Living for God in a Dysfunctional World (Continued)

We continue our study in the life of Joseph

Joseph’s Exile

The conspirators, for that is what they had become, planned to kill him, but Reuben interposed. As the elder brother, and responsible to his father for the safety of the youngest in the group, he persuaded them to imprison him in a pit, expecting to rescue him later. Joseph, realising the gravity of the situation had anguish of soul. He was distressed and called out for mercy – pleas that fell on deaf ears (Gen.42.21). To be rejected by his own brothers must have been very hard to handle. It is so difficult to hold on to the truth that “... all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28), when circumstances are contrary to what we would wish for ourselves. But in this dysfunctional family Reuben’s leadership is already weakening, so when he was absent, Judah persuaded the rest of his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave. They sold him to a company of Ishmaelite merchants for twenty pieces of silver, for they cared little what they had for him just so they could be rid of him. No doubt each received two pieces of silver, although it could be that Reuben refused his share. Whatever the division of the spoils, all were culpable (except Benjamin, who knew nothing of this event). When Reuben returned to the pit Joseph had already been sold and Reuben was as one who had been bereaved. He was aware of the principle – what a man sows that will he also reap – for he repeats it years later in Egypt, when they are mystified by the interest of Pharoah’s chief officer. At that time Reuben repeats what he must have charged his brothers with many times before - “Did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us” (Gen. 42:22). He will also feel it keenly when later in the narrative he feels compelled to offer his own sons as security for Benjamin.

But how were they to explain the absence of Joseph to Jacob? Those that leave the straight path always seem to be resourceful. They daubed Joseph’s coat in the blood of a young goat, newly slain. The manufactured evidence was enough to convince Jacob that Joseph was dead. How he must have rued the decision to send his favourite son on that mission. This family is in such a mess – but at least Joseph is now out of the contamination of their dysfunctional home life. Although some would say, ‘out of the frying pan into the fire!’

Joseph in Egypt

The Ishmaelite merchants were going down to Egypt. There they sold him on as a slave to Potiphar, an “officer of Pharaoh, and captain of the guard” (Gen. 37:36). Traumatic for Joseph but in God’s purposes, this is another step to the right hand of the throne of Pharaoh. The Lord was with Joseph: “So it was, from the time that he (Potiphar) had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field ” (Gen. 39:5). Because Potiphar treated Joseph well, God treated Potiphar well, as is established in the Abrahamic covenant – “I will bless those who bless you” (Gen. 12:3).

But the devil is always on the lookout for an opportunity to ruin God’s chosen, and uses a ploy that has been successful on countless occasions. Joseph who was young, able bodied and handsome, came to the attention of Potiphar’s wife, and she tried to seduce him. But Joseph resisted the adulterous proposal, referring to the unlimited confidence which his master had placed in him. Potiphar had given everything over to him except her, because she was his wife. How could he so abuse this confidence, do this great wickedness and sin against God? This test of Joseph’s fidelity was repeated time and again, until on one occasion when they were alone together, she caught him by his coat – but he, realizing the gravity of the situation left in great haste, leaving his coat behind. In a dysfunctional world, those that remain true to God will have many temptations to resist. Perhaps this episode was in the mind of Paul when he advised Timothy to flee youthful lusts and follow righteousness (2 Tim.2:22). When this daring assault on Joseph’s integrity failed, Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph of physically forcing himself on her, a total distortion of the facts. She produced the coat and once again, a garment was used as evidence for a lie. The devil’s strategy seemed to have succeeded, that is, deception with a view to destruction, for Joseph was cast into the state prison where he remained for several years.

This time, Joseph is cast down further, into a new house—a prison house, a dungeon. Each time, the pit gets deeper (Gen. 37:22, Gen. 40:15); yet always the LORD is with him (Gen. 39:21). The blessing begins afresh! The warden of the prison notices that God is with Joseph to prosper him, and he elevates him to head the prison household (Gen. 39:22–23); for God has said, they that honour me I will honour, so even in prison he enjoyed the blessing of the Lord. All this was training for Joseph. First – in charge of a Potiphar’s household – then in charge of the prison household – soon in charge of the nation, each stage confirming that God was with him and each stage increasing his confidence in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Soon he is going to realise, just as Daniel will many centuries later, that God raises up whom he will. At what stage he is aware that all things are working together for good we are not sure, but certainly he will come to that conclusion long before he sees his brothers again.

While he was responsible for Pharaoh’s prisoners, the chief of Pharaoh’s cupbearers and the chief of Pharaoh’s bakers were cast into prison. After some time in prison, each of these new prisoners dreamed a dream in the same night. As Pharaoh will find out, and in another land and at another time in history, Nebuchadnezzar will find out, there is no-one who is immune from the voice of God. They had a presentiment that the dreams were important, and in the morning when Joseph enquired why they were troubled, they told their dreams. The chief butler spoke first – his dream indicated that he would again handle Pharaoh’s wine goblet. Joseph revealed that he would be restored to his former position in three days, a very favourable interpretation which was pleasing to the former court official. Joseph added a rider to his short explanation – a request - please remember me when you are again in Pharaoh’s favour; not simply because I have been kind to you, but because it will also be a righteous act, for I am innocent of any crime.

The chief baker, on hearing such good news for the butler, tells his own dream. Alas the interpretation is not in his favour – his head will be lifted also, but not in the same way as the chief butler – it will be lifted off his shoulders – he will lose his life. The events occur exactly as Joseph said. The butler was restored to his former position, while the baker was executed. That one should live and one should die is a repetition of the theme that these events are matters of life and death. At the time of Joseph’s first rejection it was God’s providential care that allowed him to live and not die. And God’s providential care was seen again when Joseph was Lord of Egypt, for the message then was ‘come to Joseph and live’. He was the Saviour and nourisher of his brothers and also of nations, prefiguring Jesus of Nazareth who is, on a much higher plane, the Saviour of the world. The message now is ‘come to Jesus and live’.

Joseph had asked Pharaoh’s chief butler to remember him, but he forgot him and another two years pass. God’s timetable cannot be hurried. Joseph was learning another lesson. These difficult experiences that we are called upon to pass through are so that we may learn patience. James wrote: “... the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:3), the purpose of which is “… that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4), that is fully stocked up for passers-by. Jesus said that God, the great husbandman, will use the pruning shears to produce fruit, then more fruit, then even more fruit – with the purpose that the fruit produced will be worthy of the husbandman who owns the vine (John 15). Joseph’s training was designed to bring him to a full maturity in the service of God, to be fruitful as indicated by Jacob’s last words, “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall” (Gen. 49:22). The fruitful bough by a well, reminds us of Psalm. 1. “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper ” (Psalm 1:1–3). Joseph was that kind of godly man. He did not follow the counsel of the ungodly; He did not follow the path of sin: He did not scoff at God’s plan for his life; His relationship with God – his spirituality – his faith - his wisdom – his generosity - his diligence – his forgiving spirit - all made him a channel of blessing for many nations (“blessed is the man”).