The story of Joseph is one of the most beloved in the Bible.  This is a true story that includes all the elements of human drama: jealousy, money, conflict, lust and love.  It shows the depths of human pettiness and the heights of human greatness.  It shows how a man's unwavering faith in God rescues him from the depths of prison and vaults him to the pinnacle of power.  And best of all, the story of Joseph has a genuinely happy ending.

          Happy endings are hard to find these days.  The attacks of 9-11 happened four years ago and now Hurricane Katrina has wrecked more lives.  We're busy making tragedy worse by blame and fault finding.  But the great thing about Joseph is where others saw failure, he saw the hand of God.  Where others fault the family, Joseph loved his brothers.  Where the vultures of tragedy feast on human mistakes, Joseph encouraged life and saw something better.  This story is a clear example of how God can make a common man into a beacon of light in the midst of evil darkness.

          This is how it all began.  Jacob had twelve sons and Joseph was his favorite.  In a large family it's hard not to have favorites.  When a child is obedient, handsome, and the joy of his mother, it's only natural for a father to love him a little more.  Jacob's mistake was to make his preference so obvious.  He gave Joseph a finely colored coat, better than any his brothers had, and they became envious.  Joseph made a mistake, too.  He told of the dream in which his brothers honored him.  It was the wrong thing to do.  Their envy soon turned to hatred.

          Envy creates jealousy, and jealousy creates hatred.  His brothers sold Joseph into slavery and told Jacob he was killed by wild animals.  Jacob's life fell apart, and so did Joseph's.  He went from privilege to slavery.  He was bought by Potifar, an Egyptian official, and Potifar's wife accused him falsely, which landed him in jail.  There in jail Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of the King's servants and though they were released, he remained in jail nearly twenty years.  But he was always faithful to God, eventually even becoming prison manager.

          You see, no matter what happened, Joseph remained faithful to God, and he always saw something good in the midst of evil.  No matter what others did, he always tried to do what was right.  Joseph was one of those rare fellows who followed God, not man.  And God had great plans for his future, and the future of all mankind.

          One day Pharaoh, the king, began having nightmares, and none of his advisors could help.  One of his servants remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream in jail, so Joseph was called in and he told Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams.  The seven fat cows and seven huge ears of corn that came out of the Nile represented seven years of good crops.  The seven skinny cows and seven dried ears of corn which consumed the fat ones were seven years of famine that would follow.  Therefore, said Joseph, Pharaoh must store up food during the good years so there would be food during the coming famine.

          Pharaoh was impressed, and in a decision both risky and brilliant, he made Joseph manager of food storage and distribution.  He was given full authority to act, and overnight, Joseph went from prison to palace.  He was given a wife and servants to assist him, and even a new name, "Zapanath-Peneah."  Joseph went from rags to riches because he trusted God and because God had plans for him.  Joseph would be critical in the story of salvation for the world.

          The food was stored during the good years and when the famine came, it affected people in nearby lands, including Jacob and his clan.  He sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain, and there Joseph recognized them.  They didn't know Joseph, but he knew them!  Twenty years had not changed them, but they could never know their little brother was the man of power standing before them.  They came back again, this time as honored guests, and in a powerfully emotional scene, Joseph revealed to them who he was.  Then the brothers told their father the truth, that they'd tricked him and Joseph was still alive.  Jacob and his clan came to Egypt, and all was well until he died.  Then the brothers were fearful.  Would Joseph be vengeful?  Would he kill them for what they had done?  Would they now get their punishment?

          Some people always learn the hard way, especially Joseph's brothers.  They couldn't see how God could change a man's heart so that he would never seek revenge.  They didn't realize God could bring good from evil.  At Jacob's funeral, Joseph realized his brothers' fear, so he said to them, "Don't be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  So don't be afraid.  I will provide for you and your children." (Genesis 50:19-20)

          I have read this story dozens of times, and I can't pass this section without getting a lump in my throat.  To be imprisoned 20 years and still remain so faithful, to be treated so badly and still forgive, to go from riches to rags to riches, and then to imagine the reunion with his old father who saw his favorite son alive again - I don't know how anyone can not be moved by the emotions this wonderful and true story contains.

          "You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good."  That's our point.  God makes good out of evil.  He stands evil on its head and makes something great.  We know the story didn't end there, that later a Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites, and from that came Moses, the burning bush, the Exodus and the Promised Land.  But that's all later.  Right now, we can bask in the light of God who gave His people good in the midst of evil.  And He will give it to us also.

          One thing that strikes me here is that nothing followed the people's plans.  Jacob's plans for Joseph, Joseph's plans for the future, Potifar's plan for his marriage, Pharaoh's plan for the nation - all went up in smoke as God brought them into line with His plans.  We can depend too much on our human plans.  Not that we shouldn't plan, but always with God in mind.  Our best-laid plans will not always work, so we must plan correctly.

          The apostle James wrote, "Listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.'  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that'." (James 4:13-16)

          Those are wise words from the brother of Jesus.  Our lives are all in God's keeping, but our plans may not be!  Mere planning can not take into account the force of a hurricane.  Planning cannot anticipate human weakness.  Joseph shows us how depending on the Lord works miracles.  By God's grace, good came in the midst of evil.

          We're having trouble seeing this today.  Pundits, politicians and preachers are blaming and pointing fingers.  Victims blame officials for everything.  We haven't learned much from history.  The most recent issue of US News has a lead article, "What went Wrong?"  I saw it and said, "A hurricane, you idiot!"  I don't think the author heard me.  So when evil seems rampant, remember Joseph.  God gave him good despite the evil of years in prison.  God gave him good when people only gave him evil.  He could have blamed others, but he didn't.  Joseph saw God in it all, and as a result, he is unique in history, a man through whom God brought good to the world.

          Centuries later, when Jesus died, it looked like evil triumphed. The disciples' world had caved in.  Nothing good could be seen, that is, not until 3 days later.  When Christ walked out of the tomb, God gave good from evil.  When He walked out of the grave, the world changed.  His disciples saw the good that came from evil.

          The real good that came from Joseph's life is our Savior.  Because Joseph was faithful, God blessed future generations.  Joseph was a "type" of Christ.  Like Jesus, he did his father's will, and was hated for it.  Like Jesus, he was falsely accused and imprisoned.  Like Jesus, his obedience blessed everyone.  Like the old Israel was blessed through one man, Joseph, so the new Israel, the Church, is blessed through one man, Jesus Christ.  Praise God for that!

          Right now we see things only in part; one day we will see how it all fits.  God will show us good from the evil we experience.  No one can see the entire picture now; it must be shown us over time.  We can seek answers, but we will not find them right away.  If there are scores to settle, God will do it, not us.  Therefore, instead of anger and blame, let us trust that God will make it all turn out good - just like Joseph.  Amen

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.