BibleProject | One Story: Foundations of the BibleSample

Joseph’s long descent into slavery, exile, and imprisonment finally rebounds. Today’s reading offers a brilliant example of how the biblical authors use narrative (one of the literary styles in today’s video) to show how God is working in the world.

Joseph languishes in prison for two years, but at just the right time, God prompts the cupbearer to remember Joseph. This remembering leads to a cascade of events where Joseph becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man, the second most powerful person in Egypt. From prison pits to prominent palaces, God works out his plans.

There are lots of hyperlinks to the Eden story here. Just as God called Adam to rule the world with him as his image-bearer, now Pharaoh gives Joseph his signet ring and clothes, marking the former slave as an image of Pharaoh and co-ruler of Egypt. But where Adam chose to follow his own wisdom, Joseph trusts God’s wisdom and spreads life, blessing, and abundance to all nations.

When famine reunites Joseph with his brothers, he conceals his identity and tests them by recreating the moment they betrayed him. They can go back to their father with sacks full of silver, leaving their brother in chains… or they can choose to rescue their sibling. Jacob, always playing favorites, would rather let Simeon rot in prison than risk losing Benjamin. Will Jacob’s sons return for Simeon, or will they abandon another brother to Egypt?

Reflection questions:

• We’ve read many chapters of narrative so far in our journey through the Bible. How have these stories shaped the way you see God, the world, and other people?
• Think back to other places where we’ve seen clothing appear in Genesis 37-42. What connections do you see? How does the role of clothing help you understand the larger developments of the story?