What Is the Bible Story of Joseph? 

The Bible devotes 14 chapters in the book of Genesis to the life of Joseph, grandson of Abraham and son of Jacob. It is a remarkable story of God’s sovereignty over suffering, His continual presence with His children, and HIs perfection in the plan for each of their lives. The story of Joseph is also one that keeps readers on the edge of their seats, as Joseph’s faith is constantly tested, and yet found to be unwavering. While he could have easily become bitter and unforgiving through his trials, in the end, he is one of the greatest examples of grace and reconciliation in the Bible.

Though Joseph lived between 2000 and 1500 BC, his story is one that all Christians should study today. Not merely to read of the themes mentioned above, but to consider in our own lives how God is sovereign, and never leaves or forsakes us–just like he never left Joseph. According to the writer of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament, Joseph earned a place in the “hall of faith,” a recounting of Bible characters who were commended for their trust in God. He is certainly a man whose story we should know, and whose faith we should attempt to imitate.

Who Was Joseph in the Bible?

To understand who Joseph was, and what happened in his life, we need to look at the previous generation. Joseph’s father, Jacob, fell in love with a woman named Rachel, who lived with her sister Leah and father, Laban. Jacob asked Laban for Rachel’s hand, and was told that he needed to work for seven years to earn her. Therefore, after seven years, there was a wedding, but while Jacob thought he was spending his wedding night with Rachel, he awoke the next morning to find Leah. Laban said because Leah was older he would naturally marry her off first. Jacob was given Rachel as well, in return for his commitment to work for another seven years.

Between Leah, Rachel, and two of their maidservants, Jacob had 12 sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, and Zebulun. The last two were born to his true love Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin, leaving Jacob heartbroken. Joseph became Jacob’s favorite son (though he shouldn’t have shown favoritism), and he spoiled him over his brothers. 

Unfortunately, Genesis 37 tells us of Joseph’s personality as a result of being spoiled, and shows us how his brothers felt as a result. When Joseph was 17 and tending flocks with his brothers, he gave a “bad report” of them to Jacob–in other words, he had his dad’s ear and used his relationship to complain about his brothers. Next, we read that Jacob has a coat of many colors made for Joseph (which would have been unusual for a young shepherd). He didn’t hide it from his brothers; in fact, it was clear that Jacob loved Joseph best: “When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him…” (Genesis 37:4).

Joseph’s Dreams and His Brothers’ Betrayal

To add insult to injury, Joseph then had a prophetic dream that enraged his brothers even more. In it, he was a sheaf of grain and all of the other brothers were sheaves bowing down to Joseph. When he had a second similar dream (the sun, moon and 11 stars bowing down to him), the brothers had heard enough and were consumed by their jealousy. Jacob wasn’t happy either to hear that Joseph believed that he would rule over the family, but he let it go. 

Later, the brothers were out grazing the family flocks, and Jacob sent Joseph after them. When the brothers saw him coming from a distance, they plotted to “kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him” (Genesis 37:20). But the eldest brother Reuben thought that was going too far, and suggested to just throw him in the cistern. They stripped him of his coat of many colors and threw him into the cistern that was empty of water, presumably to leave him to die in the desert. But Reuben planned to save him and bring him back to their father. 

He didn’t get a chance to do so because while the brothers were taking a lunch break (showing how little concern they had for Joseph), they spied a caravan of Ishmaelites who were on their way to Egypt. The Ishmaelites were part of the Arab nomadic tribes, and were descended from Abraham as the Israelites were. Ishmael was the first child born to Abraham through his wife’s maidservant Hagar, but was rejected as Abraham’s heir in favor of Isaac, the son of promise, born to Abraham's wife Sarah. Hagar and Ishmael were sent away from Abraham, and from that point on, there was enmity between the Israelites and the Ishmaelites (also known as Midianites).

Joseph’s brothers decided that rather than kill Joseph, they would sell him to the Ishmaelites as a slave. “So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt” (Genesis 37:28).

