Story 12: Joseph

Genesis 37, 39-47

The Bridge: Jacob and Esau lived together peacefully. Because Rachel was Jacob’s favorite wife, her first-born, Joseph, was Jacob’s (Israel’s) favorite son. He received special attention. Jacob even gave him a coat of many colors, which made his brothers jealous.

The Story:

• Joseph dreamed that his family bowed down before him. This made his brothers angry. They sold him into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:12-25). They covered his coat of many colors with blood from a young goat, and sent the coat to their father. Jacob recognized the coat and thought that maybe a lion or other wild animal killed him. Jacob was devastated (Genesis 37:31-35). Afterwards, Benjamin, the son Rachel bore to him, became his favorite (Genesis 35:18).
• In Egypt, Joseph was falsely accused of attempted rape and imprisoned (Genesis 39:7-19). Servants of Pharaoh’s court who were in prison had their dreams interpreted by Joseph (Genesis 40:1-19). One of the servants was released and would later remember Joseph (Genesis 41:9-13).
• Pharaoh dreamed that there were 7 fat cows and 7 lean cows coming out of the river. The servants told Pharaoh about Joseph, who said that there would be 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Joseph was put in charge of storing grain for the famine years (Genesis 41:14-57).
• During the famine, Jacob sent all of his sons, except Benjamin, to Egypt to get food. They did not recognize Joseph, so they bowed down to him just like in the dream (Genesis 42:1-26).
• Joseph finally revealed who he was to them. Joseph was not angry because he realized that God had worked through him to save them from starving to death (Genesis 45:5-8, cf. 50:17-21).
• The brothers went back to Canaan and told Jacob that Joseph was alive. Jacob moved the whole family and all of their belongings to Egypt because of the famine (Genesis 45:25-46:1). The Pharaoh gave Jacob and his sons land to live on [Goshen] (Genesis 47:11).
• Joseph lived with his family in Egypt for the rest of his life. Before he died, he instructed that his bones be taken to Canaan (Genesis 49:29; Exodus 13:19).

How does the story of Joseph relate to Jesus and what He would do to save us?