Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [mature]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Cor. 2:6-8).
I wonder that they did not know. Did they not know the story of Joseph?
In the honour roll of faith the writer of Hebrews, while he does not make specific mention of Joseph’s ordeal of faith, he does make note of those who “had trial… of bonds and imprisonment” and “were tempted.” Certainly that includes Joseph. What he records specifically of Joseph is that it was by faith that he commanded the Israelites to be sure to take his bones with them to the land of promise when God delivered them from Egypt. They did this, after long delay finally laying those bones to rest “in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor…” (Josh. 24:32).
That’s quite something when you think of it. The many times they murmured and complained and doubted God in the wilderness—especially when they concluded in unbelief that entering and taking the land was impossible, utterly beyond their ability—they needed only to take a walk to wherever Joseph’s bones were being kept to remind themselves of the faithfulness of God. It was He who had brought them out. It was He who would bring them in.
When Joseph gave this commandment he knew by personal experience the faithfulness of the God in whom he had trusted when year after long year his own circumstances were more a testimony to the failure of the promises of God than of His faithfulness.
I never tire of reading the story. God had given Joseph two dreams, the first in which his brothers’ sheaves were bowing down to his sheaf. What a dream! How could he not help but share something so glorious with his brethren? They got the interpretation immediately. “Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?” They already hated him because of their father’s special love for him, but now they hated him all the more “for his dreams and for his words.” Then he had a second dream which along with his brothers he told his father. “The sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” His father rebuked him. “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” Nevertheless, “his father observed the saying.” But now his brothers added something more to their hatred. They’d begun to feel there could be something to this. So now they “envied him.”
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt… (Acts 7:9).
Their motive was, “and we shall see what will become of his dreams” (Gen. 37:20).
We know what became of his dreams, we who have read the story, and it’s impossible to read the story without tears in your eyes. The hour came when all his brethren were bowing before him—the very thing they had conspired to prevent—just as the faithful God had shown him in the dreams.
God was with him
Let me quote more fully that verse from Acts.
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt; but God was with him…
In Potiphar’s house, God was with him. Later in prison, God was with him. In what sense? It doesn’t appear that God ever sent someone to give Joseph a word of prophecy, or ever whispered in his ear, “Don’t worry Joseph, you’re going to end up on the throne of Egypt some day and those dreams will come true.” No, in this God was silent. Yet God was with him. As Joseph went about his daily routine as a faithful slave he was aware that a familiar Presence was still with him. What did it all mean, then? What was it all about? What about those dreams, Lord? In low times they were more a torment to him than a fond hope. But he would go to prayer, and the Presence would be with him, and with it an awareness, then, that somehow, in spite of all this that has happened—it’s all so unjust, Lord—yet, You are with me still. I don’t understand… but please help me to be faithful to You.
The psalmist gives us insight into what God did not disclose to Joseph—that one day God would send Joseph’s brethren to Egypt as well—an ordeal that for them would be utterly devastating, as it had been for Joseph—and that He was preparing Joseph in advance for that very thing:
He [God] sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant [a bondslave];
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
Until the time that his word came, the word of the LORD tried him (Ps. 105:17,18).
The iron fetters entered into his very soul, as the original implies. But what I find so moving is that God wanted to include in Scripture that Joseph’s feet were hurt with fetters. The tender-hearted God took note of that. How could He not? He “was with him.” As if He were saying, “I know all that you’re going through, beloved Joseph—even to the point of feeling the hurt of your feet in the fetters.”
And so through it all, the word God had given Joseph in dreams tried him, purified him. Come on, Joseph, give it all up, God has forgotten you and your dreams, and life is too short. Enjoy yourself. Instead he turned and fled. There was something more important to him than those dreams of glory. That “something” kept him when he was sorely tempted. If the dreams had vanished like a mirage in the desert, his God was still with him, and his love for his God kept him. He would not sin against his God. He remained faithful. It cost him dearly, he was framed for his faithfulness, ended up in prison. Yet even in prison he continued to serve faithfully without bitterness toward God, without resentment toward those near and far who had treated him so unjustly, and without nursing his hurt with thoughts of self pity… or of revenge. He came forth from his trials with a certain something which made God’s heart swell. Proven character. Joseph may have been laid in iron but he came forth as gold.
