Joseph and the Chosen People in Egypt

by Ivan Kalabric

Advent Devotional ~ Day 9

Read Genesis 37:1-36; 41-46

The story of Joseph is a story of patience, honesty and character. He was a favorite son of Jacob and Rachel, yet his brothers weren’t able to even talk kindly with him. As a young man, Joseph received a dream from the Lord, yet the dream he had didn’t really unfold as he expected. There were some shortcuts, but some detours too, and Joseph's life ended very differently then he probably ever wished to. How many times our lives go in the exact opposite direction than the dreams God has placed in our hearts. Maybe we dream of having a big family, travel the world, have a successful career, or just live peacefully, yet somehow our destiny takes a detour. Joseph’s pain is a key to understanding his greatness.

He was a favorite, yet he was hated. His father would give him the finest robes, while all his brothers were wearing short-sleeved tunics. The jealousy of the brothers grew bigger every day and one day they finally threw him in a pit and sold him to Egypt. What a sad ending of a spoiled childhood, days when he was the favorite ended abruptly. But the Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man. (Gen 39:2) Joseph’s survival skills, as a response to the immense pain he experienced, became his main quality, and his management skills led him straight to the courts of Egypt. He became a manager of Egypt. Finally, his oversight skills were used by God to preserve his entire family from famine. Joseph concludes in a final discourse with his brothers, you meant it for harm, but the Lord meant it for good. If Joseph never suffered rejection, difficulties and pain, he would have never become a tool in God’s hands and would have never saved his family.

Reflection

When he was at his lowest, Joseph served others. His perseverance mode was not egocentric, but pointed to others. He has seen a value in serving others, even though life hasn’t always been fair to him. He never allowed bad experiences to lead him into resentment and bitterness. Instead, he was a shoulder to cry on, even in times of long and unjust imprisonment, when his eyes were the first to be filled with tears. He stretched his hand in the midst of his own suffering. Joseph learned to suffer with hope. He learned to wait, patiently. And his time has eventually come. He traveled from a dreamer to the one who interprets the dreams, but it was a long journey and Joseph learned to embrace it.

Application questions

1. How do you reflect on everything you have been through? Does the pain make you softer or bitter? Are you growing in patience or resentment?

2. If you are given riches, set on high positions or promoted to higher ranks, will it become an opportunity for you to stretch your hand to others?