Joseph and God’s providence

Gen. 37 & 39

Joseph was one of the very few people without any blemish recorded in the Bible. Even though we see many references to Joseph, we will look into Genesis chapters 37 and 39 today, to understand God’s providence upon those who remain faithful to Him even through severe hardships and difficulties.

In Genesis, we see that Joseph had turned seventeen. Even at that age, he was a righteous man, reporting to his father Jacob all the evil deeds his brothers had been doing. His father loved him more than his brothers and made him a coat of many colours. His brothers hated him. To add to their hatred, Joseph had dreams in which his brothers bowed down to him. When he told them about it, they hated him even more. They hated him so much that they plotted to kill him. But instead of killing him, he was sold to some merchants travelling to Egypt who later sold him to Potiphar, an important official of Pharaoh. Joseph had become no more than a commodity. Though he brought about blessings, he was wrongly accused and was then sent to prison. His life, up to this point, was like the saying, “from the frying pan into the fire.”

Though a righteous person, Joseph’s life was full of misfortune. The future saviour of Israel had to first pass through the fire to understand the plight of the ordinary people. It was all part of a bigger plan.

From what we have seen so far, let us look at four points to understand our own hardships and misfortunes today.

1. Those whom the LORD uses are not necessarily exempt from hardships. In fact, they seem to suffer more than others. Even though he was following a bigger course, he barely survived the plot of his brothers and the temptation of Potiphar’s wife. Had he died, how would Israel be saved? Had he fallen into the temptation, he would have wandered off from the plotted course. Through all his difficulties, the LORD had always been his guide and protector. Joseph also feared the LORD to overcome the temptation of the wife of Potiphar. Even after this, Joseph ended up in prison, into the fire once more.
2. Those whom the LORD uses, even if they lead unenviable lives, are moving towards the goal and plan the LORD prepared for them. Joseph was thought to be dead. His father mourned for him. He had been forgotten. No one seemed to know him or remember him anymore. But the LORD had plans for him and he was on his way there. Had Joseph give up, how would Israel be saved? The path of Joseph was difficult, but he was to become the saviour of his brothers, his people.
3. Those whom the LORD uses always become blessings for others, even if they do not get a share of the blessings. When Joseph came into Potiphar’s home, “the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessings of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field” (Gen. 39:5). But all these blessings were of no use to Joseph. Many of us today expect a portion of the blessings of others. We expect at least a ‘thank you’ note or some sort of recognition before others.
4. Those whom the LORD uses, even if they are going though hardships, He stays with them. Three times, we see “the LORD was with Joseph” in Genesis 39 alone. Through his darkest days, the LORD was always with Joseph.

Dear reader, are you overwhelmed with so much hardships in your life even when you remain faithful to the LORD? Do you also say, “It has been to no avail that I have kept my hands pure” just like the Psalmist says in Psalm 73:13? Do not worry, the LORD is with you. He knows what you do, and how you suffer for Him. He is preparing something better and bigger for you. For us. If you hadn’t been faithful and righteous, how would our nation and people be saved today?