Understanding the Story

Moses gives Joseph more time in Genesis than he does any other character—a striking fact given the significance of Genesis’s other main characters: Adam, Noah, and the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This prominence is even more striking considering the apparent insignificance of Joseph in the rest of Scripture. Gospel Coalition.

We need to understand that Joseph was part of Prophecy

What is prophecy?

Biblical prophecy has two main parts: forthtelling (proclaiming God's truth for the present moment) and foretelling (predicting future events).

Genesis 15:1–16 CSB

After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. But Abram said, “Lord God, what can you give me, since I am childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” Abram continued, “Look, you have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house will be my heir.” Now the word of the Lord came to him: “This one will not be your heir; instead, one who comes from your own body will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “Your offspring will be that numerous.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.” But he said, “Lord God, how can I know that I will possess it?” He said to him, “Bring me a three-year-old cow, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” So he brought all these to him, cut them in half, and laid the pieces opposite each other, but he did not cut the birds in half. Birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, a deep sleep came over Abram, and suddenly great terror and darkness descended on him. Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know this for certain: Your offspring will be resident aliens for four hundred years in a land that does not belong to them and will be enslaved and oppressed. However, I will judge the nation they serve, and afterward they will go out with many possessions. But you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”

For Abraham: present moment - I am making a covenant with you.

Future: 1 - you will have a son, and not the one you think.

2 - Your offspring will be nurmerous

3 - they will be resident aliens in a foreign land, enslaved and oppressed.

4 - I will judge the enslaving nation and my people will go out with many possessions.

5 - in the fourth generation they will return HERE

When did this prophecy come? Well, it came YEARS before the actual event took place. How many? Somewhere around 250 years before hand. Then you add the 71 years of Joseph’s life. AND then you have to add the time when the people of God were held in favor. And then then time of slavery. AND then the time of the Amorites being justly punished. AND GOD SPOKE of all this to Abram.

So one of the first things we need to grasp as we go into the story of Joseph, is that Joseph is a part of the fulfillment of prophecy. God said it, it happened.

We also need to understand the POINT of the story of Joseph.

IN America we have horrible theology. The prosperity Gospel and materialism have ruined us. The idea that every story needs to be feel good and uplifting has ruined us. AND the story of Joseph, quite honestly, has been twisted and taken so far from the actual context that if I were to ask you you tell me the story of Joseph, you would probably tell me the DISNEY version.

The Disney version is good. It is entertaining. I turned it on for my kids. BUT IT IS A MOVIE. It is NOT THE BIBLE.

If I were to ask you what the key take away is from the story of Joseph, you would probably say something to the tune of:

If you are faithful, then God will bless you in unfamiliar lands.

Yeah that is not the point. Not even close.

Why? Because that is all about Materialism. To the CORE.

Gospel Coalition nails it:

The story of Joseph explains how the Israelites ended up in Egypt, transitioning the biblical narrative from patriarchal family stories to the mass exodus. It also emphasizes themes of divine providence, showing how God orchestrates suffering and adversity to fulfill a larger purpose and preserve the covenant line.

Divine Providence and Sovereignty

The overarching message of the story is that God turns human betrayal and suffering into a greater good. As Joseph famously tells his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis 50:20).

The Bridge to Exodus

Historically and narratively, the story acts as a crucial bridge. It explains how the descendants of Abraham migrated to Egypt and grew into a large population, setting the stage for centuries of slavery and the subsequent Book of Exodus.

Preservation of the Covenant

During a severe global famine, Joseph's elevated status as Governor in Egypt allows him to rescue his entire family from starvation, thus preserving the bloodline of Israel.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Unlike earlier Genesis stories marked by intense family conflict and division (e.g., Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau), the story of Joseph provides a model for radical forgiveness and reconciliation.

Faithfulness in Adversity

Joseph’s narrative is a testament to unwavering faith. He maintains his integrity through severe trials—including being sold into slavery by his brothers, false accusations, and long-term imprisonment—eventually rising to second-in-command over Egypt.

Genesis 45:1–9 CSB

Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt. And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. “Return quickly to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay.

Genesis 50:20 CSB

You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

Now, we are going to look at this later, but I want to end with another reminder .

Joseph himself calls Egypt : the land of my affliction. He does so in the most profound way.

Joseph’s second born son Ephraim (Second son): Named because "God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction”.

Don’t twist the point of the story. Don't Disney it.