“Joseph’s Father, Jacob/Israel, loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”
Genesis 37:3
Jacob’s brothers were ‘jealous of him and they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.‘ I find this statement in the Bible incredibly sad because of the harshness of the word hate and the unkindness that follows it. Hate is such a strong word born from jealousy. Perhaps Joseph’s father should not have favoured him or given him special gifts but because of this, Joseph will suffer the consequences of their hatred.
Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
John 15:23
Jesus too was hated because God favoured him, his son. “There came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.” (Luke 9:45) God bestowed his spirit on him so that all may be blessed through him and saved by him. Jesus freely gave what was given to him and he instructed his disciples to do the same.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”
Matthew 10:15
Although Jacob favoured Joseph and gave him a special gift, God also favoured Joseph and gave him a special gift. The gift of prophecy and The Holy Spirit.
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
1 Corinthians 12:4
Why should we be jealous of another person’s gifts, surely you should take it up with the Giver? As children of God we have received the most precious gift of all, the Holy Spirit of God, I would not turn him away, but perhaps I could ask that God also bless others with this precious gift. Love is not selfish, self-centred, unkind, boastful, proud or jealous.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Joseph is often portrayed as prideful, boastful and sometimes even unkind at the start of his life but throughout the testimony of Joseph we see the evidence of a Christ-like spirit of love.
Joseph went through a series of very traumatic experiences. Unprovoked and unjust, yet he came out victorious and most importantly his heart remained unchanged because of the Spirit inside of him. He was left with no anger, nor evil, and instead of keeping a record of wrongs, his final words show us that he rejoiced in the truth of God rather than delight in evil and Joseph still glorified God through all his challenges.
It’s not easy to accept that bad things sometimes happen to innocent people. Jesus is an example of that, and all the prophets and servants in the Old Testament. Most religions are based on this principle. If you lead a good life and treat others with kindness, your reward will reflect this. But what are we to do if a “bad” person should repent an hour before his death and go to heaven like the criminal on the cross next to Jesus? Or what if the blameless should spend most of their lives treated like criminals?
Joseph’s life started as a child hated by his brothers; he was given a gift of prophecy in dreams and his first dream was to be his own prophesy.
One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.
Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”
This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.
Genesis 37:5
Perhaps Joseph should not have shared his dreams? If he had not, they and we, would not see the evidence of his prophecy from start to end fulfilled. This not only proves Joseph’s gift, but that God’s plan for Joseph was long revealed to all before it was conceived. It was not about convincing his brothers or even his father, it was about fulfilling the purpose for which God intended him. Joseph was a witness with a gift of prophecy and with this gift, he was able to “save many lives.” Just like the prophets revealed Jesus long before he came.
From the history of the Old Testament, we learn that Joseph’s brothers made plans to kill him, but through intervention, Joseph was eventually sold as a slave in Egypt. In today’s world, we would identify this as childhood trauma. Trauma is defined as “physical, mental or emotional injury”.
Trauma is shocking and causes much pain, sorrow, even anger and resentment or distrust. It can result in hatred or unforgiveness. It’s very hard to see reason and come to a point of forgiveness and acceptance when you are going through trauma. Children sold into slavery, racism, mental, physical and sexual abuse by the ones we trust, betrayal in marriage… trauma is unprovoked hatred. When evil is revealed, it is a traumatic experience for someone to come to terms with. Without truth and foundation, the deception of evil can change a person. It can turn the innocent into the accused. Someone who is abused or betrayed is innocent, but if their experience and hurt then turn them into an abuser, they are no longer innocent.
This is a matter of the heart. What flows from your heart, hate or love? Forgiveness or resentment. I’m not talking about emotions. Emotions are not lasting or stable, one day you could be angry and the next hurt or confused. We all cope with betrayal in different ways, I’m talking about nature or character. What does your nature reveal about your heart? Jesus was mentally, physically and emotionally abused by his own people. He showed emotion in anger and sorrow, he rebuked and forgave but he never conformed to abuse or hate even though he knew that they hated him. God does not change like the shifting shadows, He remains good and his spirit is good despite the evil that entered His creation. God is real and has emotions. God said, “David is a man after my own heart.” When you read the Psalms of David, you see an outpouring of all kinds of emotion. This is the reality of what we face in the world, but the truth is that if you have the spirit of God in you, you will remain unchanged. Emotions help us to communicate and cope with the truth.
We can learn much from Joseph and his character. Joseph faced many betrayals in the testimony of his life as documented in the Old Testament, but it’s the betrayal of his brothers that I want to focus on. The author constantly reminds us that whatever Joseph was facing, in whatever period of his life, God was with him through it all.
Joseph was wrongly accused of rape and put in prison, ‘But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.‘ In prison, ‘The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.‘ The spirit led him to use his gifts and God’s favour continued to guide him so that Joseph’s original prophesy is seen fulfilled and he and his brothers were reminded of this and where it all started…
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years, the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 45:3
Jesus told us not to be grieved by what has happened to him on Earth, because ‘it was God, not you who sent me here to accomplish His will and to save many. “God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in heaven, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Jesus returned victorious as ruler in heaven and Earth and we will celebrate with him because we belong to him. For now, just like Joseph, time and purpose are keeping us from seeing the end result of Jesus’ prophesy. The salvation of our souls.
“Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:19,33
Before Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he tested them. (You can read about this in Genesis 44) Why would Joseph test his brothers?
If we keep returning to the people who abuse us without a change of heart, they will continue to abuse us. People who think they can change people are disappointed when they don’t change, only God can change hearts. To approach an abusive relationship without guarding your own heart is foolish and leaves us vulnerable. We are called to test the spirits. God’s spirit will forgive easily and love unconditionally, but it will also protect what is more precious than anything, our hearts. Jesus was crucified once and for all, but he will not be crucified over and over. We are beaten, bruised and hurt by the injustice of this world and by evil, but never at the cost of our souls.
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
Genesis 50:15
Jesus came here to save lives, that was his purpose and is still his purpose. Evil intends to harm and harden our hearts, but the spirit of God is not affected by evil and there is no authority above God’s Word.
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:14,28
We may walk among scorpions and snakes but no harm can come to our spirit. His purpose will prevail even if we feel we cannot.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50:15
Joseph was honest and he had integrity. He did the right thing even if it cost him his job, his reputation and his freedom. He was confident in his gifts, he did not tell people what they wanted to hear, he told them the truth. Joseph had faith in God. Joseph understood God’s purpose and was obedient to the Holy Spirit. Joseph was a man who forgave and did not seek revenge, instead, he waited on God’s justice. Joseph was a humble man, he did not claim success nor did he boast when he achieved authority. In all of Joseph’s testimony, we see Joseph remain blameless and we see him survive all of life’s traumas without compromising his character. Character is important because that reveals the Holy Spirit. Joseph’s character remained unmoved.
It is shocking and traumatic when we are mistreated by evil, but I realised something else from Joseph’s testimony, it is also shocking to see evil handled with grace. In this world, we expect to see people retaliate with anger, and revenge, and demand human justice but when people see evil met with forgiveness, humbleness and even love, people are confused, shocked and sometimes moved by it.
It is shocking when you understand that Jesus forgave us, welcomed us back with open arms, reassured us and spoke kindly to us saying, ‘So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ He shares his inheritance and gifts with us and gives us his spirit to ensure that we can never go back to being the abuser or abused. It is God’s gift that our hearts are not changed by trauma and that we can overcome evil with love and positive change.
I am Joseph.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:3