LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #78 : JOSEPH #4
Written by : Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3579
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF JACOB #78
JACOB'S PROPHECIES ABOUT THE TWELVE TRIBES OF ISRAEL#13
JOSEPH #4
It is difficult to understand the magnitude of Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers' sin against him without a timeline of his life.
In Genesis 41:46 we learn that Joseph was 30 when he was made overseer to the king of Egypt. Since he was 17 when he was sold into Egypt, that means he spent 13 years total in Potiphar's house and prison.
We know Joseph was in prison at least 2 years because chapter 40 tells us about the servants of the king whose dreams Joseph interpreted.
The first verse of chapter 41 tells us that 2 years passed after that event before the king had the dreams that Joseph was called to interpret.
So Joseph lived in Potiphar's house 11 years or less and was in prison for 2 or more years. According to the Biblical Timeline Chart, Joseph was born after 1771 BC, which is the year his older brother Levi was born.
He was 17 when he was sold into Egypt
He was 30 when he was made overseer
He was 39 when his brothers first came to Egypt (second year of the famine, or nine years after being made overseer)
He was probably 41 or so when the brothers came a second time and Jacob comes to Egypt
He was 110 when he died.
Let us do our maths. He was 17 when he was sold off as a slave by his brothers and 41 when he forgave his brothers. So if he harbored any grudges as a victim of human trafficking, his pain and suffering lasted at least 24 years.
The burden of unforgiveness was really heavy to bear throughout his formative years.
But the Bible says God was with him throughout his ordeal. Instead of succumbing to self-pity or hopelessness, Joseph rose like a Christ-like figure to forgive the unforgivable - which is only humanly possible if during those 24 years he was divinely infused with the grace, wisdom, favour, and love of God.
We see Joseph as a picture of Jesus in that, like Jesus, Joseph takes on the role of a servant.
Because of God's favour upon him, Potiphar promotes him to run his whole household.
Thus the Lord blesses Potiphar's entire estate because of Joseph. Everything thrives: inside, outside, in the house, and in the field. He trusts Joseph so much he leaves every detail in his care.
Genesis 39:2 is one of my favorite verses in all of Scripture because it defies the logic of Joseph’s circumstances.
It says,
“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
God’s Word declares that Joseph was “a prosperous man.” This was at a time in his life when He was serving as a slave! His own brothers had sold him into slavery and told his father he was dead. No longer the wealthy, well-dressed, favorite son, Joseph found himself on an auction block in a foreign land, stripped of everything—including his clothes.
But even if you have nothing but God, You are accounted prosperous beyond measure as you would have everything. Like Joseph, you will be clothed in God's resplendent glory.
