The popular version of the Joseph story runs that Jacob spoils his son and is at fault for the brother’s jealousy. This is exacerbated by Joseph’s arrogant boasting about his dreams. However, being sold into slavery changes Joseph making him good, wise and just. Is that a fair rendition?
Well, there have been clues along the way that suggest we may not have got everything right. First, we saw early on that Jacob’s love of Joseph arose in the context of the brothers’ evil. The text emphasises the covenant nature of this with Jacob identified as Israel and there are pre-echoes or foreshadowing of God’s Fatherly love for his son, Jesus.
There are also clues that things weren’t quite right after Joseph’s encounter with Pharoah. We’ve already seen that Joseph talks about his silver cup as being used for divination. There are further clues here.
Read Genesis 47:13-31
As the famine continues, the people of Egypt and Canaan first run out of money. Joseph then exchanges food for their livestock. When they have no livestock left, they come to Joseph and offer their land to Pharoah. The king owns their land and so in effect they work for him. The author observes that Joseph has “reduced the people to servitude” (v13-21) There is an exception. He exempts the priests. Remember that he has married a daughter of a priest. They were already receiving a provision of food for free from Pharoah. So, presumably, the priests, Pharoah’s own household and Joseph’s are provided for directly, free of charge (v22).
Joseph explicitly states that the people now belong to Pharoah. He offers them seed to sow in their fields but taxes them in return. Pharoah as the landowner is owed a share of the crops as the famine ends. The people also now acknowledge that they are Pharoah’s bondslaves. They remain grateful because Joseph has saved their lives (v23-26).
In contrast to the Egyptians, Joseph’s family prosper and acquire property (v27). Jacob lives another 17 years and the time of his death draws near. He gets Joseph to swear on oath that he will have him buried with his fathers back in Canaan. The assurance that he would return home, even in death causes Jacob to worship (v28-31).
Digging a little deeper
At first sight, the plan to build up stores of grain in the good years looks like an altruistic act. However, what we see here is that the corn was not given back for free. This does look like the people were having to pay to buy back what they had themselves produced in the case of the Egyptians although those who travelled from further afield will not have contributed into the storehouses.
Joseph comes across as canny here but is he completely good and just? Furthermore, it seems that he sets in motion the mechanisms that will form the precedent and perhaps build up the resentment which will lead to his own people’s later enslavement.
At the same time, there is no doubt that God is using Joseph and even here as he is seen as the one who rescues the people, meaning they now owe their lives to the king, he remains a type pointing forward to Christ.
It is first of all helpful then to remember that Jesus is the true and better Joseph. Christ saves but without the problems of his type. He does perfectly what Joseph does imperfectly. It is important for the author to remind us that Joseph is not perfect, is not the Christ, is not the saviour. Secondly, we see God’s grace. He chooses and uses Joseph not because Joseph is good and perfect but out of sovereign love and mercy for his people.
A look at ourselves
Being reminded of Joseph’s weaknesses should first of all make us even more thankful for Christ and the Gospel. It is also encouraging to be reminded that these great heroes of Scripture were fallen and finite. They failed but God loved then and chose them. This should increase our thankfulness for his grace to us despite our weaknesses.
However, this also means that we should not treat the men and women of Scripture as perfect examples to follow. Because Joseph has a divination cup and enslaves people or because Abraham lies about Sarah being his sister does not make it okay for us to sin. We should not become presumptuous when it comes to the grace and mercy of God.
Faithroots 