The life of Joseph in Genesis has had a powerful impact on my life.
Plot -- Joseph has a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs. He receives favor from his father but is sold into slavery by his brothers. He is part of a rich household but then is thrown into prison. He eventually becomes second in command in Egypt. It shows me that God has a plan for my life. It shows me that life is a mixture of ups and downs. It shows me that despite obstacles and trials, God is sovereignly, providentially working things out for His glory and to show His love. It shows me that nobody can thwart God's plan, as Joseph's brothers and Potiphar's wife try to do.
Characters -- Joseph's father was probably wrong to favor Joseph over his brothers, yet it was a part of God's plan, since Joseph was destined by God to hold an exalted position in order to save his family and his people. Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him -- and they figuratively did so. Joseph is a type of Christ in that he went down into a pit and down into prison but was ultimately exalted and ultimately saved his people. The story shows that God uses even wicked people, such as the brothers, Potiphar's wife, and the Pharaoh to accomplish his will without their realizing that He is doing so.
Setting -- Egypt was a pagan land. God sent Joseph's family and the people in their households to Egypt for safety from the famine. While they were there, they grew in number and prospered -- for a time anyway. Egypt will later turn on them, however. What this tells me is that God can put me in a situation for awhile that is a blessing to me but that later becomes an ordeal.
Design Patterns -- There are several patterns in the life of Joseph that are related to Jesus. Like Joseph, Jesus had a God-given destiny to be exalted. He was destined to save His people from their sins, just as Joseph saved his family from starvation. Jesus was despised and rejected, just as Joseph was by his brothers, but he rose to a high position. Jesus went to Egypt for safety as a baby, just as Joseph brought his family to Egypt. Jesus eventually returned to Israel, and so did the Israelites. They even brought the remains of Joseph back with them. It shows me that God has a grand design for world history. Nothing happens by chance or accident. He planned for Jesus long before any of us was born, and He showed through the pattern of this narrative what Jesus would go throiugh and what he would do.
Plot -- Joseph has a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs. He receives favor from his father but is sold into slavery by his brothers. He is part of a rich household but then is thrown into prison. He eventually becomes second in command in Egypt. It shows me that God has a plan for my life. It shows me that life is a mixture of ups and downs. It shows me that despite obstacles and trials, God is sovereignly, providentially working things out for His glory and to show His love. It shows me that nobody can thwart God's plan, as Joseph's brothers and Potiphar's wife try to do.
Characters -- Joseph's father was probably wrong to favor Joseph over his brothers, yet it was a part of God's plan, since Joseph was destined by God to hold an exalted position in order to save his family and his people. Joseph's brothers wanted to kill him -- and they figuratively did so. Joseph is a type of Christ in that he went down into a pit and down into prison but was ultimately exalted and ultimately saved his people. The story shows that God uses even wicked people, such as the brothers, Potiphar's wife, and the Pharaoh to accomplish his will without their realizing that He is doing so.
Setting -- Egypt was a pagan land. God sent Joseph's family and the people in their households to Egypt for safety from the famine. While they were there, they grew in number and prospered -- for a time anyway. Egypt will later turn on them, however. What this tells me is that God can put me in a situation for awhile that is a blessing to me but that later becomes an ordeal.
Design Patterns -- There are several patterns in the life of Joseph that are related to Jesus. Like Joseph, Jesus had a God-given destiny to be exalted. He was destined to save His people from their sins, just as Joseph saved his family from starvation. Jesus was despised and rejected, just as Joseph was by his brothers, but he rose to a high position. Jesus went to Egypt for safety as a baby, just as Joseph brought his family to Egypt. Jesus eventually returned to Israel, and so did the Israelites. They even brought the remains of Joseph back with them. It shows me that God has a grand design for world history. Nothing happens by chance or accident. He planned for Jesus long before any of us was born, and He showed through the pattern of this narrative what Jesus would go throiugh and what he would do.