Joseph sets Benjamin up. Judah pleads for Benjamin’s freedom and offers to take his place—to be punished for wrong he did not commit. This is love. Joseph sees his brothers love sacrificially instead of deal selfishly with others. Love and entitlement are incompatible. Love garners self-sacrifice. Love brings about redemption. In this case, Judah offers... Continue Reading →
Upon his brothers’ return, Joseph treats them like honored guests. They prove to be honest men. Still, he maintains his ruse. Joseph gives Benjamin the most food. Recall that Joseph was the youngest, and his brothers jealous of him—which is why they sold him into slavery. If Joseph is going to see whether his brothers... Continue Reading →
I do not know what Joseph’s motivation is for treating his brothers harshly instead of revealing himself from the outset. We can see, in the text, that Joseph is grieving and not spiteful. This is likely one of those “shrewd as a serpent, innocent as a dove” situation. He truly wants to see if his... Continue Reading →
Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker correctly. Yet, the cupbearer forgets Joseph and does not mention him to Pharaoh. Joseph has always had a unique connection with dreams and interpretation of dreams. In this part of the story, the plot is setting up Joseph to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. Dreams got Joseph sold... Continue Reading →
Joseph does well but is turned against because he refuses to sin. I resonate with Joseph. Everything I do, I strive to do well. When I refuse to live a sinful life or participate in sinful things, I often suffer—even losing positions and jobs because people turn against people who are not like them. We... Continue Reading →
The story about Joseph and his brothers is popular and known to many from childhood. The story is full of Christological imagery. The coat of many colors brings to mind God’s promise to the world through Noah. Never again will He destroy His creation. In the Gospels, Christ will be arrested by His kinsmen and... Continue Reading →
Here, we get to finish our current study of Genesis. We have discovered together that God has given two purposes to His people. First, the people of God are to fill the earth with God’s image through both childbearing and through evangelism. Second, the people of God are to cultivate the earth for God’s glory.... Continue Reading →
His name was Joseph, Joseph Rah. He was tried and convicted of double homicide. No one thought that he was capable of murder, but the jury found him guilty. There I stood, close to midnight, digging his grave. I remember, in the dead of the night, hearing something other than... Continue Reading →
I woke up to the stench of manure and the sound of goats only to remember I was currently in a place that I never wanted to be. The woman I was soon to marry was forced to give birth in a barn and the only place for her baby to sleep was in a... Continue Reading →
andrew paul cannon 