Be Like Joseph: The World According to Jacob

Let’s talk about one of the greatest stories in the Bible. And, one of my most favorite biblical characters. Joseph. (I love Joseph!). Remember the “Be Like Mike” Michael Jordan advertising campaign (I’m showing my age here)? This is the “Be Like Joseph” campaign.

Now, we’re not talking about Mary’s husband, Joseph, though he was a great dude, too. I’m speaking about Rachel and Jacob’s son, Joseph.

Favoritism in the Family Tree

Jacob had six sons with Leah, two sons with Rachel, two sons with Rachel’s handmaid, and two sons with Leah’s handmaid for a total of twelve sons. Rachel’s sons were his favorite because he really loved her. Rachel’s eldest son was the beloved Joseph.

Now, it wasn’t right, but Jacob played favorites among his sons. He gave Joseph a beautiful multi-colored coat (hence the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Thus, his brothers were incredibly jealous.

Fed up with his elevated status, his brothers sent him on an errand and then kidnapped him (I know, this family keeps getting crazier and crazier!). Originally, the brothers were going to kill him but ultimately settled on selling him into slavery (nice guys). They put blood on his coat and brought it back to Jacob as evidence of his death.

You intended to harm me, but God…

Now, what Jacob’s sons couldn’t have known is that God used this event (selling Joseph into slavery) to save millions of people. He was honest and hard-working and the Lord blessed him in whatever he did.

He worked in his master’s house and was given control of everything. After his master’s wife falsely accused him of assault, he ended up in prison (takes me back to the show Prison Break). In jail, Joseph ultimately earned a leadership position through his hard work and loyalty. Eventually, he became noticed by Pharaoh and became the second in command of Egypt storing grains and preparing for the upcoming famine.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives (Genesis 50:20 NIV).

Be Like Joseph

You see, we don’t know how God can use the terrible things (even the ones caused by our own families)  in our lives to benefit not only to ourselves but others. We survive and thus can comfort and guide other people through the same events and situations. 

Here’s the crux of it: multiple people form the genealogy of Christ, and nearly all of them were imperfect (and I’m not talking about telling little white lies). They were imperfect in major ways…Jesus descended through the line of Judah, one of the brothers who sold Joseph into slavery.

But, I think the imperfection in Jesus’ family tree is intentional. God purposefully uses imperfect people to show us that we can be used for His Kingdom despite our own imperfections. Stories, like Jacob’s favorite son, serve to generate faith in the idea that no matter how our family may seem to fail or disappoint us, a good outcome is still possible.

Furthermore, Joseph never wallowed in his situation. He worked diligently and was loyal to his supervisors. What an example of how to walk with poise in life (despite pitfalls and struggles)!

Work for the Lord. Stand in your purpose… even when the hurts and disappointments come. Don’t let a family member or an offensive situation rob you of who God says you are.

Be like Joseph.

Love, K.