Joseph Series: Pit to Palace #1
The true account of Joseph's life embodies some of the most significant truths in the Bible. Although he was human just like you and me, Joseph blazed a new trail through a jungle of mistreatment, false accusation, undeserved punishment, and gross misunderstanding. Even if you have never considered suicide, if you have ever despaired because life didn't make sense or everything seemed to be against you, and you wondered where God was in all of it, then Joseph's story is for you.
Introduction
The following is a suicide note.(1) It was supposedly found beside the lifeless body of a young man in his mid-twenties.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm sorry my life had to end this way. I'm sorry for the pain I have caused you in this act and all the other acts of my life. If you need an explanation or if you care to know, let me tell you why I decided to bring an end to my miserable life.
You see I never fit in. There was no place for me on this planet. Though my siblings all seemed to find meaning and place in life, I've always been an outsider. I've always, in the end, been rejected.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm a great pretender. I'm the Great Pretender. For many years I have pretended to be happy. But one tires of the sham sooner or later when there is nothing to go home to when it is over.
Please don't think I haven't tried. I have. I've involved myself. I've played the game. I've gone from one thing to the next with some accomplishment. I've even cried out to God. But He has never answered me - or if He has I haven't been able to understand. Life has turned the tables on me again and again. I don't want to continue when it doesn't make sense.
Now I have decided it is enough. Though the act of my death might seem senseless to some, it makes sense to me. I no longer have to hurt. I no longer have to try. I no longer have to feel.
I love you and I'm sorry.
Your Son,
Joe
What a tragedy that a young man with so much of life ahead could be so cynical as to decide to take his own life. How does a person get to a point of such despair? Could something have been done to rescue this young man from his hopelessness? Is there anything in this life that gives optimism in the face of extreme difficulties like misplacement, mistreatment, misunderstanding, and rejection?
I believe there is. I believe that if this young man could only have really known and understood his Creator, he could seen that his life had meaning. As the late Corrie TenBoom, survivor of the Nazi concentration camps of WWII once said, "There is no pit so deep that God isn't deeper still."
That lesson is readily available in this book we call the Bible to anyone willing to seriously investigate it. By its own claim, this book contains "everything pertaining to life and godliness." (2)
But someone says, "Well if that is true, why don't more people use it? Why doesn't it help people like this Joe, whose letter you just read to us?"
The answer is that it does help people like Joe, every day. It helps them avoid the pitfalls that lead to such confusion, despair and cynicism. You don't always notice these people because they don't do things like prematurely ending their lives. Such people, because they know God and His Word, are confident that their lives have meaning. Their strong faith sustains them. This confidence continues even in the face of adversity. They understand that by virtue of their membership in God's family, they are an important part of a grand scheme of cosmic significance where everything that happens, good or bad, works together for their good.
In the coming weeks I want to share with you the story of a young man named Joe. No, this isn't the same Joe who committed suicide, though if anyone ever had reason to despair, this Joe surely did. You may know him better as Joseph and his story is told in the Bible book of Genesis.
The true account of Joseph's life embodies some of the most significant truths in the Bible. Although he was human just like you and me, Joseph blazed a new trail through a jungle of mistreatment, false accusation, undeserved punishment, and gross misunderstanding. Even if you have never considered suicide, if you have ever despaired because life didn't make sense or everything seemed to be against you, and you wondered where God was in all of it, then Joseph's story is for you. Joseph knew how to forgive. He showed us how to have a life free from bitterness. He manifested an unbelievably positive attitude toward those who hurt him. Most significantly though, he did not waver in his trust of God.
The story of Joseph begins in Genesis chapter 37 and ends in Genesis 50 - 13 chapters in all. Actually, Joseph's story begins with his father, Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, the most famous Character in Old Testament history.
We'll begin in Genesis 37:1 with the description of:
I. A Troubled Family.
Joseph's story really begins with his aging father, Jacob.
(Read v. 1-2a)
Jacob, Joseph's father, who was also called "Israel" by God, is a colorful story in his own right. One author has said of him, "Intrigue and deception describe big chunks of his life, interrupted briefly by flashes of spirituality." If you'll bear with me through a few details in Jacob's life, I'll show you what led up to the disturbing situation of Joseph.
Joseph's father Jacob was the one who worked seven years for Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, only to be deceived on the wedding night when Laban substituted his older daughter, Leah. Jacob then had to work another seven years for Rachel, and ended up with two wives instead of one.
I don't believe God ever intended for man to practice polygamy. Back in the garden, He said, "For this cause a man shall leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh." He didn't say "wives." It does seem however, that God allowed polygamy during the times of the Patriarchs, though it was never without its accompanying problems. Perhaps polygamy in Joseph's family could be cited as the the beginning of Joseph's problems.
