants sold Joseph to a wealthy Egyptian named Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh (Genesis 37:36, 39:1). When he saw that God was with Joseph, Potiphar gave him complete control of everything he owned. Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph, however, he rebuffed her and she turned on him by convincing Potiphar that Joseph had sexually assaulted her. As a result of his anger, Potiphar threw Joseph into prison (Genesis 37:7-20). Once again Joseph road the coaster to the bottom.
While in prison, Joseph was blessed by God and promoted by the prison overseer (Genesis 27:21-23). He was beginning to climb the upward hill again. While Joseph was in the prison a cupbearer and a baker both had dreams and Joseph interpreted them correctly. One lived and was restored, while the other was killed just as Joseph had said. He had asked the cupbearer to remember Joseph, however, he did not (Genesis 40). Joseph would spend two more years in the prison (Genesis 41:1). A short ride up and a short ride back down.
After the two years of incarceration, the Pharaoh had two vision or dreams and the cupbearer remembered Joseph. He correctly interpreted the dreams and the ruler of Egypt elevated Joseph to second in command of the Egyptian empire. Back on top again. The roller coaster ride was completed. God’s will had been executed in Joseph’s life. All around him gave glory to God for Joseph’s works (Genesis 41).
As a result of Joseph’s sale to the caravan of migrants and ultimately to Egypt, his entire family was saved from the seven years of famine. Joseph forgave his brothers and was reunited with his father, his brothers, and their entire family. It was Joseph’s great faith that brought him through the trials and tribulations that were brought on him. In the end, he realized that all the actions for and against him were part of the eternal plan of God. Joseph said in Genesis 50:20-21, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. "So, therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones." Joseph comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
7: A Promise Kept:
In his last days, Joseph reiterated God’s promise to Abraham that his people, Israel, would have their own land. Joseph’s great faith in God and his vision for God’s people allowed him to predict that Egypt was not their home and that they would eventually move on. All this would be according to the plan and timing of God. Genesis 50:24, records Joseph’s final words to his brothers when he says, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." God keeps his promises.
Summary Statement:
The account of Joseph is a picture of perseverance and dedication. His life and death are a narrative of excellence in leadership. That leadership had its foundation in faith and the understanding of God’s plan for his life. Joseph was a man of honesty and integrity. When Potiphar’s wife tempted him he resisted sin knowing that he would be punished (Genesis 39:9-10). He was disciplined enough to be promoted in each task that he was given, including his incarceration. Joseph displayed God’s wisdom when he was able to interpret the dreams of the Pharaoh (Genesis 39:4, 39:20-23, and 41:37-40). Joseph was strategic in his planning for the seven years of famine (Genesis 41:33-36). Finally, He was faith-driven. Joseph never doubted God whether his roller coaster ride was in its deepest slide or at the highest peak.
[1] Arthur W. Pink, Chapter 65: The Faith of Abraham, An Exposition of Hebrews, davidcox.com.mx/library/P/Pink%20-%20Expositions%20in%20Hebrews.pdf.
[2] John Walvoord, Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983, 2000 Cook Communications Ministries; 2000 Cook Communications Ministries. All rights reserved.
[3] The Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 Ages Software, Inc. and Biblesoft, Inc.