JOSEPH & THE COVENANT

In the story of Josephs life, we see the nearest representation of covenant-fulfilling man since pre-Fall Adam. Toward the end of Josephs life, we are able to see a glimpse of what God intended for the lives of his most prized creation. We are able to see an example of what it means to truly be in a covenant relationship with God and how responsibility flows out of that relationship. We are able to see the results of man fulfilling his side of the covenant and the blessings that flow out of that fulfillment. The first time that we encounter Joseph, he is a typical seventeen-year-old male. He is cocky and prideful. He has a prophetic dream about the future that God has planned for him and he brags about it to his family. In this entire narrative, Joseph does not mention God one time. He does not give God glory for the prophecy or the future that is in store. Instead, he lords it over his brothers. At Gen 37:8, his brothers ask, Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us? The Hebrew word used for reign (timlok) is always used in reference to a king. The Hebrew word used for rule (timsol) is always used in reference to a slaves master. So, Josephs brothers were essentially asking, Are you really going to be king over us or are you just going to be our slave master? What is implied by this question is that Joseph was bragging to his brothers about one day being king over them. As Moses was telling this story to the people of Israel, they would have immediately recognized the blasphemous nature of this comment by Joseph. Just as the people of Egypt correlated king with god, the people of Israel correlated king with God. The Israelites would have immediately recognized that Joseph was declaring his own divinity through his dream interpretation. Jesus makes a statement on this at Matt 20:25 28: But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but who ever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Even in Christs day, some 1700 years after the life of Joseph, Gentile rulers still considered their selves to be divine and considered their sovereign authority derived from that divinity. Because of this perception, they lorded their authority over their subjects and considered their selves superior to anyone else. However, a great man in the sight of God is one who is humble and diverts glory and honor to the one who actually deserves it, i.e. the Creator of the universe. So, immediately after Joseph essentially declares that he is divine and that he will one day be king over his brothers and their offspring, he is sold into slavery. In Greek, there are two words for time. Chronos refers to chronological time. Kairos refers to a right or opportune moment. It is an indeterminate amount of time in which something significant happens. Kairos moments are often milestones in our lives that we can look back to and remember significant events. Being sold into slavery was a Kairos moment for Joseph. Over the next few years, Joseph had to wrestle with the reality that even though he thought he should be king, he was actually a slave. And so the next thing we hear about Joseph is that he had come to terms with this reality and developed a close covenant relationship with God. As Josephs relationship to God grew closer, Josephs responsibility increased. He becomes the highestranking slave in the house of Potiphar. Even what might look like an unfortunate event in Joseph being arrested was actually God giving Joseph increased responsibility in him having authority over other people. He even rose to the second-in-command over the entire nation of Egypt. But every time Josephs responsibility increases, it is directly correlated with Joseph submitting to the kingship of God and becoming more servant-like.

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DEEPER STUDY FIVE

Joseph began by breaking the covenant with his blasphemy, but ended by fulfilling the covenant with his servanthood. What Joseph began to realize was that the authority that God gives to his Creation is actually a servant leadership. And through his servant leadership, he was able to bless an entire nation.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

How does living a life of service fulfill Gods covenant with us? How is our responsibility tied to servanthood? In your life own life, how are you fulfilling the covenant relationship through your servanthood? If you arent currently doing that, what are some things that you can begin to do to serve the way Joseph served? Can you think of a time in your life that helped you to understand a significant thing that God was trying to teach you? Can you think of something that God is trying to teach you today? Similar to Josephs experience getting thrown in jail, can you think of a time in your life that your responsibility has increased, but at the time you may have thought you were unjustly being punished? What responsibility is God giving you in your own life? How does the authority that God has given you require servanthood? What are three things that you take away from Josephs story?

WEEKLY READING GUIDE

Day Day Day Day Day 1 Gen 41 2 Gen 42 3 Gen 43 4 Gen 44 5 Gen 45

NOTES

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DEEPER STUDY FIVE