Many years later when they were suffering, the brothers would say to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen…” (Genesis 42:21)

Reuben was not part of this exchange because the Bible tells us that he returned to the cistern to save Joseph, but didn’t find him there. He was very distressed, tore his clothes, and wondered what to do next. Whether he was part of the impending cover-up, the Bible doesn’t say. All we know is “they” took Joseph’s robe, dipped it in goat’s blood, and brought it back to his father Jacob. When Jacob saw it, he tore his clothes and mourned many days, refusing to be comforted.

“Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of the Egyptian Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard” (Genesis 37:36).

How Joseph must have wished he knew how to please his brothers. Then he could have avoided all of this. But this was all part of God’s plan to show that He works all things together for good, even if evil seems to be winning. And much more evil and suffering were up ahead for Joseph.

Joseph in Potiphar’s House

I don’t know many people who could endure what Joseph did and still remain faithful in their commitment to doing the right thing. But that is what Joseph is most commended for through all his challenges. How did he do it? As Genesis 39:2 tells us, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered…” 

In Max Lucado’s book You’ll Get Through This, he recounts the life of Joseph and puts his experience in perspective for us. “Joseph arrived in Egypt with nothing. Not a penny to his name or a name worth a penny. His family tree was meaningless. His occupation was despised…No credentials to stand on. No vocation to call on. No family to lean on. He had lost everything with one exception: His destiny. Those odd dreams had convinced Joseph that God had plans for him” (p. 15).

Joseph soon “found favor” in the eyes of his master Potiphar, so he was put in charge of the entire household. As a result, God blessed all of Potiphar’s household and flocks. When he saw how God was blessing Potiphar because of Joseph, he “didn’t concern himself with anything except the food he ate” (Genesis 39:6).

What we haven’t heard until this point in the story is that Joseph was “well built and handsome,” and once Potiphar’s wife began to notice just how attractive he was, she tried to seduce him. Joseph, a man of incredible integrity and indebted to God for saving him from the pit, refused her. One day, when all of the servants were gone, Potiphar’s wife grabbed Joseph, but as he pulled away from her, she grabbed his cloak, and he ran off. 

When Potiphar returned, his wife accused Joseph of trying to attack her. Rather than giving Joseph the benefit of the doubt, Potiphar burned with anger. He immediately threw Joseph in prison, once again causing him to face unjust imprisonment. And yet, in keeping with the rest of the Bible story of Joseph, he once again rose to the challenge because of the One who was always with him.

Joseph in Prison

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden” (Genesis 39:20-21).

The writer of Genesis (traditionally believed to be Moses) emphasized yet again that God was with Joseph. God’s presence with Joseph in prison was a shield around him–a promise that God would never leave Joseph or forsake him (Hebrews 13:5); that He would uphold him with His righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10). And that He would show favor and give success to Joseph that would be obvious to those around him. As a result, just like in Potiphar’s house, Joseph was given responsibility for all that was done in the prison. 

At some point, the baker and the cupbearer of the king of Egypt offended the king, and they too were thrown into prison where Joseph was. Some time later, they each had a dream on the same night that they believed had meaning, but they weren’t sure what the meaning was. Joseph saw them the next morning and asked why they had such long faces. They told Joseph that they needed someone to interpret their dreams. “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams” (Genesis 40:8).

For one, the interpretation was positive: the cupbearer was going to be restored to his position in three days. For the other, the interpretation was the worst interpretation he could hear. To the baker Joseph said, “Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree…” (Genesis 40:19). Of course, Joseph’s dream interpretations, made possible by God, were accurate. 

Joseph had asked the cupbearer to remember him when he got out of prison and once again was serving Pharaoh. Unfortunately, the cupbearer forgot Joseph once he was released. And once again, Joseph was betrayed by someone he trusted to do good, but held on to the destiny that he still believed God had for him.

Joseph Rises to Power in Egypt

Two years passed, and now it was time for Pharaoh to have a couple of significant dreams. In the first, he was standing by the Nile, and seven fat cows came up out of the water, followed by seven skinny cows. The skinny cows ate the fat cows. His second dream was similar, but involved healthy heads of grain, and thin heads of grain that swallowed up the seven healthy heads.

