Day Nine: Joseph

Moving on to the life of Joseph--we find him sold into Egypt as a slave--by his brothers.  Once there he suffered false accusation, was thrown into prison, promised a possible reprieve and then forgotten.  Finally--at just the right time; God's time--he was released and became the highest official, (next to Pharaoh), in the land of Egypt.

Chapter 45 of Genesis is the story of his brothers coming to Egypt for food because of a famine.  They find themselves in the presence of their brother, but do not recognize him.  The first 9 verses of this chapter is Joseph's "reveal" to them.

"Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him, and he cried, 'cause every man to go out from me.'  And there stood no man with him while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.  And Joseph said:  'Now therefore, be not grieved nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life.  For these two years hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years in the which there shall neither be earring nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.'"

Here is God's mighty hand, preserving the seed of Abraham and fulfilling His promises to him.  It may not have been done in the way Jacob or even Joseph would have chosen, or imagined...but it was done God's way and the best way.

What a powerful faith in God Joseph had.  Enduring betrayal by his flesh and blood brothers, then resisting the temptation of Potipher's wife--only to be falsely accused and thrown into prison.  So, again, there is the powerful illustration of how one man's faith, (Joseph), can bring salvation and deliverance to his entire family.  God had promised Abraham that his seed would be greatly multiplied.  This could not have happened if Jacob and his sons had died during the famine.

Hope you are enjoying our walk through Scriptures as we explore the heart of God toward family.  In the days that follow, we will see that while the focus seems to rest with Abraham's descendants--God's law of promise extends to any and all who call upon and believe on His name!