Week 2 / Patriarchs

Joseph

Read: Genesis 37:9-11; Genesis 37:23-24; Genesis 50:15-21

SOAP: Genesis 50:20

"As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day." (NET)

Into the Text

Joseph is a great example of a man of faith. He was one of Jacob’s twelve sons, and he was Jacob’s favorite. God also began to give Joseph dreams. One dream showed that Joseph’s brothers would one day bow down to him.

Needless to say, his brothers did not appreciate this. They allowed hatred to grow in their hearts to the point that they sold Joseph into slavery and faked his death.

Joseph went through years of trials and triumphs where it would have been easy to doubt God and grow angry. But Joseph held firm to his faith. After years in jail, God allowed Joseph to interpret the dream of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and warn of a coming famine. Pharaoh then promoted Joseph to second in command over Egypt.

When the famine reached Jacob’s family, they traveled to Egypt to find food. Instead of enacting revenge on his brothers, Joseph provided for them and reminded them that what was intended for evil, God used for good.

The same is true in our own lives. We may go through seasons of great triumphs and trials. We may wonder if God sees and cares. He does. We may not be able to see it right away, but God’s plans always prevail. He is at work, and you can trust Him right where you are.

Prayer

God, thank you that you can use any experience for good. Help me to remember this truth when I’m tempted to doubt whether you are at work. Amen.