When he awoke, Pharaoh could not find anyone to interpret his dreams. Suddenly the cupbearer remembered how Joseph had helped him interpret his dream. So Pharaoh sent to the prison for Joseph. Pharaoh asked Joseph if he could unpack the meaning of these nighttime visions.  “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16). Joseph remained faithful to God, giving Him all of the credit for anything he was able to do–though by then it had been 13 long years since his brothers sold him into slavery at the age of 17.

When Joseph told Pharaoh that the dreams had to do with what God planned to do, and that because he had the dream in two forms, God was surely going to act soon, Pharaoh took the matter seriously. Joseph told him the dreams meant that Egypt would experience seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. He then suggested that Pharaoh had better find someone who had wisdom in preparing for the famine in Egypt. But who could he find?

Though he didn’t believe in Yahweh, the One True God, Pharaoh said that since Joseph’s God made all of this known to Joseph, Pharaoh would put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Suddenly, the boy who was an object of scorn to his brothers, taken to another country, made a servant, accused of rape, thrown in jail and forgotten, went from slave to second in command–a ruler in Egypt. He was given fine linen robes, a gold chain, and a chariot. It is a “rags to riches” story that only God could write.

Joseph Reunites with His Brothers

Seven years of plenty were indeed followed by seven years of famine, but Joseph had ordered that grain be stored for the lean years. It would then be distributed in an orderly fashion to those who were in need. When those years came, so did people from other countries who were also affected by the famine. That included Jacob and his sons, who were living in the land of Canaan.

Jacob ordered his 10 sons, all except Benjamin, to go down to Egypt to buy grain. The brothers knew that they needed to beg mercy of the governor in charge of the grain distribution, who just happened to be the brother they sold into slavery. They didn’t recognize Joseph (who was 39 by now), but he recognized them. Whether to test them, or as a means of revenge, Joseph accused them of being spies, and said, “As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth” (Genesis 42:15-16). But after a few days, Joseph changed his mind and ordered that only one stay (Simeon) and the other nine go back to fetch Benjamin.

Joseph ordered that they be loaded with grain and their money be put back in their sacks as well. When the brothers stopped on the way, they saw the money and thought that surely they would now be considered dishonest men. When they arrived home, they told the whole story to Jacob, who was terrified about losing Benjamin and Simeon, as well as losing Joseph all those years ago. Reuben said they had to return with Benjamin as promised, and said he would give up his own sons if they didn’t all return. Judah also committed his life to protecting Benjamin. So Jacob relented and told them all to go.

They were loaded up with goods to take back to Egypt, along with double the amount of silver. When they arrived, they immediately went to Joseph and presented their goods and Benjamin to him. When Joseph saw all of them, he ordered his steward to take them into the house and slaughter an animal so they all could eat lunch together. The brothers were understandably confused. They explained the issue with the silver to the steward who told them not to worry; “the governor” really wanted to have a meal with them, and brought out Simeon. 

Joseph still did not reveal himself to his brothers (though he secretly wept when he saw Benjamin). He had their packs loaded again to go back to Canaan, and in one had a silver goblet hidden in Benjamin’s sack. Once they were on their way, he sent the steward after them and accused them of stealing the goblet. They were all ordered to go back to Joseph for punishment: the one who had the goblet would be Joseph’s slave.

The brothers begged for Benjamin to be let go. Judah offered himself in Benjamin’s place for Jacob’s sake, saying it would kill him if Benjamin wasn’t returned, after having “lost” another son to death more than 20 years before. Joseph couldn’t control himself any longer and told all of his servants to leave. 

He told his brothers who he was and wept loudly. The brothers were dumbfounded, but when they got closer to Joseph, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you….So then it was not you who sent me here but God” (Genesis 45:4-5; 8). The brothers could see that despite what they did to Joseph, he showed mercy, and wanted the family to be reunited and reconciled. It’s one of the most amazing stories of human forgiveness in the Bible–all because God was always with Joseph and never let his destiny die.

