Douglas Jacoby Podcast

OT Characters: Joseph

Episode Summary

Douglas is continuing his series on Old Testament Characters now discussing the life of Joseph. The podcast includes things we learn from their lives, what we can learn about God through their lives, and a devotional idea for sharing the material with your children.

Episode Notes

For more notes and resources check out Douglas' website.

Hebrew words:

• Yosef (Joseph, pronounced "yo-SAFE") -- may He add / increase
• Ketoneth passim -- special tunic (outer garment), in Genesis 37:3
• Ha'arets (pronounced hah-AR-ets) -- the earth / land, as in Genesis 41:57.

Further study:

• Passages the podcast covered or referred to:
  • Genesis 11:27ff (Abraham cycle), 25:19ff (Isaac cycle), 37:2ff (Jacob cycle -- which focuses on Joseph)
  • Numbers 12, Acts 2 -- dreams/visions. This has nothing to do with self-fulfillment, as in the "American dream." Hebrews 11 in fact emphasizes the opposite. Faithfulness is the focus, not fulfillment.
  • 2 Samuel 13:18 illuminates Genesis 37:3 -- the special robe was probably a long-sleeved garment, suitable for those privileged not to be involved in manual labor.
  • Genesis 48:12 -- Joseph is the one who will bow before his father, not his father before him (as in 37:10). Moreover, his mother, by the time the family came to Egypt, had died. So his dreams are partially accurate. For a NT parallel, see the vision of Agabus concerning Paul's arrest. The vision of Acts 21:11 is only partially accurate. He was bound, but not with his own belt; and he was handed over, but to the Gentiles, not the Jews.
  • Genesis 37:3, 41:57, 42:21-22, 39:6 (see parallel in 29:17), 45:1-15, 50:14-26.
  • The theme of deception and non-recognition is also very common throughout Genesis (ch. 12, 18, 19, 20, 27, 38, etc).
• Messianic parallels:
  1. Both Joseph and Jesus were shepherds -- Joseph literally, and Jesus the "Good Shepherd."
  2. Both were rescued from death and taken into Egypt.
  3. Both lived the lives of servants.
  4. Both began their public ministries at about the age of 30. (And both spend about 20 years in relative obscurity before this time.)
  5. Both resisted temptation.
  6. Both were filled with the Spirit of God, and were given knowledge of the future.
  7. Both quickly gained the confidence of others.
  8. Each tested others in order to find out their true character.
  9. Each was sold for the price of a slave (30 pieces of silver).
  10. Each was falsely accused, and accepted his fate (silent before his accusers) without protest.
  11. Each was condemned along with two other prisoners.
  12. Each was "dead" to his father.
  13. Joseph was held for two years, and freed in the third; Jesus was "held" for two days, and freed (risen) on the third.
  14. They both gave bread to those who came to them.
  15. Both "arose" to new life.
  16. At first, neither was recognized by his brothers.
  17. Each saved his people, and in fact the world.
  18. Each was returned to his father.
  19. Each became "lord."
  20. Each was concerned for unity among his brothers.
  21. This does not exhaust the parallels. See the excerpt from the excellent piece by Andrew Wilson (scroll all the way down).
• Advanced: the age of Joseph.
  • 110 was the ideal age for a virtuous Egyptian. (Ancient societies often had actual ages and idealized ages.)
  • Abraham lived to 175 = 7 x 52; Isaac lived to 180 = 5 x 62; Jacob lived to 147 = 3 x 72. Joseph lived to 52 + 62 + 72 -- in a sense, "summing up" his predecessors' lives.
  • For more on the symbolism of biblical ages in Genesis, consult the articles linked to the notes provided with OT Podcast 3 (Noah).
• For more on Genesis as the introduction to the entire word of God, and for special analysis of chapters 1-11, please see my book, Origins, to be published in 2018.

Some things we learn about God:

• Providence often operates through unfair circumstances. We must strive to be open to there being a "bigger picture" and, like Joseph, not give in to bitterness.
• Often God lets us wait. With the Lord, we may be "inconvenienced" not just for minutes, hours, or days, but for years and even decades! In the meantime, he is working out his will.
• In the lives of the earlier patriarchs, God intervenes more directly, speaking to them, sending angels, etc. With Joseph we see a more subtle -- yet comprehensive -- view of God's working and providence. God controls but does not force events, permitting things to happen more than causing them to happen. This resonates much more with the experience of the majority in biblical history -- and with you and me!
• The Word of God -- the Hebrew scriptures -- testify of the Christ to come.

For kids (devotional -- best for three or more children):

• Dramatize the life of Joseph.
  • Read parts of chapter 37. Choose one child to be "Joseph." Be sure to dress him up in a special robe.
  • Act out the capture and sale of Joseph to the Midianites. One child plays Joseph; the others, his jealous brothers. Father and mother can play the parts of the slave traders. Make sure you have a good "pit" in which to hold Joseph as his fate is discussed.
  • Read parts of chapter 39 (age appropriate). Then act out his imprisonment at the hands of Potiphar.
  • Finally, read excerpts from the chapters 42 onward. Have all the brothers bow down to Joseph. Make sure Joseph has forgiven his siblings. Enjoy the drama!
• For less drama and more discussion, read about the lives of Joseph (Genesis 37+) and Daniel (Daniel 1 and 6). Compare and contrast. Ask which one's life you would rather have, and why.

Key verses:

• 37:3 -- Jacob's favoritism towards his son Joseph, compounding the resentment his brothers felt towards him.
• 37:18, 39:17 and 40:23 -- Life is often unfair; however, this does not mean that God is unfair.
• 39:10 -- Joseph's refusal to give in to sexual temptation.
• 50:20 -- God's providence operating even in our hardships (and others' evil plans).

Next lesson: Moses