Joseph, son of Jacob and Rachel, was favored — given a multicolored coat symbolizing distinction. At seventeen, he dreamed that his brothers’ sheaves of grain bowed to his, and the sun, moon, and stars bowed to him.
“Behold, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.” — Genesis 37:7
“Sheaf” means a bound bundle of harvested stalks. In the dream, his sheaf stood taller — symbolizing leadership to come. The brothers’ envy (“and they hated him yet the more”) began here — envy at divine favor, not at arrogance.
Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in Dothan. Seeing him, they plotted to kill him, but Reuben intervened. They stripped his robe and threw him into a dry pit.
“And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.” — Genesis 37:24
Judah suggested selling him instead of killing him, so they sold him to Ishmaelite traders for twenty pieces of silver. The brothers then dipped his robe in goat’s blood and deceived their father.
The robe’s blood convinced Jacob that Joseph was dead, marking years of grief that only destiny would reverse.Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. In every task, he excelled.
“And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” — Genesis 39:3
When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, Joseph refused.
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” — Genesis 39:9
Falsely accused, he was imprisoned — yet trusted even there.
“But the Lord was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” — Genesis 39:21This shows “rising in trust”: even in confinement, Joseph was made overseer within the prison — leadership recognized wherever he went.
In prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, accurately foretelling their outcomes. Two years later, Pharaoh himself dreamed of seven fat and seven thin cows.
“Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” — Genesis 41:38
Pharaoh made him governor of Egypt — second only to himself — to manage the years of plenty and famine.
This was not sudden success; it was steady refinement. Every betrayal positioned him closer to purpose.During famine, his brothers came to Egypt for grain. They did not recognize him. Joseph tested them for remorse, finally revealing his identity with tears.
“I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved… for God did send me before you to preserve life.” — Genesis 45:4–5
He brought his father and family to Egypt, granting them Goshen, the richest land.
“You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” — Genesis 50:20
This is the heart of Joseph’s legacy — providence. Human intent aimed for harm; divine intent transformed it into salvation.
Joseph died at 110, leaving instructions to carry his bones to the Promised Land — still trusting the covenant generations later.
Integrity: Protect inner purity; power follows trust.
Interpretation: Learn to read seasons — seven years plenty, seven years lean — plan accordingly.
Providence: Even betrayal can become strategy when faith governs reaction.
Forgiveness: Power’s final test is mercy.