When Joseph had a dream he decided to tell his brothers that one day he might be a powerful ruler. His brothers–already jealous of Joseph–became enraged at the thought of their little brother ruling over them. That’s when they decided to take matters into their own hands and devise a plan to get rid of him once and for all. They stripped him of his robe, dipped it in animal’s blood, and shoved him into a cistern. Later they would sell him as a slave to the Ishmaelites.
Joseph went through many more trials in Egypt, including being put in prison for being falsely accused of an attempted affair with Potiphar’s wife. After properly interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph became second in command to Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of gathering and counting the grain for the seven abundant years. The patience would pay off dearly. The famine hit and was severe. So severe, in fact, that Joseph’s family came to Egypt desperate to buy food.
We all know the story. His brothers don’t know that it’s Joseph they are speaking with for a long time. Eventually he reveals himself. Joseph seemed to have a lightbulb moment. He said, “And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharoah, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 44:7-8 ESV). Because of Joseph’s faithfulness through a dark period, God rewarded him and spared many lives from the famine, including Joseph’s own family.
