Joseph

The cistern was empty. Joseph’s brothers stripped off his robe and threw him inside. He had come to find them at his father’s request; now they were discussing what to do with him.

Joseph was seventeen. Jacob’s favouritism had already divided the household, and Joseph’s dreams of his family bowing before him had deepened his brothers’ hatred. Reuben intervened when they planned to kill him. Then Judah proposed selling him instead. Joseph was taken to Egypt, while his brothers used his bloodstained robe to convince Jacob that a wild animal had killed him. (Genesis 37:2-35)

Faithfulness behind closed doors

In Egypt, Potiphar bought Joseph and eventually entrusted his household to him. God was with Joseph, and his work prospered. But responsibility did not protect him from wrongdoing by someone more powerful.

Potiphar’s wife repeatedly pressured him to sleep with her. Joseph refused, recognising it as a betrayal of trust and a sin against God. When she grabbed his cloak, he left it behind and fled. She used that cloak in a false accusation, and Joseph was imprisoned.

There, God remained with him. The prison keeper gave him responsibility for the other prisoners and their work. Joseph’s circumstances had changed again; his relationship with God continued within them. (Genesis 39)

From dreams to a nation’s need

When Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker were troubled by dreams, Joseph told them that interpretations belonged to God. What he explained came to pass. He asked the cupbearer to remember him, but the man returned to his position and forgot. Two more years passed before Pharaoh’s own dreams brought Joseph’s name back to mind. (Genesis 40; 41:1-13)

Summoned from prison, Joseph credited God for the answer Pharaoh needed. Seven years of abundance would be followed by seven years of severe famine. He proposed storing grain during the plentiful years so that people could survive the shortage.

Pharaoh appointed him over Egypt, with only Pharaoh above him. Joseph organised the stores. When famine came, he opened them and sold grain to people from Egypt and beyond. The responsibility placed in his hands would reach the family he had lost. (Genesis 41:14-57)

The brothers before him

They bowed before him without recognising him. Joseph knew them.

He questioned them, accused them of spying and required them to return with Benjamin, their youngest brother. He kept Simeon in custody while the others took grain home. When he heard them speak about their guilt over what they had done to him, Joseph turned away and wept. (Genesis 42:1-24)

On their later visit, Joseph arranged for his silver cup to be placed in Benjamin’s sack. When it was found, Benjamin faced remaining in Egypt as a slave. Judah stepped forward and offered himself in his place, explaining that their father could not bear to lose another son. The brother who had proposed selling Joseph was now offering his own freedom for Benjamin. (Genesis 44)

Joseph could no longer hold back. He sent the attendants out, wept aloud and revealed who he was. His brothers were terrified, but he asked them to come closer. He spoke of God preserving life through his presence in Egypt and told them to bring Jacob and their households there. He embraced Benjamin, kissed his brothers and wept with them. (Genesis 45:1-15)

Refusing to make harm the last word

After Jacob died, the brothers feared that Joseph would finally retaliate. Joseph wept again. He acknowledged that they had intended evil against him, while God had worked for good to preserve many lives. He refused revenge and promised to provide for them and their families. God’s work had brought life from their wrongdoing; it had not made their wrongdoing good. (Genesis 50:15-21)

What Joseph’s story asks of us

One lesson we can draw from Joseph is to join trust in God with honest action: resist wrongdoing, use responsibility to serve and leave room for mercy. His rise to power is not a promise that every faithful sufferer will receive promotion or visible vindication.

Forgiveness need not erase truth or remove safeguards. We can refuse revenge while seeking protection, accountability and trustworthy support. Joseph’s story invites hope in God’s goodness without asking us to call betrayal good.