Bible Studies
Joseph’s Family Story: The Impetus for His Life (Gen. 49:22-26)
Series: Character Lessons from JosephIntroduction:
1. Throughout this series of lessons we have observed Joseph’s character. Repeatedly we have seen him act with integrity, faithfulness, loyalty and forgiveness. But what was the driving force behind Joseph’s character? What kept him on the straight path through the temptations, the hardship and even the wealth and power that he eventually experienced? 2. I believe that it was his family story that gave the impetus for His life of character. I believe it was his perception of who he was as defined by his ancestral heritage that gave him his direction. 3. It is to that heritage that I would like to give attention in this study.Discussion:
I. In Israel’s final prophecy concerning his sons he refers to the great blessings that God has given Joseph, blessings that he connects with their ancestral heritage (Gen. 49:25-26).A. God is identified as “The God of your father” (v. 25).
1. Of this statement Nahum Sarna in The Jewish Publication Society’s Torah Commentary (p. 344) says, “This title stresses the continuity of the generations, the unbroken chain of religious tradition that alone makes the dying patriarch’s blessing meaningful and effective.”
2. What is this intergenerational connection?
B. It is the same intergenerational connection mentioned by Israel when he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph’s sons (Gen. 48:15-16).
1. The intergenerational heritage traces back to God’s relationship to Abraham and Isaac (v. 15a).
2. It was perpetuated through Jacob (Israel) (v. 15b).
3. And now through the 12 sons (tribes) of Israel (Gen. 49).
II. Joseph’s family story goes back to his great grandfather Abraham.A. Joseph’s great great grandfather Terah was an idol worshiper in Ur (Josh. 24:2).
B. But God chose Abraham and told him to leave that country and God made a promise to Abraham involving three main elements: land, nation, seed (Gen. 12:1-3).
C. It was an intergenerational promise that necessitated Abraham having descendants after him.
1. But he had no children. And it looked like he would not.
2. But God kept promising him (Gen. 17:1-8).
D. When Abraham was 100 years old God gave Abraham a son named Isaac (Gen. 21:1-7).
III. Joseph’s family story continued with his grandfather Isaac.A. When Isaac was 40 years old he married Rebekah and they had two sons Jacob (Joseph’s father) and Esau.
B. For Abraham who Isaac married was very important.
1. He did not want Isaac’s wife to come from the Canaanites (Gen. 24:1-4).
2. He wanted a wife for Isaac from among the people of God (Gen. 24:47-48).
3. The reason for this? Loyalty to the promises that God had made.
C. God reiterated the promise that he had made to Abraham to Isaac (Gen. 26:1-5).
D. On a second occasion God promised Isaac that he would have many descendants (Gen. 26:24).
E. Isaac and Rebekah had two sons Jacob and Esau.
1. Isaac, spoke as a prophet when he blessed Jacob.
2. His statement in Gen. 28:1-5 sews the account together and calls on Jacob to take a wife from among the people of God thus perpetuating the family spiritual heritage.
IV. Joseph’s family story continued through his father Jacob.A. God reiterated the promises made to Abraham and Isaac to Jacob (Gen. 35:9-12).
B. Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons of whom Joseph was one.
C. It was on the basis of this history that Joseph interpreted his place in life.
1. “God sent me before you to preserve life” (Gen. 45:5).
2. “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
D. Israel interpreted his life in light of the promises made to Abraham and passed this perspective on to his son Joseph (48:3-5, 21).
E. Joseph interpreted his life in light of the promises made to Abraham (Gen. 50:22-26).
F. Moses, as prophet of God and inspired writer, narrates the history of the nation of Israel in Genesis from this perspective. Cf. Gen. 32:7-11.
G. Joshua too reviews Israel’s history from this perspective (Josh. 24:1-5).
V. It was this perspective that kept Joseph on the straight path of advancing his family heritage. He saw himself as an agent of God in the accomplishment of God’s great plan. He chose to do those things that contributed positively to the accomplishment of the plan and not to do those things that would diminish it. What he did preserved life and ultimately led to the coming of the Messiah and the blessing on all nations promised to Abraham. VI. It is interesting to me to observe the various rehearsals of this history throughout the text of Scripture.A. Stephen rehearsed the story in Acts 7 tracing the history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (2-16). He saw the coming of Christ in the story.
B. Paul began with this story as he preached Christ (Acts 13:16-17).
Conclusion:
1. If we can see ourselves as part of this great story of the Bible it will be a divine directive for our lives. 2. It defines who we are. It defines what our mission is. 3. It becomes our message. People complain that they do not know what to teach the lost. We get caught up in teaching about this issue or that and trying to persuade people to turn from some false perception that they have. That is all well and good, but don’t forget to tell them the story. That is what we need to learn how to do. 4. Without a perception of our place in the plan of God there is little impetus for godly living. 5. Why did Joseph turn away from adultery? Why was he faithful to his masters? Why did he not become bitter and angry and hateful toward his brothers? There was a greater cause and such behaviors did not serve that cause!!! 6. You are part of this family. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, they are your family. The promises made to them are promises for you. 7. Live your life in a way that reflects your place in the family of God. That’s what Joseph did!!
