08. Suffering to Exaltation
In the previous teaching, we saw the gospel preached beforehand in the promise given to Abraham.
Now, in the story of Joseph, that promise continues unfolding through a powerful pattern: suffering that leads to exaltation.
Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
Genesis 37:3-4
This is not the only time we see a beloved son revealed and rejected.
After Jesus gets baptized, the Father speaks from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)
“He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” (Jn. 1:10-11)
Joseph has two different dreams which symbolically show his family bowing to him. The dreams made his brothers angry, and they hated him even more.
“Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” the brothers said in Genesis 37:8.
His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind. (Gen. 37:11)
Israel sent Joseph to his brothers to see if it was well with them and their flock, and to bring him back word.
In the brothers’ hardness of heart, when they saw Joseph from afar, they plotted to murder him.
The brothers end up selling him as a slave to Ishmaelites.
Joseph endures rejection, but his exaltation is still to come.
This foreshadows what we later see in Jesus.
…Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him (Jesus) over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
Matthew 26:14-15
The Scripture says, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.” (Gen. 39:2)
Joseph was handsome in form and appearance and the master’s wife cast her eyes on him.
She began to tempt Joseph over and over again to sleep with her.
Joseph overcame the temptation and refused to sin against God.
This is fulfilled perfectly in Jesus.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)
After being falsely accused, Joseph is sent down into prison, which points to how Jesus would be delivered over to death.
The keeper of the prison puts Joseph in charge of all the prisoners.
…because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.
Genesis 39:23
Joseph interprets the dreams of two servants of Pharaoh, and he tells them to remember him when they get out of prison.
Yet, the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
As Joseph remained in prison for two more years, what looked like failure was not the end of the story.
Pharaoh had a dream. Then the cupbearer remembered Joseph.
Joseph is called out of prison to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh.
His interpretation leads to him being raised up to the right hand of Pharaoh, where he oversees the kingdom with God’s wisdom.
He stores back grain during the years of abundance to ensure the people would be sustained during the years of famine.
His brothers come to him and bow down before him, not knowing who he is, and seeking food in the time of the famine.
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and says,
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life… So it was not you who sent me here, but God…”
Genesis 45:4, 8
Joseph forgives his brothers and is restored to his family in peace.
Joseph reveals the pattern of suffering that leads to exaltation and results in salvation:
- Beloved son of the father
- Rejected by brothers
- Sold
- Tempted and remained faithful
- Falsely accused and suffers unjustly
- Goes down into prison
- Raised out of the pit to the right hand of the king
- Feeds the people and becomes savior to many
- Forgives those who betrayed him
- Restored back to his father
Suffering is not accidental. God makes good out of what was meant for evil.
The plan of ultimate redemption in Christ includes the same patterns. Humbling to exaltation. Death to resurrection. Rejection to salvation extended to the whole world.
Joseph said,
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good…
Genesis 50:20