Feb 6th

Genesis 37-50

The theme of death and resurrection that permeates Genesis is also present in Joseph’s story. Joseph
“dies” when his brothers sell him and fake his death to their father, and he is “reborn” with his new elite status in Egypt. 

As Anderson writes, “the figure of Joseph, beloved, though the youngest of eleven, and later with the choice of Ephraim the firstborn Manasseh, birth order does not determine divine presence”. Joseph is a surprising choice for Israel’s beloved son as he is the youngest. Further, even after being betrayed by his jealous siblings, he still chooses to provide for them amidst the famine. Joseph chooses the plant the silver cup in order to test his siblings, to see if they are still the envious brothers that sold him years ago. As Anderson discusses, the cup is discovered in Benjamin’s bag, giving the brothers two options: to leave their brother behind or to save him and their father. When Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, he makes the ultimate sacrifice, proving to Joseph that the brothers have changed their ways. Joseph now knows that he can reveal himself to his brothers and provide his whole family with land and food in Egypt. This relates to his status of beloved son as he is able to provide for his entire family and please his father. Instead of being angry and resentful towards his siblings after all of these years, he comes to understand that his brothers’ selling him into slavery saved so many lives. If he had never been sold and sent to Egypt, then he would have never interpreted the Pharaoh’s dream and predicted the famine. In this way he was the redeemer of Egyptians and also his family.