The Example of Joseph
I’m the youngest of five children, as well as the only girl. It’s often assumed that I must have been the favorite in my family, but life was more complicated than that, and it would take volumes to explain how emotional issues arose in a family with two loving, committed parents. I stopped trying to figure it out long ago. But one thing I do know: nothing I’ve experienced has been wasted. Every twist holds a lesson, and every turn is a chance to grow.
Although I could never choose a favorite Bible story, the lessons of Joseph’s life have resonated throughout my life. Joseph was favored by his father, Jacob, and Scripture refers to a coat—or, in some Bible translations, a tunic—Jacob gave him to signify how deeply he was loved. Some scholars think the robe was consistent with a garment worn by royalty, so its significance would not have been lost on Joseph’s brothers. Of course, compounding the jealousy was Joseph telling them about a dream he had which illustrated his elevated position in the family.
When the opportunity came, Joseph’s jealous brothers threw him into a pit. A short time later, they sold him to a tribe of passing Midianites. Then they took his tunic, covered it with goat’s blood, and convinced their father that his beloved son was dead. Jacob, devastated and mourning, could not be comforted.
Genesis 39:1 tells us, “Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there” (NKJV). It’s believed that Joseph would have been given a uniform or special tunic as he worked for and impressed Potiphar. Joseph is described as handsome, and Potiphar’s wife set out to seduce him one day. He spurned her advances, but as he fled, she managed to remove his tunic and then use it to frame him. Soon he found himself in jail, and while there, he continued to trust the Lord. He eventually became a trusted official in Egypt with the ability to rescue his family from famine.
Joseph had been abused by his own brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned by a leader to whom he’d been loyal. Yet he still managed to follow hard after God. His integrity and long-suffering put him in positions his former circumstances would have kept him from finding. I often wonder if Joseph was ever tempted to give up or stop waiting. I’ve found myself there more than I’d like to admit.
Over the past several years, the losses in my family have stacked up. I’ve lost a faith community, my father, and a dear friend. We’ve been betrayed, and we’ve been the topic of gossip in a small town. Health issues and job stress have been constant companions. Through each challenge, however, my faith has grown deeper and stronger, and my ability to trust the Lord has become ingrained in my soul.
As those dark years pressed in, the story of Joseph—his courage to stay quiet when appropriate and speak God’s word when the timing was right—came again to mind. I learned that kindness is always the correct response when your enemy approaches. One of my hardest lessons, though, was trusting God to defend me in his timing. Until then, I hadn’t understood the importance of Jesus being quiet while he was persecuted. But the less I fought the urge to defend myself, the more peace and joy came pouring through my soul. With each step of obedience, with every act of grace and prayerful trust, I found the courage to follow Jesus. Every time I refused to grumble, he stepped in and made a way forward.
When Joseph’s brothers finally went to Egypt seeking food during the famine and discovered their brother’s position, they were comforted not just by his kindness, but by his words. Joseph assured them that God had sent him there, not them. It’s no different for us. When we’re dismissed, we’re not alone. During days of abandonment, in the stillness, we have a God who protects.
These days I seek to follow Christ through the example of Joseph. Each step I take is another move toward the dreams God has placed in me. And the detours, like hard work, only prove to make me stronger.
is a passionate storyteller who writes of faith, hope, love, and food. She’s madly in love with her pastor husband and mama bear to two daughters. Grace is a fairly new concept she is exploring with her life and words. Mama Jem believes we should live gently and love passionately. You can find more of her writing at jemelene.com.
Photograph © Pearl, used with permission