There was a tremendous rivalry between the two wives of Jacob. They fought and argued. They competed for his attention. At times they bartered in order to decide who got to sleep with him. As if that were not enough, when Rachel had trouble bearing children, according to a local custom, she gave Jacob her handmaiden, Bildah, as a third wife to have children in her place. Leah, here sister, not to be outdone, did the same with her handmaiden, Zilpah, and the race to produce offspring was on. The result was that Jacob ended up with four quarreling wives and all the ingredients for what we would probably call today a "dysfunctional home."
There was a population explosion at the Jacob residence as all four of the Mrs. Jacobs bore children. Jacob ended up with 12 sons and we don't know how many daughters.
As we pick up the story of Joseph's life, his father Jacob is the classic example of a passive, preoccupied father, much to busy making a living and coping with the squabbles of his four wives to deal effectively with the wrongs that occurred in the lives of his boys. Joseph was born late in Jacob's life, during what would probably be the "grandfather" years in a normal, monogamous home.
Joseph was just a young boy when tragedy struck his father. Rachel, his favorite wife, died while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. It really set him back. Then the oldest son, Rueben, became involved in an incestuous relationship with Bildah, Jacob's fourth wife. Added to that, Jacob received news that his daughter, Dinah, had been abducted and raped.
Perhaps the impact of these events had something to do with the close ties that began to develop between Jacob and the little boy, Joseph. Maybe Jacob even felt a bit like life had outrun him and that young Joseph presented him an opportunity to start over and avoid the mistakes he had made with the older boys. Whatever the reason, Joseph became Jacob's favorite son.
Verses 2 and 3 tell us about Joseph's favored position with his father.
(Read v. 2b)
Joseph's family was in the shepherding business. We aren't told of the nature of this "bad report" that Joseph brought back to his father. It may suggest that his brothers were involved in some sort of mischief. What we do know is that Joseph's half-brothers resented and hated him intensely. This return with a bad report didn't make the situation any better.
The bitterness of Joseph's brothers stemmed from several things. One may have been the indignation and rivalry harbored by the four bickering mothers which would have naturally spilled over on the kids in the home. The other reason for their dislike of Joseph is in verse 3.
(Read v. 3)
Many men grow softer emotionally as they grow older (perhaps some might say "wiser!") Jacob, who was not much different, did something he had not done for his older sons. He bought Joseph a "varicolored tunic" (KJV says, "coat of many colors.") Those who have studied the customs of that day tell us that such tunics were worn mostly by the children of royalty and were very expensive. While the special gift may have brought Jacob and Joseph much closer, it certainly didn't help the relationship with the older sons.
Verses 4-11 describe the jealous conflict that resulted.
(Read v. 4)
From that point on, whenever Joseph had contact with his brothers, it was on unfriendly terms. It must have been hard growing up with that kind of rejection.
But there is another reason for the resentment of the older brothers found in the next verse.
(Read v. 5-7)
You can just imagine how much they appreciated that revelation!
(Read v. 8)
It was bad enough that Dad had favored him. Now these dreams put the icing on the cake. But that wasn't the end of it.
(Read v. 9)
How many brothers did Joseph have? Eleven! This time, not only the brothers got mad - Dad got mad!
(Read v. 10-11)
Joseph's dreams, as his continuing story verifies, came from God. He was suffering the disapproval of his brothers at this point for something that God caused to happen. That seems unfair, doesn't it?
Our expectations so often require that things always seem fair, especially where God is involved. When things aren't fair, or don't seem fair from our vantage, and God doesn't intervene to stop them, we call God's character into question. Doesn't He care? If He is all-powerful, why doesn't He stop this? Is He there? Does He even exist?
Perhaps "Joe," who wrote the suicide note I read earlier, asked some of these questions before he concluded that God didn't care about him and his case was hopeless. You may have asked them, too at some point. If so, you need to learn three important truths about God.
God doesn't always intervene in our lives when things aren't fair. We may not like that or understand why, but it is the truth.
God doesn't always stop others from doing evil to us. "Could He? Yes. Then why doesn't He?" That is what we question.
God will always work these things out for our ultimate good in the long run if we continue to trust Him. This is God's answer and solution to the questions raised by the first two statements.
