Joseph and Jesus

Recently I've been studying "Second Chance" stories in the Bible. There are a heck of a lot, but one that really stood out to me was the second chance Joseph gave his brothers.

For those who don't know the story, Joseph was sold into slavery by his own, jealous brothers, because their father loved him the most. But God made Joseph prosperous, and eventually he became second in command over all of Egypt.

While Joseph was in command, there was a period of seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. Through a dream, God informed Joseph of the famine to come, and Joseph prepared for the famine by collecting all the food during the years of abundance and storing it up in store houses all across Egypt. Then, during the years of famine, he opened the store houses and sold food to all the Egyptians. Even people from all over the world came to him for food, because the famine was severe everywhere.

Joseph's brothers eventually made their way to Egypt to buy food from him, though they did not recognize him as their brother. However, Joseph recognized them, but he kept his identity secret for a time.

When Joseph finally revealed himself to them is the part that is so moving to me. Here's the passage from scripture:

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Genesis 45 (NIV)

Joseph Makes Himself Known

 ¹ Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
 ⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! ⁵ And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. ⁶ For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a]
 8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. . . ."
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I can just imagine him pouring his heart out, voice hoarse with emotion, so full of forgiveness and joy.
Can you believe that? After all they had done to him, he was so ready to forgive them! Perhaps it took him a while to come to that point, but if it were me, the sight of them would renew all the old feelings I had for them.


In this story, a couple different points seem to pop-out at me. First, I find it impressive that Joseph was able to see God working in such terrible circumstances. How often are we able see the good happening in bad situations? My eyes are usually blinded by my emotions in those instances, and only after the fact am I able to look back and see what God has done. But if I'm able to step back and view the situation before I react in the same way Joseph did, perhaps less damage would be done.


Also, the second chance Joseph gave his brothers is much like what Christ has done for us. Even after he died a horrible death to pay the penalty for our wickedness, we continue to live out our sinful lives, making a mockery of his redeeming death and resurrection. Yet when we turn to him for salvation, he receives us with open arms and tears of joy. Isn't that amazing? How merciful and loving he is to us when we don't deserve it!


What wonderful examples of Christ's love and forgiveness we have, even before Christ was born! I love how stories all throughout the Bible seem to point back to what Jesus has done for us on the cross.


Now if only I could learn to forgive as He forgave...