The life of Joseph makes for an incredible story. Readers of the Bible love its message. But it’s found a broader audience in our culture in productions like The Prince of Egypt by DreamWorks, The Ballad of Little Joe by Veggie Tales, and the theatrical production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. As interesting as the story is, it’s not immediately clear what the message is. What is it doing in the Bible and what are we to learn from it? And how does it provide the conclusion to the Book of Genesis?
I’ve been helped with these questions by Samuel Emadi’s book, From Prisoner to Prince: The Joseph Story in Biblical Theology. Let me share four takeaways.
1. Sin results in conflict – Joseph shows how it can be resolved
One of the immediate consequences of eating the forbidden fruit was conflict. Adam blames Eve. Cain murders Abel. Ishmael mocks Isaac. Esau wants to kill Jacob. It feels like conflict is unavoidable and unresolvable. It’s only in the story of Joseph that we see the path to reconciliation. It’s made possible by God’s sovereign working, but it’s fulfilled through repentance on one side and forgiveness on the other. The brothers put their sin behind them, and Joseph does the same. As Emadi puts it, “Joseph is an anti-Cain. He truly is his brother’s keeper.”
2. God warns of suffering – Joseph shows how to deal with it
In the garden, Adam’s sin brings a curse on the land (Genesis 3:16-29). But he isn’t taught how to cope with it. He’s sent out of the garden, and we feel the hopelessness of his separation from God. Joseph shows that it’s possible to live outside of the garden in painful circumstances but still know the blessing of “God with you” (Genesis 39:2-3, 21, 23). Even after Adam gave in to sin, Joseph shows that it’s possible to resist forbidden fruit (Genesis 39:6-12). And even in suffering and humiliation, Joseph shows that by serving others, God’s people can find their calling. The power for this comes from the conviction that what the world intends for evil God can use for good (Genesis 50:20).
3. God promises to bless the nations – Joseph shows how it’s possible
God promises to bless all the families of the earth through Abraham’s offspring. Despite this, there are only tiny glimpses of this blessing in the lives of the patriarchs (Genesis 14:13-16; 18:22-33; 30:25-28). In Joseph’s life, however, he brings blessings to those whom he serves because God is with him. His hard work and wise management have an impact on Potiphar since“the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake” (Genesis 39:5). Then, while in prison, Joseph blesses the guard he serves because “whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed” (Genesis 39:23). Finally, Joseph brings blessing to the nations by interpreting the Lord’s dream to Pharoah and managing the crops in a way that delivers countless people from a terrible famine. Joseph has taken up Adam’s role as a gardener, and God has used him to bless many.
4. God promises a Saviour – Joseph shows what He’ll look like
With the serpent’s deception in the garden, it looks like humanity is doomed. But God promises that a Saviour will be born who will eventually defeat the serpent (Genesis 3:15). Joseph shows us the kind of person to look for. Joseph has a dream where he’s pictured in greatness as royalty (Genesis 37:5-11), but he’s rejected and despised. Each time people try to harm him, he ends up closer to the throne. After his enemies presume him dead, he ascends to power and brings salvation and forgiveness to many. Joseph shows us what kind of Saviour to look for and helps to identify Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Joseph is a great story, but its message is even better. I’ll give Samuel Emadi the final word on it:
“Perhaps Moses spends so much time on Joseph to show us that God can pull off the impossible – even through a seemingly insignificant Jew rejected by his own brothers. Perhaps Moses spends so much time on Joseph so his people will anticipate a coming Joseph who will finally reverse the curse and fulfil the promises. Joseph’s story is the story of the whole Bible.”
In awe of Him,
Paul
