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Objective

In this lesson we’ll see through the life of Joseph that God takes His time in preparing our hearts and shaping our character for His purposes.

Key Verse

Genesis 50:20: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Introduction

The story of Joseph is one of the greatest stories in the whole Bible for teaching us about God’s providence and the power of forgiveness. God’s providence means that He is actively working in all circumstances to accomplish His perfect will, even when we cannot see His hand at work. Through Joseph’s life, we see how God can take the worst situations—betrayal, slavery, false accusations, imprisonment—and work them together for good.

Joseph’s story also teaches us about the transforming power of forgiveness. When we truly understand how God has forgiven us, we find the strength to forgive even those who have deeply wounded us. Joseph demonstrates this kind of grace in one of the most beautiful displays of forgiveness in all of Scripture.

But perhaps most remarkably, Joseph is also one of the clearest pictures of Jesus Christ we see in the Old Testament. The parallels between Joseph’s life and Jesus’ life are striking and help us understand God’s plan of salvation more clearly.

Notice how Joseph’s life mirrors the life of our Savior:

Joseph	Jesus
Beloved son of his father (Genesis 37:3)	Beloved Son of His Father (Matthew 3:17)
Hated by his brothers (Genesis 37:4)	Hated by His own people (John 1:11)
Betrayed and sold for silver (Genesis 37:28)	Betrayed and sold for silver (Matthew 26:15)
Went down into the pit as though dead (Genesis 37:24)	Died and was buried (Matthew 27:60)
Lifted up as though raised again (Genesis 41:14)	Raised from the dead (Matthew 28:6)
Exalted to the throne (Genesis 41:40)	Exalted to God’s right hand (Acts 2:33)
Married a Gentile bride (Genesis 41:45)	United to His church from all nations (Ephesians 5:25-27)
Brought life to many (Genesis 50:20)	Gives eternal life to all who believe (John 3:16)

Through these remarkable parallels, God was preparing His people to recognize their Messiah when He came. Joseph’s life shows us that God’s plans are perfect, even when they unfold through suffering and apparent tragedy.

In this lesson we’ll focus on four great truths from the life of Joseph:

• We must be humble before God can use us
• We must be diligent in every task God gives us
• We must extend God’s grace and forgiveness to others
• We must accept God’s sovereignty over everything

We Must Be Humble Before God Can Use Us

In our previous lesson we saw how God humbled Joseph’s father Jacob. Joseph, too, would have to be humbled before he could be used by God in mighty ways.

God revealed to Joseph in his dreams that he would someday rule over his brothers. These dreams were true revelations from God, but Joseph may not have been as humble as he should have been in sharing them. He didn’t keep the dreams to himself but was quick to tell his family about his future greatness.

Genesis 37:5-7: Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”

Genesis 37:10-11: When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Joseph was a godly young man with a pure heart, but he seemed to lack wisdom and discernment about when to speak and when to remain silent. Sometimes it’s wise to keep things to ourselves until we see more clearly what God is doing. (Notebook Moment: Can you think of a time when sharing something too quickly caused unnecessary conflict or hurt? What does this teach you about the importance of godly timing in our words?)

Proverbs 27:1-2: Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.

Even Mary, when the angel announced that she would bear the Messiah, kept these things quietly in her heart:

Luke 2:19: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Joseph needed to learn the same lesson that every leader must learn: God will humble us before He exalts us. This is always the pattern God follows, and this is the pattern we see perfectly displayed in Christ.

Philippians 2:5-11: In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus modeled perfect humility for His disciples. When they argued about who would be greatest in His kingdom, He taught them this vital lesson:

Mark 10:43-44: Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.

The disciples took three years with Jesus to truly learn about humility, but they eventually learned the same lesson Joseph did: We cannot reign with Christ until we are humbled and emptied of our pride.

Matthew 19:28: Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

2 Timothy 2:12: If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us.

It took Joseph many years of hardship to learn this crucial lesson. The trials he endured in Potiphar’s house and in prison were God’s classroom for teaching humility. How long is it taking God to teach you this same lesson?

We Must Be Diligent in Every Task God Gives Us

Joseph demonstrated remarkable diligence in two important areas of life: his public service and his personal character.

First, Joseph was diligent in his public work. He understood that it doesn’t matter how big or small the task appears to be—whatever God has given us to do is important in His eyes. Whether Joseph was serving in Potiphar’s house or managing the prison, he gave his best effort to every responsibility.

Genesis 39:4-6: Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.

