I have read and understood the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers, but rose to become the ruler of Egypt and saved many lives from a famine. I have also imagined what he would say to humankind if he were alive today, based on his experiences and his faith in God.
I want to share with you his message, which is full of wisdom, compassion, and hope. It is a message that can inspire us to trust in God’s plan for our lives, to overcome our challenges, to forgive our enemies, and to bless others.
If I were Joseph, this is my message to you all:
My dear brothers and sisters,
I greet you in the name of the Lord, who has been my refuge and my strength in all my troubles. I want to tell you my story, not to boast of myself, but to glorify God and to encourage you to trust in him.
You may know me as the ruler of Egypt, the one who saved many lives from the famine. But you may not know how I came to this position, and what I had to endure along the way. Let me tell you briefly.
I was born in Canaan, the son of Jacob, who loved me more than his other sons. He gave me a coat of many colors, which made my brothers jealous and hateful. They could not speak peaceably to me, and they plotted to kill me. But God had a plan for my life, and he showed it to me in two dreams. I dreamed that I would rule over my brothers and even over my father and mother. I told them my dreams, but they only hated me more.
One day, when I was 17 years old, they seized me and threw me into a pit. They then sold me as a slave to some merchants who were going to Egypt. They lied to my father and told him that a wild animal had devoured me. They showed him my coat, which they had dipped in blood.
In Egypt, I was bought by Potiphar, a high official of the pharaoh. He saw that God was with me and that I prospered in everything I did. He put me in charge of his entire household. But his wife had evil desires for me, and she tried to seduce me many times. I refused her, saying that it would be a sin against God and against my master. One day, she caught me by my cloak and begged me to lie with her. I ran away from her, leaving my cloak in her hand. She then accused me of trying to rape her, and Potiphar believed her. He was angry and threw me into prison.
But even in prison, God was with me and showed me favor. The keeper of the prison put me in charge of all the prisoners. He did not check on anything that was under my care, because he trusted me.
One night, two of the pharaoh’s servants, who were also in prison, had dreams that troubled them. They told me their dreams, and God gave me the interpretation. I told the cupbearer that his dream meant that he would be restored to his position in three days. I asked him to remember me when he was free and to mention me to the pharaoh, so that I could get out of this prison. I told the baker that his dream meant that he would be hanged in three days. Both interpretations came true, but the cupbearer forgot about me.
Two years later, the pharaoh had two dreams that none of his wise men could explain. He dreamed of seven fat cows being eaten by seven lean cows, and seven healthy ears of grain being devoured by seven thin ears of grain. The cupbearer then remembered me and told the pharaoh about me. The pharaoh sent for me and asked me to interpret his dreams.
I told him that it was not in me to interpret dreams, but that God would give him an answer of peace. I said that both dreams had the same meaning: there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine in Egypt and all the world. I advised him to appoint a wise man to oversee the collection and storage of grain during the good years, so that there would be enough food during the bad years.
The pharaoh was amazed by my wisdom and said that there was no one like me in whom the Spirit of God was. He appointed me as the second-in-command of all Egypt, giving me a ring, a robe, a chariot, and a new name: Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave me a wife named Asenath, the daughter of a priest. He said that only he would be greater than me in Egypt, and that all the people would obey my word.
I was 30 years old when this happened. For seven years, I oversaw the collection and storage of grain throughout Egypt. God blessed me with two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.
Then the famine came, as God had foretold. It was severe in all the land, but there was bread in Egypt because of what I had done. People from other countries came to buy grain from me.
Among them were my own brothers, who had sold me into slavery 20 years ago. They did not recognize me, but I recognized them. I spoke harshly to them and accused them of being spies. I demanded that they bring their youngest brother Benjamin, who had stayed behind with Jacob. I kept one of them, Simeon, as a hostage until they returned.
They went back to Canaan and told their father what had happened. He was reluctant to let Benjamin go, fearing that he would lose him as he had lost me. But when their food ran out again, he had no choice but to send them back with Benjamin. He also sent gifts and double the money to appease me.
I was overjoyed to see Benjamin, my only full brother. But I still concealed my identity. I invited them to dine with me at my palace, and I gave Benjamin five times more food than the others. I also planted my silver cup in Benjamin’s sack before they left, and then sent my men after them to catch them with the stolen item. I threatened to keep Benjamin as my slave, while letting the others go free.
This was too much for Judah, one of the brothers who had sold me into slavery. He pleaded with me to let him stay instead of Benjamin, because he could not bear to see his father’s grief if he lost another son. He confessed their guilt for what they had done to me many years ago, and how they had broken their father’s heart.
I could not hold back my emotions any longer. I ordered everyone else to leave the room, and then I revealed myself to my brothers. I wept so loudly that everyone in the palace heard me. I embraced my brothers and told them not to be afraid or angry with themselves, for it was God who had sent me ahead of them to save their lives and many others from the famine. I asked them to bring their father and their families to Egypt, where I would provide for them in the land of Goshen.
They were stunned and speechless, but they soon rejoiced with me. They hurried back to Canaan and told Jacob the good news. He could not believe it at first, but when he saw the wagons and the gifts that I had sent, he revived and said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
He and his sons and their wives and children and flocks and herds set out for Egypt, a total of 70 people. On the way, God spoke to him in a vision and told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt, for he would make him a great nation there. He also promised to bring him back to Canaan and to be with him until the end.
I met him in Goshen and fell on his neck and wept for a long time. I then introduced him to the pharaoh, who welcomed him and his family and gave them the best land in Egypt. He lived in Egypt for 17 years, until he was 147 years old.
Before he died, he blessed his sons and their sons, especially my two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, whom he adopted as his own. He also made them swear to bury him in Canaan, in the cave where his ancestors were buried. He then breathed his last and was gathered to his people.
I mourned for him and had him embalmed by the Egyptian physicians. I then led a large funeral procession to Canaan, where I buried him with honor. I returned to Egypt with my brothers and their families.
After his death, my brothers feared that I would take revenge on them for what they had done to me. They sent a message to me, saying that our father had commanded me to forgive them. They also offered themselves as my servants. I was moved by their words and assured them of my love and forgiveness. I said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And I comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
I lived until I was 110 years old. I saw my children’s children to the third generation. I also made the Israelites swear that when God would bring them out of Egypt, they would carry my bones with them to the promised land. I then died and was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
This is my story, but it is not only mine. It is also God’s story, for he was the one who orchestrated everything that happened in my life. He was the one who gave me dreams and interpretations. He was the one who protected me from harm and blessed me with favor. He was the one who raised me from slavery to royalty. He was the one who used me to save many lives from starvation. He was the one who reconciled me with my family and fulfilled his promises.
My message to you is this: Trust in God no matter what you face in life. He has a plan for you that is bigger than your own understanding. He can turn your trials into triumphs, your pain into purpose, your sorrow into joy. He can use you for his glory and his kingdom. He can make you a blessing to others and a witness of his grace. He can fulfill his promises to you and your descendants.
But you must also do your part. You must obey God and follow his commands. You must resist temptation and flee from sin. You must work hard and faithfully in whatever you do. You must be humble and grateful for what you have. You must forgive those who wrong you and seek peace with them. You must love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.
These are the lessons that I learned from my life, and I hope they will inspire you to live a life that honors God and blesses others. Remember that God is with you always, and he will never leave you nor forsake you. He will guide you and provide for you. He will comfort you and strengthen you. He will reward you and crown you.
May God bless you and keep you. May he make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May he lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
This is my message to humankind, as Joseph, a servant of the living God. 😊
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