DAY 5
Exodus 1-10. Read here.
Forgetting Joseph
The guests of Egypt’s second most powerful man find themselves enslaved.
Nonetheless, Joseph persevered through difficulty: false allegations from Potiphar’s wife, prison, abandonment and rejection and all of this while living with the memory of his brother’s betrayal and hatred. Nevertheless, despite great difficulty, he presents himself as really the first upright figure in all of the Bible up to this point. Joseph strove to live right; he was motivated by his dream. Joseph is the first image and likeness of Jesus as he exemplifies a sacrificial love. Instead of pursuing revenge on his brothers he simply tries to make himself worthy in the eyes of God.
So, why am I in utter shock? Well, it is mind boggling to me that the Israelites have found themselves enslaved in Egypt when they were brought there as the esteemed guests of royalty. In Genesis 45, Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers. Then, when he tells Pharaoh that his brothers have come to Egypt, Pharaoh delivers one of my favorite lines in the book of Genesis:
19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”
Imagine being in the middle of a famine and finding out your close relative is royalty and you get an invitation that reads: Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all (fill in the blank with your country) will be yours. What an invitation!
JOSEPH’S SACRIFICIAL LOVE
The Israelites failed to understand the power of Joseph’s love.