Lesson 3: The Joseph Story
We usually pass off the Joseph story as a clever children’s tale. In truth, as written in Genesis 37-50, it is a rather sophisticated attempt to understand God‘s participation in our world. We still ask the questions it addresses.
It quickly becomes apparent that this is a retelling of Cain and Abel, which describes the enmity between farmers and shepherds as a corruption of creation that sometimes led to brothers killing brothers. However, God’s affection for the world he created now moves him to save people threatened by this violence. He acts to rescue the favored brother Joseph and his people, the shepherds, from all their perils.
The story still leaves us saying, “Yes…but.” Is Joseph favored by God or simply talented? Is he arrogant or kind? Does the story equate success in this world with God’s approval or simply describe God’s intervention in this particular situation? Does God desire to save all imperiled people or just his chosen ones?
The story might not answer all our questions, but it clearly affirms God is active in his creation and calls on us to cooperate with him. Joseph’s powerful statement in its conclusion also serves as Genesis’ final declaration. “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good in order to preserve numerous people as he is doing today. So have no fear. I myself will provide for you and your little ones.”
Forgiveness is the key to understanding God’s participation in his corrupted creation. Forgiveness is necessary if we are to cooperate with God in restoring the divine order.
The story also culminates another development in Genesis. God’s actions overcome the separation of nations pictured in the Tower of Babel story. He controls events in Egypt to save Israel. Joseph, like Moses and other patriarchs, has a foreign wife and family. Of course, all of this eventually falls apart as Egypt enslaves the Hebrews, once again corrupting the divine order.
This is far more than a children’s Bible story. We still are tempted at our highest levels to equate success in our world with God’s favor. We question nations aiding one another. We define justice as getting even with those who wronged us. We see forgiveness as weakness. The Joseph story challenges all of these.
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