This is another in a series of excerpts from What Every Christian Should Know About the Return of Jesus, released by High Street Press and available at Amazon. 

---

The story of Joseph (Gen. 37-50) is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It’s a tale of tragedy and triumph, punishment and pardon, incarceration and exaltation, abandonment and reunion, fear and power, famine and plenty, deep sadness and unrestrained joy. We are introduced to Joseph as the favorite son of Jacob, a preference that spurs jealousy and betrayal in the hearts of Joseph’s brothers, who opportunistically sell Joseph into slavery and then soak his robe in animal blood in a ruse to fake their brother’s death.

Joseph ends up in Egypt in the home of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guards. Potiphar sees that the Lord is making Joseph successful. So, the Egyptian officer makes Joseph his personal attendant and places everything in his household under the young servant’s authority. 

Joseph captures the eye of Potiphar’s wife, who makes repeated sexual advances towards the strapping young man. When Joseph rebuffs her siren calls, she falsely accuses him of attempted rape, which lands him in jail with Pharaoh’s prisoners. Again, the Lord grants Joseph favor, this time with the warden, who puts Joseph in charge of all other captives. This includes Pharoah’s imprisoned cupbearer, who later secures Joseph’s release by telling Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. 

Pharaoh has suffered two troubling dreams that his magicians are unable to decode. He  looks to Joseph, who humbly confesses, “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer” (Gen. 41:16).

The two dreams mean the same thing: Egypt is about to enjoy seven prosperous years, followed by seven lean years. Joseph urges Pharoah to appoint a wise man to oversee the nation’s affairs, storing up excess food during the good years so people may survive the famine to come.

Pharoah places his signet ring in Joseph’s hand, dresses him in fine linen, and places a gold chain around his neck. In a matter of moments, Joseph goes from forgotten inmate to prime minister of Egypt. His godly wisdom and tactical skills enable Egypt not only to survive the famine, but to serve as the world’s breadbasket during that time, enriching Pharaoh and indebting the people to him. 

Family reuinion

All of this leads to a reunion between Joseph and his family. First, Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt, where they buy grain from the prime minister but fail to recognize him as Joseph. After accusing his brothers of spying, Joseph holds them in prison for three days. Then, he keeps only Simeon in custody and sends the others back home with a strict command not to return unless they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin. 

The famine continues unabated, and the grain runs out. Jacob sends his sons back to Egypt, grudgingly agreeing to allow Benjamin to accompany them. Joseph hosts a dinner for the brothers, including Simeon, and asks about their father. He shows favor to Benjamin and then sends his brothers back to Israel with full sacks of grain. Only, he orders his servants to place his cup in Benjamin’s sack. On their way home, the brothers are overtaken by Joseph’s servants, who reveal that Benjamin is in possession of the prime minister’s cup. Terrified, the brothers are brought back to Egypt.

Joseph tells the brothers they may return home, but Benjamin must remain in Egypt as his slave. That’s when Judah steps forward to plead for his younger brother’s life, offering to be Joseph’s slave in Benjamin’s place. Joseph has tested his brothers harshly, but he finds them kinder and more mature than the petulant gang of conspirators that tossed him into a cistern more than a decade earlier.

In a most touching scene, Joseph tells his brothers, “I am Joseph, your brother … the one you sold into Egypt” (Gen. 45:4). He continues:

And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life…. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt (Gen. 45:5, 7-8). 

With Pharaoh’s blessing, Joseph sends for his father and the rest of his family. They travel to Egypt and settle in the best part of the land, per Pharaoh’s orders. Pharaoh welcomes Jacob, who in turn blesses the king. Joseph provides for his father, his brothers, and all their dependents. Together, they acquire land, become prosperous, and multiply.

Years later, when Jacob dies, his sons fear Joseph will finally take vengeance on them for their past misdeeds. They send a message to Joseph:

“Before he died your father gave a command: ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin – the suffering they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father” (Gen. 50:16-17). 

His brothers also prostrate themselves before Joseph and confess, “We are your slaves!” (v. 18). 

But there isn’t a hint of vengeance in Joseph. He weeps upon receiving their message. And when they come into his presence, he tells them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result – the survival of many people” (Gen. 50:19-21). 

This is a recap of Joseph’s words to his brothers in Egypt many years earlier (Gen. 45:5-8), only Joseph didn’t identify his brothers’ evil intent the first time. He does so now in order that everything is in the open. Sin is confessed, acknowledged, repented of, and completely forgiven. 

God’s providential care

All that’s happened to Joseph – betrayal, imprisonment, false accusations, neglect, deliverance, and rise to prominence – are under God’s providential care. 

“Therefore don’t be afraid,” Joseph says again. “I will take care of you and your children” (Gen. 50:21). 

Joseph wants his brothers and their children to know his kindness will outlive him. His brothers have nothing to fear. Joseph’s care for them in Egypt will continue long after his death.

Finally, Joseph’s last words are meant to assure his brothers: “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land he swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Gen. 50:24). Joseph then urges his brothers to take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here” (v. 25).

Joseph’s last words carry no hint of remorse, doubt, or anger. While his life experiences span from being a favored child to becoming prime minister of Egypt, and from knowing the terror of abandonment, the isolation of prison, and the burden of false accusation to experiencing the comforts of Pharaoh’s courts, Joseph rests confidently in the providence of God. He breathes his last in sublime peacefulness.

His final instructions about his bones reveal more than an ancient custom. Joseph would have little use for his bones after death. But commanding the return of his remains to the Promised Land shows confidence in God’s promise to Abram to give his descendants a permanent homeland. Just as Joseph’s bones would be buried in the land of his ancestors, his descendants ultimately would rest in a home where God promised to place his name. 

As the writer of Hebrews puts it, “By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones” (Heb. 11:22).

Joseph foreshadows Jesus

In many ways, Joseph’s life foreshadows the life of Christ. Joseph is despised, rejected, betrayed, falsely accused, and abandoned. Yet, he emerges from prison as the voice of God – a wise counselor, a prince, a deliverer of his people. Jesus, too, is strongly opposed, disbelieved, reviled, betrayed, abused, neglected. Yet, he rises from the grave as the exalted Son of God, our Savior and deliverer.

Joseph’s request for his bones to rest in Canaan shows his confidence in the Lord’s promise. Though Joseph is prime minister, Egypt is not his home. It’s a nation that symbolizes slavery, foreshadowing the New Testament concept of bondage to sin. While Joseph dies in Egypt, his home is in Canaan and his hope is in God. And while Jesus dies outside the city walls of Jerusalem, his home is in heaven and his hope is in the Father. 

Eric Watkins shares this observation:

Canaan was the earthly antithesis of Egypt and was the much-hoped-for destination of the people of Israel. Though time might dim the memory and hope of Israel, the promise did not dim in the mind of God, and as surely as He pledged, He would also fulfill. Joseph’s hope, then, was in the sure and steadfast promises of God.

The God of Israel is faithful. He rescues his people from bondage in Egypt after more than four hundred years. Similarly, Christ is faithful. As the incarnate Son of God, and through his sinless life, death, burial, and resurrection, he rescues us from bondage to sin and death. Joseph sees this in types and shadows. Christ reveals it in his incarnation and finished work on the cross.

Joseph’s last words echo through the corridors of time, fulfilled in freedom from Egyptian slavery, and ultimately realized in freedom from bondage to sin. His final words also offer an example of the way we are to live our lives and prepare for our deaths. Famous last words don’t define a life – or redefine it. They reflect a life lived and a view toward the life to come. 

Next: Ready to die: the story of Jesus