Bible Study 1: God's Plan Revealed Genesis 37:1-28
Joseph is a type of Christ, and he also is an example for us of obedience to God.
As a teenager, Joseph had already purposed to serve the Lord. Not all 17-year-olds are concerned about flocks of sheep, but Joseph had an interest in feeding (or some translations read "tending") his father's flock (v. 2). God's flock needs feeding, and it's good for each of us to use our gifts for the edification of His people. Compare also verse 14, when Joseph was sent to find out the situation of his brothers as well as the flocks.
Joseph's brothers behaved badly and had an evil report (v. 2). But Joseph didn't complain to his brothers about their behavior. Instead, he talked to his father about them--not as a "tattle-tale," but as one who had his father's interests at heart. We should likewise have our Father's interests in mind, and we can bring concerns to Him.
The traditional translation of the coat is that it had "many colors" (v. 3). This shows the manifold beauties of the Lord Jesus, who is distinctively set apart as unique and matchless above all others.
Joseph wasn't ashamed to wear the coat (cp. v. 23). Similarly, Jesus wasn't embarrassed about His intimate and joyous relationship with His Father. We can also enjoy a relationship with God as our Father and be willing to speak about it.
Additionally, we can view the coat as something Joseph accepted from an older brother, from his father in the faith, so to speak. Older Christians need to pass on guidance, exhortation, and wisdom to those who are younger--and younger Christians need to receive those helps.
When Joseph's father sent him to find his brothers in Shechem, Joseph could have allowed his brothers' anger towards him to deter him from obeying his father. He didn't, however. Sensitivity to others' feelings should never keep us from continuing on for the Lord.
God's plans for Joseph had already been revealed to him in two dreams (vv. 5-11). Despite this knowledge of coming exaltation, Joseph didn't seize upon it or consider his father's service to be beneath him. God was at work, and Joseph was content to let His plan develop in His time.
Those dreams revealed that God had a reigning man in mind (v. 8). Genesis 36 gives the generations of Esau in terms of their dukes, family heads, and so on. But the idea of a king only comes in with God's plans, and it's connected with Joseph, just as God's Man for the throne is the Lord Jesus Himself.
Joseph was seeking his brothers, but it's as if they didn't want to be found. They kept getting farther and farther away from their father by moving from Shechem to Dothan (v. 17). However, Joseph didn't give up seeking; he went after them, traveling 15-20 miles farther. Sometimes it's necessary for us to go after those who have strayed from the Lord.
Jacob's family was evidently a dysfunctional one. But family problems are not excuses for individuals in a family. God can help each one to be faithful. Also, notice how the family is scattered when we leave the father's love--God's love.
Joseph's brothers took his coat. Men would like to degrade the moral glories of the Lord Jesus.
Joseph always firmly did what was right. Reuben couldn't do it--he suggested not killing him but could only give the pit as an alternative. Judah was looking to make a profit (vv. 22, 26). They didn't take God's thoughts into consideration, but Joseph always did.
Genesis 42:21 reveals that his brothers saw Joseph's anguish in the pit, but they ignored it.
First study: God's Plan | Second study: Faithfulness | Third study: Exaltation
Joseph was first being prepared by God through his experiences at home. In this chapter, he now has to remain faithful even though he has been detached from the spiritual influence of his father. Consider:
-he was an isolated believer;
-he didn't have the Law that came years later through Moses, but God's ways already had a place in his heart to do what was right;
-unbelievers observed his faithfulness, and God's providence allowed them to be blessed by Joseph;
-Joseph may have anticipated the fulfillment of his dreams when things began going well (v. 5), but he learned that God's timing is perfect.
The Lord was with Joseph, but when things are going well there will always be an attack of the enemy. We can't become slack but must stay watchful.
Potiphar's wife cast her eyes on Joseph, but he kept his eyes on the Lord.
Everyone appreciated Joseph except Potiphar's wife, who tried to use him for her own pleasure.
In general, the world is characterized by violence and corruption (cp. Genesis 6:5, 13). Violence didn't work against Joseph in chapter 37, so now the enemy tries to use corruption to sway his steps. Obedience is hard, because we are by nature "children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). But Joseph had to learn obedience by experience before he would be elevated to a place of authority himself.
Youthful lusts include sexual misconduct, as here, but there are also other characteristics of youth, such as impatience and selfishness. These all may appear unvarnished in youth, but they are not confined to the young; older ones are still prone to exhibiting them, though perhaps in a more sophisticated way. We are told to flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22).
