Joseph in the Book of Genesis

Joseph is a key figure in the biblical Book of Genesis and the Quran. He was the great-grandson of Abraham, the grandson of Isaac, and the eleventh son of Jacob. He was also the first of two sons born to Jacob’s favored wife, Rachel (the other being Benjamin).

Most people are familiar with the story of Joseph’s coat of many colors, a gift from his father Jacob. In the ancient Near East, a coat of many colors was a long, sleeved tunic that symbolized status. Joseph was not the firstborn but wore clothing of the upper class and supervised his brothers’ work on behalf of his father (a right that, by Hebrew custom, did not belong to a non-firstborn son). It’s understandable that his relationship with his brothers was strained; they even hated him.

Genesis chapters 37 through 50 provide a detailed account of Joseph’s story, which takes up more than a quarter of the entire book. Why does the Bible dedicate such a significant portion to Joseph? Why is he so important? We can analyze this from at least three perspectives:

From a Human Perspective：The story is a vivid and dramatic narrative of real events, with a plot more intricate than fiction. Joseph was his father’s most beloved son, but due to his brothers’ jealousy, he was sold into slavery in Egypt. Because he refused his master’s wife’s seduction, he was framed and unjustly imprisoned. Later, he rose from being a prisoner to becoming the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph’s life was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, falling from a high position to the lowest point and then climbing to the highest position of all.

From God’s Perspective：When we read the story from God’s perspective, we see that He is present throughout, even though He does not speak directly to Joseph. He is in control of everything behind the scenes. Although Joseph could not see Him, he trusted that God was in control. By looking back on his life, he could see God’s hand at work. God allows bad things to happen, and there is always a purpose behind it—this was the core of Joseph’s faith.

Joseph’s Character：The Bible is honest in its descriptions of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, each with their own weaknesses and transgressions. Similarly, we see David’s sin and Elijah’s fear. The New Testament says that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours. Yet, whether Joseph was in good times or bad, especially when his life was in decline, we see no trace of resentment or complaint in him.

Joseph’s life was truly unique. While one cannot say his life was completely flawless, he lived a life of victory and serves as our role model. From his life, we see that “my times are in your hands” (Psalm 31:15) for a person who belongs to God. Everything—gain or loss, fortune or misfortune, praise or slander—is under God’s control. If we fear God, He will make all things work together for good for those who love Him.

(Compiled and edited based on the Chinese Union Version, a comprehensive biblical interpretation, and recordings from David Pawson’s “Unlocking the Old Testament” series.)