Without further delay, here is the last part of Joseph’s story! Where we left off was Joseph just had a son before the famine began, and the years of plenty started.
Before we get started, I wanted to touch on Genesis 41:52, which says, “And the name of the second [son], [was] called Ephriam: ‘For God has me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction’.” It was Egypt where Joseph dealt with all those hardships, but it was Egypt where Joseph was blessed. The devil tried to make Egypt a place of depression for Joseph, but God made it into a place of blessing. What the devil meant for evil, God meant for good. So, don’t look at the mess of your situation or where you’re at like it’s where you’re cursed. It’s the place where God is going to bless you, where God is going to position you to prosper, and where God is going to use you in ways you never imagined! It could be that where your trouble began is where God blesses you.
Moving along, the years of the famine began, and there was famine everywhere, but in Egypt, there was bread. This in itself is a blessing! God made sure that where Joseph was, there was provision! The economy, wherever else, was in shambles, but where Joseph was, there was plenty! God constantly provides for His children, so don’t worry about what it looks like around you; just know that God got YOU! Everyone around you could be broke and struggling, but God is a faithful and loving father who won’t allow that to be you. So, though everyone else may not have food, know that you will; if everyone else doesn’t have money, you will because God always provides no matter what it looks like around you!
Genesis 41:55 says, “So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” Joseph then sold the bread to the Egyptians, and “all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the lands” (Genesis 41:57). You know God’s plan is for you to be a blessing to all people. God told Abraham, Joseph’s great-grandfather, in Genesis 12 that he would bless all the families of the earth, and here we are in Genesis 41, with his great-grandson, blessing all the countries with grain during this time. Joseph being responsible for providing for everyone in this famine was a fulfillment of prophecy. Abraham might’ve not seen it, but God was still keeping His promise to him all these years later, and the families of the earth were still being blessed due to Abraham’s lineage. This happens when there is a covenant, when you are faithful to God, and God is faithful to you. Abraham believed in God, and God accounted him as righteous. God will continue fulfilling His promises to you long after you are gone, as He did for Abraham. This is why it is pivotal to have a close relationship with God now so that your family and others are still reaping the benefits in future generations. God is a man of His word, which doesn’t change after your death! Joseph was so blessed because his great-grandfather was faithful to God, so your relationship with God involves more than just you, so take it seriously.
Now to my favorite part of the story. Remember Joseph’s brothers? The ones that hated him, lied to Jacob about Joseph being dead, and sold him to slavery? Yea, those brothers, well, their land was in famine too. “Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth” (Genesis 42:6). Ooooo, look who came to get some bread, the brothers. Joseph was not fond of seeing them; the Bible says he spoke roughly to them and pretended not to know them. Genesis 43:8 says, “Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him,” God blessed Joseph so much that he was unrecognizable. That’s how much God turned his situation around, he didn’t even look the same, and you’re about to not look the same. You’re about to walk differently, talk differently, glow differently, and look different because of the way God is about to bring you out! You’re going to be unrecognizable to the people that doubted you, the ones who wanted you to fail and even plotted against you. God’s glory is about to change your look! I could shout right now; God is so good that the old Joseph wasn’t even there. This was the blessed and highly favored Joseph; I’m head over all of Egypt, Joseph; I’m in my land of milk and honey, Joseph! Know that God is about to be so good to you, you’ll be unrecognizable from the old you.
Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies, but his brothers deny it, and they start telling him their life story. They are Jacob’s sons, who come from one land, Caanan; however, Joseph continues to accuse them. Joseph then tests them and tells them they cannot leave Egypt until they bring their youngest brother Benjamin, who was born after Joseph was sold into slavery. So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. After three days, Joseph told them to let one brother remain while the others got Benjamin. In Genesis 42:21, they say to one another, “we are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us.” Reuben says in Genesis 42:22, “did I not speak to you, saying, ‘Do not sin against the boy, and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us”. Joseph understood everything they said, even though he spoke to them through a translator. Joseph then went somewhere private and wept. It may have taken a while, but his brothers finally felt remorse for what they did. God is not forgetful of those who did you wrong; what you reap is what you sow.
Joseph took Simeon to be bound while the other brothers left to get Benjamin. Despite Joseph’s emotions, he sent them away with food for their land and journey. That alone represents God’s mercy shown through Joseph because he could’ve sent them away with nothing, but instead, he sent them away with plenty of food and provision, restored their money sack, and put extra money in there. Through the years, Joseph started to take on God’s qualities and didn’t repay his brothers for what they did.
