Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his

brothers while he was still a youth Genesis 37:2

Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence

of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:46

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Joseph’s life summarized

Favorite son of his father Jacob/Israel, his brothers hated him because of this (Joseph 17 years old 37:2)

His brothers sold him into slavery and told their father that a wild animal had killed himHe eventually is taken to Egypt by his captors

Joseph begins to work for a man named Potiphar, an Egyptian army officer

Potiphar’s wife attempts to seduce Joseph sexually.

Joseph refuses her attempts but she accuses him of attempting to rape her. Joseph is put into prison where he is given a responsible position

Joseph’s life summarized

He interprets the dreams of two prisoners who had been assistants to Pharaoh.

After being released from prison one of these assistants is returned to Pharaoh’s service

Pharaoh has a troubling dream he doesn’t understand

Pharaoh’s assistant who had been in prison with Joseph remembers how Joseph interpreted his dream and tells Pharaoh about it.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream (seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine)

Because of this interpretation Joseph is made a ruler in Egypt (Joseph 30 years old, 41:37)

Joseph’s life summarized

When the famine has an impact upon Joseph’s family in Canaan, Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain

They appear before Joseph to buy grain but do not recognize him as their brother, although Joseph recognizes them

Joseph eventually reveals his identity to his brothers and has them go back to Canaan and bring all of the family to Egypt where they are taken care of during the years of famine

Life isn’t fair

Sold into slavery 37:18-36Falsely accused 39:7-18Imprisoned unjustly 39:19-23

I have seen everything during my lifetime of

futility; there is a righteous man who

perishes in his righteousness and there

is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his

wickedness. Ecclesiastes 7:15

Practical lessons from Joseph’s life

Do what is right regardless of the consequences

Evil report regarding his brothers 37:2

But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is

right in the sight of God to give heed to you

rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have

seen and heard."Acts 4:19-20

Practical lessons from Joseph’s life

Make the best of your situation

Do your best in whatever job you are assigned 39:1-6

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning

or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are

going. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Practical lessons from Joseph’s life

Maintain moral integrity

Remain sexually pure 39:7-18

Flee from sexual immorality 1 Corinthians 6:18

Practical lessons from Joseph’s life

Practice forgiveness

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me." And they came closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, 45:4-5a

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted,

forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also

has forgiven you.Ephesians 4:32

Practical lessons from Joseph’s life

Reliance on God’s providence

for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt…as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 45:5b-8; 50:20

I will return to you again if God wills

Acts 18:21

Practical lessons from Joseph’s life