Though the brothers at this point would surely scoff at the idea that these dreams came from God and Jacob didn't know what to think, God was playing out the opening scene in a drama that would be a part of Joseph's life for the next 23 years. During those years, though God was very busy leading and guiding in Joseph's life, working out a plan to bless Joseph beyond his wildest dreams, it would not be easily seen if you stopped anywhere along the time line. From Joseph's perspective it would have been easy to think that God and the whole world were against him.
One of the great lessons to learn from the life of his man Joseph is that it is not always possible to understand what God is doing in your life at the moment. In fact, it may seem that God is not there at all. It takes time for His plans and purposes to be seen. Twenty-three years into the future, Joseph would recall the occasion of these dreams, along with all that happened after them, and it would finally make sense. In Genesis 50:20, probably the most significant single verse in the entire story of Joseph, he would say these words to his brothers:
"And as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result…."
Don't despair when it seems things are going against you. If you are striving to do what is right, you can be sure that God is there, though you may not always see the direct evidence.
Moving on…. Resentment will always work its way to the surface eventually if it isn't dealt with. In the case of these brothers, their resentment continued to grow until it developed into a full-blown murder plot. Their scheme unfolds in the verses that follow which describe:
II. A Murder Plot.
It all began when Joseph was sent by his father to check on his brothers.
(Read v. 12)
Shechem was about 50 miles from the place where Jacob had his base camp. It was that time of year when they were ranging their sheep farther and farther from home in order to keep them on fresh pasture. It may have been some time since Jacob had heard from his sons and he was getting worried. Finally, he decided to see how they were.
(Read v. 13)
Having raised children, I've always liked Joseph's quick and obedient response here. Dad said, "I will send you to them," and Joseph said, "I will go." No hassle. No complaining. No whining.
I bring this up because I am reasonably sure that Joseph's attitude as a young person at home had a lot to do with the extent to which God could use him so greatly later in life. If you as a young person want to be used by God for something great, if you want your faith to count for something significant, you determine it in many ways by how you act right now, while you're young, not after you grow up. Don't make the mistake of thinking, "One of these days when I grow up I'll start being obedient" if you want God to use you. "One of these days" has a way of getting pushed farther and farther off into the future. If you are disobedient now, you will probably be the same way when you are grown.
(Read v. 14)
It proved to be a bit difficult for Joseph to locate the place where his brothers were camped as we learn in the next verses.
(Read v. 15-17)
Joseph was probably relieved to find his brothers there and glad to see them. Little did he know that what they had in store for him would alter the course of his life forever!
They recognized him from a distance as they looked up from their work. (You could probably spot that coat at 300 yards!) Quickly they formed their deadly plan.
(Read v. 18-20)
The brothers were in Dothan. That word literally means "two wells." Verse 20 says they were going to throw him into one of these wells. Verse 24 says it was dry and hand no water. It is possible that they had come to "Two Wells" in search of water for their flocks only to find both wells dry as is mentioned in verse 24. Such a thing wouldn't have helped their already cranky dispositions.
Fortunately for Joseph, his oldest brother Rueben came to his rescue.
(Read v. 21-22)
One of the things we are going to see a lot of in this story of Joseph is God's providence. Nothing, whether it is good or evil, stands in the way of God's providence. You're going to hear me pointing it out at every turn. It's one of the choice lessons of Joseph's life. My first opportunity to point it out is right here.
When you first read verse 22, it sounds like Rueben is really concerned for his little brother. You're inclined to think that perhaps he wasn't infected by the bitterness of the other brothers. But don't conclude too quickly.
After all, Rueben was, as the oldest son in the family, in line for the birthright and inheritance of his father. Among other things, that meant that he would inherit twice what his other brothers were bequeathed. Under normal conditions that would have been beyond challenge. But if you remember in the beginning of the message I mentioned Rueben's incestuous involvement with Bildah, one of Jacob's wives.
I think it is entirely possible that Rueben's birthright may have been in jeopardy at this time due to his sin with Bildah. I suggest to you that he, like the others brothers, probably would have cheerfully murdered Joseph, but he had a vested interest. If his father found out that he, as the oldest, was responsible for allowing Joseph's death, it would finish him as an heir. On the other hand, if he could thwart their plan to kill Joseph, then deliver him back to his father with the story of their intent to kill him, he would look like a hero and maybe be restored to the front of the line.
Here is Joseph in the midst of all kinds of evil intentions. There are ten brothers who want to kill him and cover it up - definitely some evil intent there. Then there is one brother who is selfishly fixed on avoiding being cut out of his dad's will - more evil intent. Doesn't sound like a very reliable rescue party, does it? So how will God rescue faithful Joseph from all that evil intent? No problem. God isn't limited by the evil intentions of men. He can bring good results out of all kinds of evil circumstances. That's what we mean by providence. Watch to see how it happens.