Notice also Joseph's active response in rebuking her evil suggestion (v. 8). Then, after that rebuke, her suggestion remained a day-by-day temptation--it wasn't one time and then over with. But Joseph avoided even being with her, which in itself might not have seemed wrong. Although sorely tried, the Lord Jesus, too, did not and could not respond to temptation, for God is not tempted with evil (James 1:13).
Notice that the greatest pressure of her temptation came when no other men were present in the house (v. 11). Also, he faced this situation directly because of his own faithful service, for he had simply come into the house to conduct his business responsibilities.
We can't expect the world to value righteous behavior. Joseph's actions were completely twisted around when Potiphar's wife described them.
To the world, Joseph was just a slave (v. 17); to God, he was a prosperous man (vv. 3, 23). To the world, Joseph ran as a coward; to God, he was an overcomer. The secret of his overcoming can be suggested by the term "Hebrew," which means one who had "crossed over." Joseph knew the spiritual meaning of crossing over the Jordan River, so that now he was a man dead to the world and alive to God.
Potiphar's wife called him "the Hebrew servant." Consider the illustration of the Hebrew servant in Exodus 21, who remained in service because he loved his master. The greatest example of such a servant is the Lord Jesus Himself. Would you rather be accepted by the world or be given a title which is shared with the Lord Jesus?
First study: God's Plan | Second study: Faithfulness | Third study: Exaltation
God changes things in His own way and His own time. Joseph was in prison with no prospect of leaving. Then God sent a dream to Pharaoh, and in just the time it took to shave and change clothes, God completely turned around Joseph's situation.
Spiritual things are understood by spiritual means (1 Corinthians 2:14). Pharaoh found no answer for his dream from his own wise men, but Joseph, God's man, gave him God's answer. This is what put Joseph into a place of universal honor, as Christ will be seen in a coming day (Ephesians 1:10). God will move the whole universe to exalt Christ Jesus.
Joseph recognized God's hand at work in this turnaround, as demonstrated by the names he gave to his sons (vv. 41:51-52).
Joseph acts as the Bread of Life (as Jesus in John 6). He knows how to dispense food to all who come to him.
Joseph's authority was used to benefit others as well as Pharaoh. This is in contrast to all of today's authority, which people use for their own advantage or advancement.
Joseph was not content just to rule. He initiated the restoration of his brothers, culminating in a very personal and intimate reunion (45:1). Joseph wept in front of his brethren; we have a God who weeps, too. And notice it was Joseph who wept for joy at the time of restoration, although it does not appear that his brethren who in fact had done the wrongs wept themselves.
Joseph restored his brethren in a manner which allowed their own consciences to remind them of their faults. He didn't just say, "Forget about it," when he first saw them in chapter 42; and he also didn't pound them with his positional and moral authority, though he would have been fully justified in doing so.
Joseph made a point to declare God's hand in all of the events of the past 13 years.
Joseph's first question after revealing himself was, "How is my father?" (45:3). Our primary interest in God's satisfaction is the right focus. Then, in love, he restored and also exalted his brethren, just as the Lord Jesus has done and will do for Christians.
He asked, "Am I in the place of God?" (50:19). We have to be careful not to act as if we are in God's place if a matter has to be settled.
What the brothers originally thought was a family matter about their uppity little brother turned out really to be a stage for displaying God at work. This is the big picture in our lives.
Joseph did not want to be buried in Egypt. He appreciated the land of promise and knew God would bring the descendants of Jacob back there, so that's where he wanted his burial place to be, too.
Our experiences should teach us to rely on God, and Joseph had learned that. Consider Genesis 50:20--"You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."
First study: God's Plan | Second study: Faithfulness | Third study: Exaltation
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Bible Study 2: Joseph's Faithfulness
Genesis 39
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Bible Study 3: Joseph's Exaltation
Genesis 41:37-46; 45:1-8; 50:15-21
Exodus 13:17-19; Joshua 24:32
His new name placed him above every other name and every other authority except Pharaoh. Compare the Lord Jesus in Philippians 2:5-11. Joseph is the administrator over the whole land. Similarly, the Lord Jesus will reign in his coming Millenial glory (compare, for example, Isaiah 11 and 12), after which comes the Eternal State, when God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28, Revelation 21:3).
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