And the dreams?
Somewhere along the way Joseph had given them back to God for His safekeeping, and had forgotten about them. The day came when the faithful God gave the dreams back to Joseph again—fulfilled.
…And Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth…. And Joseph remembered the dreams… (Gen. 42:6,9).
Who remembered? God had never forgotten those long-ago dreams, but Joseph apparently had.
It is beautiful to see the way God with sovereign genius unfolded His faithfulness to Joseph. It is also, oh, so beautiful, that all along the way Joseph had remained faithful to God when, as far as he knew, there was nothing in it for him. He did so out of love for God. Even so with our Lord Jesus Christ. For those with eyes to see, it was in the cross that the beauty of our Lord Jesus Christ shone forth—His love for the Father, His commitment to do His will come what may, a devotion that meant the cross for Him. It is a beauty beyond compare, to God a “fragrance of rest.” It is Jesus’ reflection, the beauty of the Lord, we see in Joseph’s life in the days of his captivity. Joseph sought to do God’s will, to obey Him, in all things to please Him, though it mean what those in a distant day would call taking up his cross.
Where did that lead him?
Where did it lead our Lord?
Where shall it lead you and me? May we ever remember in our own trials that whatever promises may linger unfulfilled, the faithful God is involving us in an unfolding mystery which His enemies do not understand, but which all too often we ourselves do not understand. In such times let us abide faithful. While the mystery unfolds, God is seeking to cultivate unto Himself the beauty of the Lord in our lives—trusting obedience to His will, endurance, patience, meekness, faith, all the while learning from the lowly Jesus the yoke of His rest… God has not forgotten the promises, nor ever will. And so, however contrary to the promises of God our circumstances may seem to be, let us seek to please Him in all things, and take up our own cross, whatever that may involve for you or for me. It is by that very cross that the faithful God means to fulfill the promises He has given, and prepare us for the glory that is to come.
It was by way of the prison in Egypt that the unjustly treated and falsely accused slave Joseph came to the throne. It was by way of the cross of Golgotha that the unjustly treated and falsely accused bondslave Jesus came to the throne, the very thing the princes of this world had conspired to prevent.
May we ever be mindful of this mystery of the cross—which God has ordained, yes, unto our glory—and continue faithful to Him who is faithful. We may safely commit to Him the “dreams” He has given us. He will not forget them. Meanwhile He is lovingly working in our lives, and anticipates something precious coming forth.
A Mending Feast 
When I read this I think of the scripture John 3:30.
He must increase, but I must decrease. Thank you Jesus for his wisdom in reducing us to just believe.
A very encouraging word Allan.
Alden Pocha
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Thank you, Alden. Our faithful God is worthy to be trusted.
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“It was not you , but GOD who sent me hither!
Witnessed Triumphant faith in After Days!
God meant it unto Good! NO SECOND CAUSES!-
Mingled their discord with HIS song of praise!”
“God meant it unto good for THEE ! Beloved!
The God of Joseph, IS THE SAME TODAY!
His Love allows afflictions, strange and Bitter!
His hand is leading through the Unknown way!!”
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Thank you, Robert, I know this is one of your favourite poems; it is one of mine as well. Here is the whole poem by Freda Hanbury Allen for those who may want to make it one of their favourites too:
“GOD MEANT IT UNTO GOOD” (Gen. 50:20).
“God meant it unto good”–O blest assurance,
Falling like sunshine all across life’s way,
Touching with Heaven’s gold earth’s darkest storm clouds,
Bringing fresh peace and comfort day by day.
‘Twas not by chance the hands of faithless brethren
Sold Joseph captive to a foreign land;
Nor was it chance which, after years of suffering,
Brought him before the monarch’s throne to stand.
One Eye all-seeing saw the need of thousands,
And planned to meet it through that one lone soul;
And through the weary days of prison bondage
Was working towards the great and glorious goal.
As yet the end was hidden from the captive,
The iron entered even to his soul;
His eye could scan the present path of sorrow,
Not yet his gaze might rest upon the whole.