They're 50 miles from home. Everyone in the group has selfish motives. There is no one else to save Joseph. No one would ever know that these men murdered their own brother. It looks like certain doom for Joseph. Then suddenly, one of the hateful brothers steps forward to save him. The wasn't a coincidence. It is a case of God's providence - God working all things, good and bad, together for Joseph's good. No, God was not responsible for the incest between Rueben and Bildah. God was not responsible for the festering hatred of these brothers. But God, in his providence, could certainly use the two events, one against the other, to spare Joseph's life, and propel him forward into the next stage of His plan. That is just what He did. God was taking care of Joseph, though he had no idea it was happening at the time. Romans 8:28, in your New Testament, says,
"God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
Don't think that just because you don't see it or recognize it happening, that this verse isn't true. This verse is God's promise to you if you are a Christian, and it is valid whether you see it or not. God was taking care of Joseph through this ordeal and He was working out His greater plan to do good for Joseph at a later date. Time and time again we will see him delivered by circumstances that look on the surface to be coincidental, but they happen too often to be accounted for that way. Watch as we progress through Joseph's life, and when you see it, take it as reassurance that God is there in your life as well.
(Read v. 23-25a)
Get ready for some more of God's providence, because here it comes again, though it is going to be a bit disguised at first. We see next:
III. A Cruel Trade.
As the brothers sat there eating, with Joseph likely pleading for his life from the bottom of the pit, they began to hear the sound of creaking wagon wheels and camel's hooves on the desert floor.
(Read v. 25b)
Ishmaelites were traveling nomads much like the recent day "Gypsies." They made their living buying and selling whatever they could find to make a profit. These in this caravan were on their way to Egypt. Suddenly, Judah, one of the brothers, got an idea.
(Read v. 26-27)
People can surely sound pious in their wrongdoing, can't they? A few moments ago Judah was all for Joseph's murder. Now he realizes a possibility of profit and he says, "After all, he's our brother!" It is no special honor to refuse wrongdoing when it is profitable to do so.
So they threw Joseph a rope.
(Read v. 28)
Twenty shekels of silver was the going price for a young slave.
So there he goes! Joseph, seventeen year-old favored son of Jacob, the boy who would later show the world what trust in God is all about. He doesn't look like a hero at this point, does he? Neither does he look like a prime example of how God takes care of His own. There he goes, hitched to the back of a wagon with a chain around his neck and shackles on his wrists on his way to who-knows-what. Do you suppose he might have said to himself something like, "Where's God?" or "Why, God?" or "Where is justice?" or "What did I do to deserve this? Is this what I get for obeying my father and being concerned for my brothers?" or "Why is God allowing this to happen to me? It's not fair!"
Be aware that Joseph isn't going to get the full answer to his questions, if he had them, for 23 years. When it comes though, I guarantee it will be fantastic!
Apparently Rueben had left at some point after he persuaded the brothers to spare Joseph, because in the next verse we find him returning.
(Read v. 29)
For those of you who might have thought that I misjudged Rueben, look at this next verse.
(Read v. 30)
Notice who he was concerned for: "Where am I to go?" I think he saw that losing Joseph, his father's favorite son, would be the last straw for losing his inheritance.
"No problem," the brothers said to Rueben. "We've got it all figured out."
(Read v. 31-34)
Jacob had lost Rachel only a few years before, suffered humiliation with his daughter, Dinah, and now Rachel's firstborn son was reported dead. It was almost more than he could bear!
What deception! But the next verse really takes the cake.
(Read v. 35)
The deceivers become the comforters. What hypocrisy!
Was that the end of Joseph? Not at all as we shall see in the next message.
(Read v. 36)
Conclusion
I want to close this message with a story about God's protection and providence.
Frederick Nolan was fleeing from his enemies during a time of persecution in North Africa. One night he fell exhausted, into a wayside cave, fully expecting his enemies to find him very soon. Resigned to face his death with dignity, he saw a spider weaving a web. Within minutes the little arachnid had woven a beautiful lacework across the mouth of the cave. The pursuers arrived at the opening of the cave and wondered if Nolan might be hiding inside, but upon seeing the unbroken spider's web, decided that it would be impossible for him to have entered without having destroyed it. So they went on and Nolan escaped. Later, he wrote these words:
"Where God is, a spider's web is like a wall,
Where God is not, a wall is like a spider's web."
Don't think that because God's presence in your life seems at the moment no more significant than a spider's web. He will cause good to come into your life if you will continue to trust Him.
View Other Messages in this Series
Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.
Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.
All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.
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