What I learned from Joseph this week

Joseph and Jesus

When we examine the lives of Jesus and Joseph, we see many similarities and learn at many important lessons for our lives. The story of Joseph takes place in the Old Testament. This story foreshadows the story of Jesus and salvation in the New Testament.

Joseph was hated by his brothers. They were jealous of the love he received from their father. Jesus was hated as well, not by his brothers, but by the Pharisees and other religious leaders. They were jealous of the love and attention he was receiving by the people. These leaders were also worried about losing the power that they had attained.

Joseph was beaten and thrown into a pit, then sold into slavery, even though he was innocent. Jesus, too, was beaten, and put into prison and also was innocent. Joseph, again, although an honest man, was put into prison, after being wrongly accused by Potiphor’s wife. He never lost hope in his God, but continued to pray and worship, even in prison. Jesus, was nailed on the cross, with the crowd cheering. He, instead of condemning them and thinking badly of them, declares to God, “Forgive them Lord, for they do not know what they have done.” Similarly, Joseph, when confronted by his evil brothers, who hurt him deeply, forgave them and said it was all part of God’s Plan.

Can you imagine how Joseph’s brothers must have felt? All those years living with the burden of guilt of hurting Joseph and the pain that they unthinkingly caused their father pain was almost too much to bear at times. Then, being confronted with their sin, by coming face to face with Joseph, they probably felt great joy knowing that Joseph was not dead, but also great shame at realizing that Joseph knew their sin. Knowing that they really deserved to die, or be punished, and receiving totally undeserved forgiveness and mercy from their brother must have been overwhelming. Wow. That is exactly how we feel when we come to the realization that we deserve to be punished because of our sin against God, yet, instead of death, Jesus, even after being put to death by man, forgives us and embraces us as his brother and God’s child. It is so overwhelming.

So in conclusion, we see how God has used the story of Joseph, to help us understand the power of forgiveness and love that only comes from Himself.