Joseph Series

AMC, 02.11.2025

Text: Genesis 41:36-47

Theme: The Holy Man: Young Adult Joseph

Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever.

Introduction:

The story of Joseph was so exciting and inspiring for Holiness. Joseph's account is primarily found in Genesis chapters 37-50. His Humility was despised, Honesty was punished but his Holiness was rewarded.

Joseph's life is a testament to God's providence and faithfulness. His account illustrates themes of forgiveness, redemption, and divine sovereignty. Throughout the narrative, Joseph’s emotions are described as he journeys from egotism to sadness to forgiveness while navigating interpersonal situations.

Genesis 50:20 sums up its moral of the story: “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.”

The purpose of Joseph’s life was “the saving of many lives”.

Today, we would see the life of Joseph as a Holy Man of God. Joseph was a Suffering Son, Joseph was a Successful Employee, and Joseph was a Strong Administrator.

1. Joseph was a Suffering Son

Joseph, the son of Jacob, was born to Jacob and Racheal (Genesis 30:24). Jacob was (130-39 = Seven plenteous years + two years of the famine -30+7+2=39) ninety-one years old while Joseph was born.

Rachel named him “Joseph” to indicate that the Lord has removed her reproach of barrenness, and brought a bundle of joy to her (Genesis 30:22-23).  He was born as a saviour of the family. He brought a new life to his parents (Genesis 30:25).

He was an assistant shepherd at the age of 17 (Genesis 37:2a) to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. He was a faithful reporter to his Dad who was his employer (Genesis 37:2b). He brought everything to his father’s attention.

He was loved by his father more than his brothers. Jacob presented him a "coat of many colours" (Genesis 37:3). In turn, he received the enmity and hatred from his brothers. They responded him with enmity, jealousy, displeasure, and spoke harshly with him (Genesis 37:4, 8).  

He was a dream boy. The Lord had shown him two dreams about his future. The sheaves of grain of his brothers were bowed down to his sheaf of grain. In another dream the Sun, the Moon, and 11 stars bowed to him (Genesis 37:5-11). These dreams were evidence of divine blessing, rather than his own ambition. Is it good to Disclose the dreams, and future visions?

He was better than his brothers: Better than Rueben because he held his integrity in sexual relationships (Genesis 49:4), Better than Simeon and Levi because he had controlled his anger at the time of frustration (Genesis 49:7), Better than Dan who was poisoned by others by his evil words and deeds (Genesis 49:17), Better than Benjamin who was a wolf and devoured the dear ones (Genesis 49:27). However, his life was full of crisis.

But we can understand that the righteous acts of Joseph brought enormous blessings to his children. While Jacob blessed Manasseh and Ephraim, Both inherited the Blessings of the First Born of Jacob (Genesis 48:13-16, 1 Chronicles 5:1-2). Through his children Joseph became the Firstborn in the family. He was the first born accordingly he was taking care of the entire family of Jacob and the seventy who went down to Egypt.

Experience at Dothan (two wells): Dothan was famous for two important events in the Bible one is Joseph was sold out (Genesis 37:17), second one is Elisha was besieged by Syrian army (2 Kings 6:13). It’s 12 miles away from Samaria. Joseph found his brothers at Dothan instead of Shechem (shoulder), a place of GAME CHANGER.

A place of conspiracy (Genesis 37:18). What will happen to his dreams? (Genesis 37:20). The brothers decided to kill him, decided to throw him alive into a pit (Reuben had intention to help him). They stripped him of his robe and threw him into an empty pit, waterless pit. Later decided to sell him (Judah had profit making and personal gain motive). Finally sold him for twenty pieces of Silver (Genesis 37:18-28). He became a slave to slaves, the Midianites, later they sold him toEgyptians (Genesis 37:36). The lineage of blessing became a slave of the slaves. It was an "a check move to the king's move in chess game" (Genesis 37:17). Jacob mourned for his son.

2. Joseph was a Successful Employee

Potiphar observes and recognised Joseph’s general competence, success in his endeavours, and favoured by God. So, he promoted him to be his personal steward, an overseer and “put him in charge of all that he had”(Genesis 39:4).

So, he became a blessing to the family of Potiphar (Genesis 39:2, 3, 4). A Lead role among servants/slaves - Genesis 39:2-6. A Lead role among prisoners - Genesis 39:20-23. A Lead role in government - Genesis 41:39-41.