The brothers returned to Caanan, their father’s land, and told Jacob all that happened, how Joseph spoke to them roughly, accused them of being spies, and kept Simeon until their return with Benjamin. This puts Jacob in distress, and he says to them, “You have bereaved me; Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin, all these things are against me” (Genesis 42:36). Rueben says to Jacob, to kill his two sons if they don’t return with Benjamin. Jacob, however, still would not let them take Benjamin, and with good reason. But the famine was severe, and soon they had gone through all their food, so Jacob told them to return and get more. Judah reminds him that Joseph said not to return without their younger brother. Jacob is still against this, but Judah pleads with him and says he will take the blame if Benjamin is not returned home. Jacob finally agrees and tells them to bring gifts to Joseph and return the extra money Joseph had given them. God will cause your enemies to bless you, though at this time, they didn’t know it was Joseph; God used the same people that tried to curse him to bless him. So know that God truly does take everything the devil meant for evil and make it good. Those who did you wrong may be the ones God uses to bless you!
As they bring Benjamin back and Joseph sees this, he tells his servants to prepare a feast for them. However, the brothers were afraid because they were in Joseph’s house; they thought he would sell them into slavery. In Genesis 12:3, God says to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you and I will curse those who curse you,” And all of these years later, God was keeping that promise. The brothers thought what they did to Joseph would happen to them. This is why you must be careful of how you treat people; if you bless people, God will bless you, but if you curse people, God will curse you. The brothers were aware of the seed they’d sown and were prepared to reap the consequences, so be mindful. Though God is quick to bless, God is quick to curse someone, too; it all depends on how they act.
Joseph released Simeon to them and served his brothers by giving them water and washing their feet. The brothers feared Joseph would accuse them of stealing because of the extra money, so they explained that they found extra money in their sacks. However, that was simply Joseph showing God’s mercy to them, and despite everything, he still had a pure heart. That’s how you know you walk with God, that when the worst things occur in your life, you can still find it in yourself to bless your enemies and others, care, and have an overall pure heart. I know that took Jesus because it is the hardest thing to know people did you wrong but love them anyways.
Before they went to eat, “they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.” (Genesis 43:26). Now, when Joseph was younger, he had a dream that his brothers would bow before him, and he had this dream twice. They scoffed at the time and mocked him, saying, “you think you’ll be greater than us?” But look at them now. Remember when Pharaoh had the dream about the famine twice, and Joseph said God showed him this twice because it was an established thing? This made me realize that established dreams come in two according to this. So, if any of your dreams are repeated, keep note. So Joseph’s dreams came to pass despite what his brothers thought. No matter what anyone thinks, if God showed it to you and said it to you, it is established because God’s word matters more than any human’s can. Don’t let your doubting family ruin your faith; their words don’t matter if they don’t align with the word of God. Joseph had this dream more than ten years ago, but it still came to pass; why? Because it came from God! When God says something, He means it, and it will come to pass. Joseph ended up being greater than his brothers, and they bowed down to him twice, as in his two dreams.
Joseph began asking questions about their well-being and his father, Jacob, to see if he was still alive. Then they had dinner, and everything seemed to be fine and merry. Before the brothers departed, Joseph ordered to have their sacks filled with as much food as they could carry, but while doing that, he also called for his silver cup to be put in Benjamin’s sack. When they left, Joseph told his servant to follow them and overtake them for ‘stealing’ his cup. The brothers tried to defend themselves and say they weren’t thieves, so the servant said, “he whom it is found shall be my slave and you shall be blameless.” He then searched their sacks and found the cup in Benjamin’s sack.
After the servant found the cup, the brothers returned to Joseph’s house. Judah pleads with Joseph, asking how they can clear their names, but Joseph insists on Benjamin becoming his slave. However, Judah is consistent; he says in Genesis 44:22,” ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’” and that he will take Benjamin’s place as a slave. This is significant character development for Judah and the brothers in general because they were the ones that plotted Joseph’s death. But here they are willing to do anything for their youngest brother. God can work on anyone’s heart; people can change if they are willing, so if you are praying for someone’s heart to change for the better, don’t give up. Look at what God did with Joseph’s brothers, they were coldhearted and merciless, but now they were full of love and compassion. Nothing is too hard for God; God has you praying for them because He knows He can work with them; you just have to remain consistent.