The brothers returned to Canaan and told Jacob the amazing news. His son Joseph was still alive! Jacob knew that his time on earth was short, and so the whole family set off to Egypt. On the way, God spoke to Jacob in a vision: “I am God, the God of your father…Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes” (Genesis 46:3-4). The whole family reconnected, and Jacob blessed all his sons, and gave Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, a special blessing.

Joseph’s Legacy and God’s Sovereignty

Joseph couldn’t understand what God was doing during all of his years of hardship, but he believed that God was going to fulfill the plan that He had for him. Joseph had no way of knowing until he saw his brothers again how it would all work out. Yet he remained faithful to God in the waiting. God gave him special understanding that he shared with his brothers in Genesis 50:20: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good, to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.”

Joseph lived in Egypt with all of his father’s family until he died at 110 years old. Before he passed, he told his brothers that God would surely take them out of Egypt to a land that He promised them (which would happen in Moses’ day, many generations later). He made the brothers swear that when God led them to a new place, that they wouldn’t leave his bones in Egypt, but take them with them to the promised land. That’s why when Joseph is mentioned in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith,” it doesn’t talk about his exploits, it talks about what he ordered done with his bones. Joseph’s legacy is that he never wanted to be separated from what God would do for his people again.

Lessons from the Life of Joseph

Like stories of Job, Abraham and Sarah, and King David, Joseph’s was a life that displayed how God can get His people through times of waiting, even if those times don’t make sense. Joseph’s is a story we should read over and over because we can never be reminded too often that God is not slow to respond. God acts exactly when the time is right, and in the meantime, He never leaves his children.

What’s remarkable through those long years of suffering is that we don’t see that Joseph ever lost his integrity. He worked hard at whatever job was forced upon him and found favor with his slavemasters. It was because Potiphar trusted him so much that Joseph would never consider sleeping with his seductive wife, and because of her lies, he was thrown into prison. The Bible doesn’t tell us if Joseph ever complained or pleaded his case with Potiphar. It wouldn’t have been like him to do so.

Not only do we learn about trust and loyalty from Joseph’s example, but we also see the power of forgiveness. Many of us have family squabbles, but not many of us have been sold into slavery by our brothers. The fact that Joseph could see beyond their actions and look to what God was doing through his suffering is a testament to his unwavering faith in God. He could have given in to the temptation to exact revenge on his brothers, but instead chose to do the right thing.

As we learn more and more about the Bible, and how the Old Testament and the New Testament are linked through prophecy, and through lives that were a “type” of Christ,, we can see how Joseph’s life has many similarities to the life of Jesus. For instance, both Joseph and Jesus were beloved sons in that they were favored over all others by their father (of course Jesus was God’s only beloved son). Also, the pattern of the suffering servant who didn’t open his mouth in complaint is woven through the lives of Joseph and Jesus as well. And finally, both were revealers of God’s Word. For Joseph’s part, he was used by God to interpret dreams and uncover God’s plans on several occasions. Jesus, on the other hand, spoke directly what His father wanted Him to share with His disciples and others. 

A Summary of Joseph’s Journey

Joseph, son of Jacob,  was a spoiled teenager who enraged his brothers by telling them that one day they would all bow down to him. And one day they did. What happened in between was a story of hatred, abuse, slavery, imprisonment–followed by unexpected favor and power. There is no doubt that through all of his trials, Joseph came to depend much less on himself and his favored son status, and more on his trustworthy God. As the years went on and sufferings continued, Joseph grew stronger in his faith in God, and his belief that God was going to use his life for the good of others. In so doing, God was glorified for the ways in which he opened and closed doors at just the right time in Joseph’s journey.

The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons. He doesn’t favor one over another because of race, social status, intellectual ability, etc. Therefore we can study the story of Joseph, especially when we are going through trials and see that the same God who was with Joseph is always with us as well, provided we’ve given our lives to Him through faith in Christ. His story provides both encouragement and edification that can help support us when life is difficult. We can see that though we may feel that the suffering that God allows has no purpose, Joseph’s life proves that God means to use our pain for good. That’s comfort in the waiting that we can’t get anywhere else.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." ~ Romans 8:18

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

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