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Genesis (All KJV) 37:28 “Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they (Joseph's Brothers) drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”
. Joseph was sold into slavery. It was bad news for him and by all accounts, Joseph was a righteous boy. In fact God gave Joseph a prophetic dream. Can you imagine the isolation Joseph felt when he was betrayed by his own brothers? How about having to live in servitude in a strange land? What's more he was falsely accused of assault and thrown in prison an innocent man. How could his brothers have done such an evil deed? “Why me Oh Lord?” he probably wondered. Most people would have blamed God for the bad.
. George Constanza in an episode of “Seinfeld” blamed God for a bad event in his life. When Jerry said “I thought you didn't believe in God?” George responded “Just for the bad things that happen!” Although George blasphemed outright many feel the same way. God is never given credit for any good, but gets the blame for bad. People blaspheme, but subtlely so.!
. 43.Genesis 41:41 “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42
And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”.
Throughout all the turmoil Joseph kept his faith in God and relied on Him for deliverance. God followed through as you can see. Joseph became second only to Pharaoh. He was blessed. Who would have ever thought it?
. Joseph's brothers, at the bidding of Jacob their father, came to Egypt in time of drought in Canaan. There they were met by their brother, Joseph, who they failed to recognize and in the time of tribulation they were saved by their brother who they had desired to kill, but sold into slavery. Joseph could have been vengeful and let them starve. Revenge is our human nature. However, Joseph nourished them. It was God's will!
. Genesis 45:4 “And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. 5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. 6For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. 7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.”
. If you remember, God made a covenant with Abraham. God promised that by Abraham's seed the world would become populated. If Jacob had stayed in Canaan the famine would have starved the people and God's promise would have been null. God doesn't work that way. He keeps His promises! God used the brothers of Joseph to make His promise come about. The bad which happened to Joseph was for the good of God and mankind.
. Furthermore, there's a hidden story here. Joseph is a “picture” of the coming Messiah. Just as Joseph's brothers betrayed him, Jesus' earthly brothers did the same. As Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, Jesus was sold for thirty. Joseph never blamed his betrayers and neither did Jesus. Whereas, Joseph's despair brought salvation to his people by providing bread, Jesus's despair, His sacrifice, saved all mankind. Jesus is the Bread of Life.
. Reread the account of Joseph. Ask yourself while reading “What's this got to do with Jesus?” Do you realize that if the seed of Jacob (Israel) had died out we would never have had the promised Messiah and we would be living without hope... if at all! We're all of the line of Abraham and we literally wouldn't be here either.
. When times are bad aint God good? Think of your own perils and how God delivers. Call on Him and you will be delivered from peril... eternal peril.
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