Joseph then reveals himself to his brothers, but in Genesis 45:5, he says, “do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” As I have been saying, GOD HAS A PLAN, and He always does. God is intentional and does nothing without reason! You just have to trust that God has a plan to elevate you and prosper you in this season. Though it may seem bleak, you will make it out and be great! You read everything Joseph went through, so I know you know God is capable of doing the impossible and the miraculous when it comes to your life. He can make the best out of the worst, make you forget your toil because of His glory, bless you in front of your enemies, and sustain you. Just don’t give up faith, and don’t give into the devil’s lies; God has a purpose for everything! In each situation you have been in, God has a specific reason: to strengthen you, build your faith, and get you closer to Him. So don’t take your current situation in vain; there is a purpose. Joseph then explains how he was put in this land specifically to bless the nations of the earth and that it “was not [them] who sent [him] here, but God” (Genesis 45:8), so in the end, it worked out for his good. God will work out everything for your good because you are his child. Romans 8:28 says, “and we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” You are called to His purpose, just as Joseph was, so expect things to work for your good!
Joseph then tells them to tell Jacob that he is still alive and to bring him to Egypt as there are still five years of famine. Pharaoh heard all of this and said to Joseph, “Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt,” (Genesis 45:18). Once again, God’s favor is being bestowed on Joseph and now on his family. When you have a close relationship with God, God’s blessing will extend to others around you; as I keep saying, having a close relationship with God benefits more than just you! God’s goodness extends because He is a generous God! And He wants His goodness to extend so that the people you know can be more interested in God. Sometimes, the only way people will come to Jesus is by seeing you blessed, which makes them curious. There are so many reasons why being close to God is essential, and getting others saved is one of them.
Joseph sent them on their way to Caanan, back to Jacob, with wagons of food, money, clothing, and provision for the journey, and here you can see Joseph taking on God’s generosity. When the brothers returned and told Jacob, he did not believe them at first, but when he saw the wagons with all the gifts and food, Genesis 45:27 says, “the spirit of Jacob their father revived.” And he agreed to go and see Joseph.
Jacob makes a sacrifice to God on his way to Egypt, and in Genesis 46:3, God says to him, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; Joseph will put his hand on your eyes,” If you know the story of Abraham, you know that God had said something similar to him. He told Abraham that He would be with him in the land of Caanan but also that He would make Abraham a great nation. I want you to notice that God is a faithful God who keeps His covenant from generation to generation. Here is Abraham’s grandson, still reaping the benefits of Abraham’s faith. God never breaks His word, and it never changes; through hundreds of years, God’s objective was still to make Abraham and his descendants great!
Jacob reached Egypt and finally saw Joseph after all of these years. Joseph presented them to Pharaoh and told them, in Genesis 47:6, “The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.” God’s blessing was extended again; as Joseph was elevated, so was his family. It pays to be close to God for everyone you’re around. God’s favor and generosity are endless; it goes beyond just you, so make sure you are close to God!
The famine was still happening, but Joseph had divine wisdom because he was close to God. Genesis 47:17-20 tells us the plan that God gave Joseph. The people would trade their livestock for bread, but then the following year, they gave their land to Pharaoh for seed to grow grain, so by the end, all the land of Egypt now belonged to Pharaoh. Due to God’s wisdom, Joseph was also able to elevate his boss. When you’re close to God, God will make you a valuable asset among the people you work with; people will want you to take on significant projects because they know you’re going to excel at whatever you do.
James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him .” Additionally, God will never withhold information from us; He wants us to be informed and wise when handling certain situations, whether at work, home, with family, etc. So if you’re uncertain how to deal with something, ask God, as Joseph did, and He will give you a plan.
Coming to a close after the famine, Jacob is ready to die. He makes Joseph vow not to bury him in Egypt but in the land with his fathers, Isaac and Abraham. Before passing, Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons. He tells Joseph that Ephraim shall be greater than Manasseh and that “his descendants shall become a great multitude of nations” (Genesis 48:19). When God makes a covenant, He intends to keep it. You may be living out a covenant your great-grandfather made with God; this is why a relationship with God is imperative. It affects generations to come; Joseph was so blessed because of Abraham’s faith; imagine how blessed your family could be through your faith. God was set on making this family a great nation and told a child from each generation that they were going to be great. God’s word stands sure forever, and He will bring it to pass, so if you don’t have a relationship with God, but want a covenant with God, want the blessings that Joseph had, want your family and future family to be blessed, say this prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, I repent of my sins and turn my back to them. By faith, I give Jesus my whole life, heart, mind, and soul. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for my sins, and I accept Him into my heart now. I believe Jesus is Lord. Amen!
I hope you enjoyed this series; I know I did! Be blessed, and God bless if you said this prayer comment below!
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