Even when Joseph was unjustly thrown into prison, he maintained the same faithful attitude:

Genesis 39:21-23: But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

This attitude of faithful service, regardless of circumstances, reflects the heart of a true servant of God.

Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

God was preparing Joseph for the enormous responsibility of leading Egypt through seven years of famine. Joseph had to prove himself faithful in smaller responsibilities before God would entrust him with greater ones.

Matthew 25:21: His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

Jesus taught extensively about the importance of faithful service. In one parable, He describes what a faithful servant looks like:

Luke 12:42-44: The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

Second, Joseph was diligent in maintaining his personal integrity. He recognized the spiritual dangers of temptation and refused to compromise his character, even when no one would have known.

Genesis 39:7-9: And after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

Joseph understood that moral purity is essential for anyone whom God would use in leadership. (Notebook Moment: Joseph saw this temptation as a sin “against God” even though no one else would have known. How does viewing our choices through God’s eyes change the way we respond to temptation?)

2 Timothy 2:20-22: In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Paul reminds us that purity is always God’s will for His servants:

1 Thessalonians 4:3-4: It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable.

We Must Extend God’s Grace to Others

One of the most beautiful lessons from Joseph’s life concerns grace and forgiveness. God poured out His grace upon Joseph so that he could extend that same grace to others who had deeply wounded him.

When Joseph finally revealed his identity to his brothers, his response demonstrates the transforming power of God’s grace:

Genesis 45:4-5: 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! 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.”

Instead of seeking revenge, Joseph comforted his brothers and assured them of God’s purposes in their suffering. Joseph had learned to see God’s hand even in the painful circumstances of his life.

Genesis 41:50-52: Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Notice the names Joseph gave his sons. “Manasseh” means “God has made me forget,” and “Ephraim” means “God has made me fruitful.” Joseph chose to focus on God’s blessings rather than his past wounds.

The apostle Paul understood this same principle. God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we have received:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

Paul also recognized that his ministry was built upon the grace he had received:

Ephesians 3:7-8: I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.

Our ministries should demonstrate grace, forgiveness, and reconciliation. This is how we point people to Jesus Christ and show them who God really is:

2 Corinthians 5:18-20: All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

We Must Accept God’s Sovereignty

Joseph showed remarkable wisdom and maturity as he looked back over his life. The boasting of his youth was completely gone, replaced by humble recognition of God’s sovereign control over every circumstance.

Genesis 50:20: You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

This is one of the most profound statements about God’s sovereignty in all of Scripture. Joseph could see God’s hand in everything that had happened to him—even in his brothers’ betrayal. Because of this understanding, Joseph could not remain angry with those who had wronged him. He knew that God had been working out His perfect will through every painful experience.

Genesis 45:8: So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

(Notebook Moment: Looking back on difficult seasons in your life, can you see how God was working even in circumstances that seemed hopeless at the time? How does this perspective change the way you view current challenges?)

This truth that God works all things together for good is echoed throughout Scripture:

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Conclusion

The story of Joseph reminds us that God’s timing is perfect and His plans are always good, even when we cannot understand what He is doing. Like Joseph, we may have to wait years before we see God’s purposes fulfilled. Like Joseph, we may face injustice, betrayal, and suffering before we see God’s deliverance. But the same God who was with Joseph in the pit, in Potiphar’s house, and in prison is with us in every circumstance we face.

The writer of Hebrews includes Joseph among the great heroes of faith, reminding us of what sustained him through decades of hardship:

Hebrews 11:22: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

Even as Joseph was dying, his faith was fixed on God’s promises for the future. He believed that God would keep His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph’s faith looked beyond his own lifetime to God’s eternal purposes.

But most significantly, Joseph’s story points us to Jesus Christ, the greater Joseph who would come. Where Joseph saved Egypt and his family from physical famine, Jesus saves the world from spiritual death. Where Joseph forgave his brothers and provided for their needs, Jesus forgives our sins and provides for our eternal salvation. Where Joseph was exalted to Pharaoh’s right hand, Jesus is exalted to the right hand of God the Father.

Acts 7:9-10: Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

The same God who was with Joseph is with us today. The same God who worked all things together for good in Joseph’s life is working in our circumstances right now. The same Savior whom Joseph’s life foreshadowed is our Redeemer and Lord.

Joseph’s life teaches us to be humble servants, diligent workers, gracious forgivers, and trusting believers in God’s perfect sovereignty. But most of all, Joseph’s story points us to the One who perfectly fulfilled every picture and promise—Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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