An Amazing Story

This week we come to the story of Joseph. In 1982, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat opened on Broadway. I don’t know all about the content, but I like the title. I think the writers hit on just the right wording to describe the story of Joseph. Amazing.

Amazing that a young man can be ripped from his home, his family, his emotional and physical support centers, his culture, and his past and still make the kind of decisions that Joseph made. His story is one that is full of the constant changes we experience in life. Through Joseph, we embed the lessons of how to hold God’s hand and seek His face no matter what changes come our way. Just look at some of the things Joseph experienced in his life.

Favored Son (Genesis 37:1-4) – Joseph is his father Jacob’s favorite. He is number eleven out of twelve brothers. Yet Jacob loves Joseph and sets him in a place of preeminence among his sons. He honors Joseph by giving him a richly ornamented robe – a garment of great cost and beauty. Joseph is also a dreamer. His dreams involve images of position and honor among his brothers. He is not sent out into the fields to work as his brothers are. Rather he is given the position of supervisor and liaison with his father. He grows up the favored son of an aging and wealthy father and his brothers hate him for it.

Powerless Slave (Genesis 37:23-24) – Enraged and jealous, Joseph’s brothers hatch a diabolical plot. They sell Joseph into slavery and let their father believe he is dead. They rip away his favored position as surely as they shred his beautiful coat. Joseph goes from pampered son to powerless slave in one day.

Privileged Servant (Genesis 39:1-4) – The Ishmaelite slave traders sell Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Alone in a strange land, we begin to see the depth of Joseph’s character. Humbled by his change in position, Joseph begins to see the unchanging hand of God working in his life. He prospers among the Egyptians and Potiphar sees that the Lord is with him. His master puts Joseph in charge of his household and rests comfortably in the knowledge that, with Joseph in charge, all will be well-managed and handled with honesty and fairness.

Dungeon Prisoner (Genesis 39:11-20) – Potiphar’s wife is more attracted by Joseph’s physical appearance than the purity of his heart. Day after day she urges him to sleep with her and day after day Joseph refuses to betray both the trust of his master and the holiness of God. Her frustrated desire rips Joseph of his position in Potiphar’s house as he runs uncloaked from her presence. Joseph goes from privileged slave to dungeon prisoner in one day.

Trusted Prisoner (Genesis 39:20-23) – Joseph is thrown into prison and again is called to depend on the light of God’s mercy in the midst of his dark circumstances. God gives Joseph success and His presence in Joseph’s life is evident to those around him. Through a series of dreams, Joseph interacts with members of Pharaoh’s household. Giving God the glory, Joseph tells them the meaning of their dreams and the path that is set for their futures. As the cupbearer once again takes his place next to Pharaoh, Joseph watches the prison door shut. His own dreams of bowing sheaves and shining stars seem very distant.

We don’t know why. We don’t know how. We do know that Joseph made the decision to be God’s person in those days that rock our world. His example shows us that integrity, faith, trust in God, and dedication to righteousness can daily impact the way we live and influence the people around us. We embed the Bible so that the lessons can be planted deep in our character. God is at work!