Faith failed not through those long, dark days of waiting,
His trust in God was recompensed at last,
The moment came when God led forth his servant
To succour many, all his sufferings past.
“It was not you but God, that sent me hither,”
Witnessed triumphant faith in after days;
“God meant it unto good,” no “second causes”
Mingled their discord with his song of praise.
“God means it unto good” for thee, beloved,
The God of Joseph is the same today;
His love permits afflictions strange and bitter,
His hand is guiding through the unknown way.
Thy Lord, who sees the end from the beginning,
Hath purposes for thee of love untold.
Then place thy hand in His and follow fearless,
Till thou the riches of His grace behold.
There, when thou standest in the Home of Glory,
And all life’s path lies open to thy gaze,
Thine eyes shall see the hand which now thou trustest,
And magnify His love through endless days.
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I think the story of Joseph is my favorite story in the bible. A prophetic picture of the end of this age, when the Lord reveals himself to his brethren.
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Hi Joe, the story of Joseph is very special to me as well; I have visited it countless times over the years, yet it always moves me afresh.
Indeed Joseph was a prophet, one of those (like Abraham) whose very life was his prophecy.
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I believe that Joseph’s heart was naturally inclined towards the Lord at the deepest level. He trusted Him as naturally as breathing and his affections were pure and formed the very foundation of his life. He was set apart from his brothers in that these men were not yielded from the depths of their beings. They were not living their relationship with the Master from the heart realm. Brutish and insensitive men some of them. They simply did not KNOW the Lord in intimacy, as Joseph did. His innocent trusting nature and perhaps his pure love for God made them despise him more than his visions. They knew he was special. Marked by the Almighty. This innocent and trusting nature was tested in the fire and Joesph came forth as gold. Our Lord Jesus commanded those who never knew Him to be away from Him. How sweet it is to abide in the vine and shelter under the shadow of His wings. In Joseph’s life we see the great challenge to us of the times. Life itself and its reproofs, its trials and tribulations – these are the tests and these the opportunities for the enemy to whisper and sometimes shout his doubts and discouragement. But no, we fix our eyes upon the One who is both author and finisher of our faith. The Alpha and the Omega. What He has begun in us He will see to completion as we continue in yieldedness to Him.
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Greetings, dear Martin, it’s so good to hear from you! Amen to what you’ve written.
In high school I had a teacher who would frequently pass out a sheet of questions for us to answer. We would complete them and hand them back to him. It was then that he occasionally said, “This one was a test.” He meant that the results of this one would be used toward our final grade. So we had to be on our toes for all of them. Our Lord does the same. As Joseph was being take into Egypt to be sold as a slave, the Lord didn’t say to him beforehand, “This is a test, Joseph.” But what he went through was just that; God tried Joseph, very severely at times, without telling him it was a test, although He always had Joseph’s final “grade” in mind. He came through it all with, as they say, flying colours. He had been tried, proven, and came forth approved. He was ready for “glory,” which ruins many an untried man.
Let us seek the needed grace, then, to be mindful in all our trials, that, although our Lord may be silent and seem indifferent to what we are going through, His loving eye is upon us, and He rejoices in our faithfulness, as we ourselves will one day rejoice in His.
Thanks for commenting, dear Martin.
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Thank you Allan. Very powerful. The Lord has the bigger picture in mind.
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The story of Joseph is profoundly inspiring, especially when we are challenged to persevere over a long period of trial and uncertainty. ❤
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God was thinking of us when He wove that story, Anna. “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our instruction, that we through endurance and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Rom. 15:5).
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Our brother Joseph, when the squeeze came, he had hope, he had relationship with our
God. He never bowed to that which surrounded him, nor consumed him, nor tempted him.
Oh YES !! Let us bow before our God. Thank you,Jesus. Bless you Brother Allan
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Thanks, Allen, indeed, Joseph was sorely tempted, but he found grace to resist the temptation. He did not bow to all that surrounded him, but to His God, and so all he went through could not consume him.
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YES!! could not consume Him, as the god of this world consumes with fear, we have
grace to resist and strength to bow before our God who is Love. 1 john 4:18
A fine example in Joseph. Big hug, brother.
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Allen, thank you, a warm hug for you as well!
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