When we think about the life of Joseph, we often recall how he accomplished great things despite the odds. How he remained diligent and acted with integrity as a slave and even in prison.
But this perspective often overlooks the depth of what Joseph went through – the humiliation and suffering, the rejection and all the ills he faced.
See how Psalm 105 puts it:
“His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; until what he had said came to pass the word of the Lord tested him.”
Psalm 105:18-19 (RSV)
If you’ve ever seen photos or movies of the African slave trade, you would have noticed that the slaves were bound hand and foot with a collar of iron around their necks. Today, we depict such acts as inhumane, but this was the reality of many once upon a time.
Joseph was a slave, not the romanticised version, but the real thing. His freedom was restricted.
He was at the lowest rung of society, mistreated and forgotten. Yet, he remained diligent, honest, and obedient to God.
Isn’t that incredible?
His story also revealed the magnitude of what happened between Joseph and Pharaoh. That a slave will move from the prison to not just the palace, but to become the prime minister of a foreign nation.
It seems impossible, yet we know that this was Joseph’s legacy.
Let’s put this in context:
In today’s world, we have clear laws and regulations about wrongdoing – morals are governed (for the most part), and people are penalised for contravening such laws.
The unbidden truth about the current criminal justice system is that most ex-prisoners do not get a second chance. The world systems and economy are often skewered against them (even those who may have been wrongfully convicted).
They usually do not have the same access and opportunities as others – including career progression, immigration rights, and work opportunities amongst others.
In some quarters, they are viewed as tainted.
Save for the Late Nelson Mandela and a few others, the path of a prisoner seldom leads to the presidency or to high honours.
Pharaoh looked beyond Joseph’s past and his current position as a slave and elevated him to a place of majesty.
Here’s how the Psalmists put this:
The King sent and released him, the ruler of the people set him free; he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions to instruct his princes at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom.”
Psalm 105:20-22
Did you catch that?
He gave Joseph the power to rule and teach wisdom. This presupposes that Pharaoh believed that Joseph could lead and had unique wisdom for these roles.
Why elevate Joseph?
Pharaoh did not elevate Joseph because he felt bad for him or just because Joseph interpreted his dream, I believe he elevated Joseph for a few reasons:
- Joseph had a solution. We know that Joseph presented a wise plan to the king on how to prepare for the impending famine.
- Joseph did not take credit for his plan. He ascribed the glory to where it was due. I believe this also did two things: Joseph enjoyed God’s favour (see Gen. 41)in the king’s presence. And Pharaoh confirmed that Joseph is not one to usurp power (basically Pharaoh did not have to worry about a coup from the son of Israel).
What Joseph’s story signifies
Joseph’s story reminds us that it is God who elevates.
Pharaoh was merely a vessel used by the Almighty God. It was God’s plan from the beginning that Joseph will save his family and rule over them, but the way he went about it was nothing like Joseph (or any of us would have imagined).
You may recall similar situations in your life where the fulfilment of God’s promises over your life was so different from anything you could have imagined. And it also meant that you couldn’t take any credit (or the glory).
Secondly, the life of Joseph could also be likened to the foreshadowing of Christ.
“Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even death on the cross…”
Philippians 2:6-10
My question for us is simple:
Will we remain obedient to God’s word and trust his ways even if we were faced with numerous trials? Will we continue to stand on the path of heaven or crumble amid the vagaries of life?
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