O.T.#117 "Summary of Joseph's Life"
August 29, 2013
LET IT GLOW
Before we review the Book of Genesis, let's review the life of Joseph. How do you sum up someone's life on one page? Can a life of 110 years be done justly in only a few paragraphs? It's like condensing the personality, attitudes, loving deeds of kindness done, songs sung, encouraging words spoken
over a lifetime written into a two paragraph obituary. How?
In Guzik's Bible Commentary, David Guzik tells us how the life of Joseph is a remarkable picture of Jesus Christ:
- was a shepherd
- loved by his father
- sent unto his brethren
- hated by his brothers
- prophesied his coming glory
- rejected by his brothers
- endured unjust punishment from his brothers
- sentenced to the pit
- delivered to the pit, though a leader knew he should go free
- sold for pieces of silver
- handed over to the Gentiles
- regarded as dead, but raised out of the pit
- went to Egypt
- made a servant
- tempted severely, but did not sin
- falsely accused
- made no defense
- cast into prison, and numbered with sinners and criminals
- endured unjust punishment from Gentiles
- associated with two other criminals; one is pardoned and one is not
- showed compassion
- brought a message of deliverance in prison
- wanted to be remembered
- shown to have divine wisdom
- recognized as having the Spirit of God
- betrayed by friends
- glorified after his humility
- honored among Gentiles while still despised or forgotten by his brethren
- given a Gentile bride (church)
- was 30 years old when he began his life's work
- blessed the world with bread
- became the only source of bread for the world
- the world was instructed to go to him and do whatever he said to do
- was given the name "God speaks and He Lives".
Out of the 50 chapters of Genesis, 13 chapters are committed to the life of Joseph. More than 1/4 of the entire book talks about Joseph because he is a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is far more interested in getting across the message of redemption than describing the details of creation.
The reason Joseph acquired such a high rank in the kingdom of God was because he was a man of faith. (Heb. 11:22) (Rick Ferguson)
Here are some points that David Guzik found in the life of Joseph:
- Every Christian should be able to see the overarching and overruling hand of God in their life, to know that no matter what evil man brings against us, God can use it for good.
- Joseph didn't have the text of Romans 8:28, but he had the truth. Many of us who have the text don't have the truth.
- Ultimately, our lives are not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God, who overrules all things for His glory.
- When events in our life seem tangled and meaningless, it is because we can see only one side of the tapestry. (The back side of a tapestry has knots and random threads, looking hopeless, while the front is a beautiful picture or words of hope.)
*His birth happened when his father was older and perhaps wiser; being the only son of Rachel for
years must have been lonely and hard.
*A coat of many colors, signifying royalty and a father's favoritism, stirred up envy, jealousy, and
bitterness in his brothers.
*His two dreams were divinely inspired to show what would happen in the future to encourage
Joseph.
*He became a slave, teaching him humility.
*He had a likeable personality inspite of his circumstances, in jail.
*He resisted temptation of Potiphar's wife, suffered for doing right.
*He trusted God's wisdom to interpret dreams, giving god the credit, which sent him to the king,
eventually.
*A prisoner became second in command in the largest nation of the world.
*Instead of chains on his wrists and ankles, he received gold chain necklace, the king's signant ring,
fine linen for stinky prison clothes, and a chariot.
*Joseph's plan for saving grain during the 7 years of plenty provided food during the 7 years of
drought. God blessed the crops.
*Joseph had two sons during those 7 years of plenty, who later had descendants used by God (Joshua,
Samuel, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah).
*His brothers and father bowed down to Joseph, recognizing his superiority.
*Joseph had the power to send his brothers to jail, but didn't, and chose to forgive them of their evil
against him; saw it as God's providence to save their family during the famine.
*He welcomed his family into Egypt and fed them.
*He kept trusting that God would bring his family back into the Promised Land and wanted his bones
taken there.
*He kept trusting in God.
LET IT GO
Forgive.
Trust God.
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