Joseph’s life is amazing for many reason. But the biggest reason, in my opinion, was because he had the ability to see the big picture. In Genesis chapter 45, when he reveals his true identity to his brothers, he explains in verse 5, And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. Joseph saw the ultimate purpose for his life was to save lives even through all the suffering he endured to this point. Joseph’s life is an example of living to fulfill God’s purpose. I hope I am able to live my life to see that much of the big picture. At a minimum, I hope I accept the fact that my life was created to fulfill God’s purpose even if I am unable to see why.
2013 Day 17 – Genesis 43-46, Psalm 15
17 Thursday Jan 2013
Posted in Daily Reading
Daily Devotion 
There are a couple of things that stand out in this part of the story that Jamie preached about last year (he did a fantastic series through the main stories of the OT last year).
1) Judah is another atonement figure in the OT. In this story, we see Judah take on the role of the sacrifice. It’s like he’s been watching his family his entire life, knows how incredibly dysfunctional they are, knows how dysfunctionaly he has operated within that system, but it’s here that he finally wakes up and says, “enough”. He’s the one who becomes the leader of his family, even though it wasn’t technically his role. But he’s the only one who’s eyes have been opened. He sees that his family needs to be saved, and he puts his life on the line to save it.
2) I am so moved by Joseph when he finally reveals himself to his brothers. He has lived for years with the hurt and pain of what his brothers did to him. He’s lived with the grief of not seeing his father. Imagine the drama of that moment when Judah is standing there with Benjamin, pleading for Benjamin’s life. Here he’s go the youngest brother standing in front of him…the most favored of Jacob now that Joseph is presumed dead. I wonder if he had images of his life flashing through his mind. All the hurt and pain coming to the surface. Apparently, the emotions were so intense that he leaves their presence and wails so loudly the people in the court can hear him. This is deep agony he is feeling. How much of that pain was also an internal struggle to forgive them? It’s hard to forgive someone who has wronged you so greatly. How much of it was anger and grief fighting one another? We don’t get that part of the story, but whatever happened while he wailed, he came back out unable to keep up the charade.
And he forgives. And he saves his family. He and Judah save their family because they overlook the shortcomings of their family, they forgive and they do what they know is right.
The entire story of Joseph is so deep. There is so much to gather here, and we are only touching the surface. But there is so much to learn in this story not just about God, but about family systems – how to operate both healthily and unhealthily in the broken system of our families. I find it incredibly intriguing.