The last 13 chapters of Genesis are about the Patriarch Jacob’s legacy, but it will focus on one of his 12 sons. Joseph doesn’t exactly understand it at first, but God has chosen him for an important leadership role and alerted him through a pair of dreams, which are taken to mean that his brothers and father will bow to him. This eventually happens, but not for a long time and after much suffering. 

Joseph is the product of a generational pattern of parental favoritism. Jacob loved him more than his siblings and demonstrated it with the famous gift of an ornate coat. Throughout these opening verses, the hatred of his brothers grows until it becomes murderous jealousy. 

God uses the foolishness of Joseph and the sinful behaviors of his family to bring Joseph ahead of them to Egypt. He shares some similarities with Jesus, God’s chosen Savior, who also suffers rejection from his own people and murderous envy. Yet, it was through the cross of Jesus that people are saved and brought into the church.

Through his Elect One, God is saving people into a new family of faith.

This statement intentionally applies immediately to the Israelites, who will be shaped through the eventual Exodus with a new national identity as the People of God. The Exodus was set up by Joseph’s slavery and suffering in Egypt. That statement also applies to the Church today, who is a new people, one body with Christ as the head.

Taking It Home: Bring the dysfunctions of your earthly family to your good heavenly Father in prayer. Get professional therapy if your family resembles Joseph’s. Be intentional about passing on a legacy of trust in God for your children’s children and through church-planting and missions.