Joseph Endured His Trials

Genesis 29-30, 35, 37, 39-41

In order to understand how Joseph endured his trials, we need a little background information. The follwoing list is a birth order of Jacob's 12 sons found in Genesis 29-30, 35: 

1. Reuben (Leah)
2. Simeon (Leah)
3. Levi (Leah)
4. Judah (Leah)
5. Dan (Bilhah)
6. Naphtali (Bilhah)
7. Gad (Zilpah)
8. Asher (Zilpah)
9. Issachar (Leah)
10. Zebulun (Leah)
11. Joseph (Rachel)
12. Benjamin (Rachel)

Now in Genesis 37:3 we are told that Jacob "favored" Joseph "more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors,"and for this the brothers envied him. “What Was the Coat of Many Colors?” According to the Institute Student Manual commentary for Genesis 37:3, it is suggested that it as “a tunic reaching to the palms of the hands and soles of the feet; the long tunic with sleeves worn by young men and maidens of the better class; in the case of Joseph, supposed by Bush…to have been the badge of the birthright which has been forfeited by Reuben and transferred to Joseph” (pg. 93). As we see from the list above, there were four firstborn sons from Jacob and Leah. If in fact “the coat of many colours” given to Joseph by Jacob signified receiving the birthright then we can understand why the other brothers of Joseph were envious of him. Joseph was the eleventh brother. There were nine others who could have had the birthright since they were technically next in line, after Reuben forfeited his birthright. Joseph’s brothers could tell that Joseph was favored more by Jacob because of this. The brother’s also hated Joseph even more because of the dreams he was having that illustrated the leadership he would have over them.

Genesis 37 illustrates some challenges that Joseph faced because of his brother's jealousy. He was  thrown into a pit, and sold as a slave into Egypt. Joseph could have been bitter, angry and mad for what had been done to him, but instead he “was a goodly person.” And for it he was “well favo  I cannot imagine Joseph being happy about what was being done to him, but through it all he remained positive and faithful to God. Like Joseph, many people today face similar challenges. Although they may not be exactly be thrown into a pit, or sold as slaves, many face bad experiences and situations. Some of them are because they got themselves there and others because someone else influenced them. Nonetheless everyone faces difficult challenges in life, and it’s important to remain positive, and faithful through them.

ured” (Genesis 39: 6).

How easy could it have been for Joseph to curse and blame the Lord for all of the tragedies he was enduring? Some may think he could have even been justified for doing so. But Joseph never once offended or blamed the Lord. As mentioned earlier he was righteous person, always striving to serve the Lord. When tempted by Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her, Joseph refused by saying that he had been blessed, and that he couldn’t do such “wickedness and sin against God.” For this event he was falsely accused and imprisoned, but yet he still didn’t turn against the Lord. In Genesis 40, we even learn that Joseph willingly translated dreams for two prisoners, and even Pharaoh’s dream, and stated that it was knowledge that cam from God. Through his hardships, and tragedies Joseph remained faithful unto the Lord. For this we know from several repeated verses in Genesis 39 that “the Lord was with him” (v. 2,3, 21, 23).  

Joseph story is similar to many of our stories. We can all learn from him and his experience to always remain faithful. Sometimes it may be hard to understand why certain things happen to us. We have to live them whether we want to or not, they are just part of life, so why not live through them with a positive outlook in life, and our minds and hearts towards God? He can help us like he helped Joseph, if we too turn our bad experiences, or situations into good ones, and we do so believing that He will see us through them. Let us all be more like Joseph and see in the good in the bad that life hands us, and be more faithful and optimistic about it.