Foreigners and Strangers on EarthSample

Joseph - Lived in the house of his Egyptian master (Genesis 39:2)

REJECTED BY HIS BROTHERS

By the fourth generation, the promise made to Abraham was no longer fulfilled through just one descendant; instead, they were to become a people who were waiting for the perfect "seed", Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16). As regards the seed of Jacob, the royal line passed through Judah, while the priestly line passed through Levi. Jacob clung to the idea that there must be a single heir, and his choice fell upon Joseph, the firstborn son of his beloved wife Rachel (Genesis 37:3,4). This caused bad feelings in the family, and Joseph's dreams did not help him to be accepted by his brothers. He was a stranger in both land and family, just like Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 37:18-20).

TAKEN DOWN TO EGYPT

While Abraham chose to answer God's call and leave his country, Isaac chose to stay in the land, and Jacob chose to follow the Lord's directions, Joseph did not come to Egypt by his own choice (Genesis 37:26-28,36). He did not stay in Egypt by choice, because he was a slave (Genesis 39:1). However, he accepted the situation for himself and clearly experienced the Lord's help (Genesis 39:2-6). Joseph had the Lord's presence and blessing in his life, even though he was a stranger and a slave. We should not complain about the situations in which we find ourselves, but rather place ourselves at the Lord's disposal.

PUT IN PRISON

Joseph ended up in prison because of his awareness that he had to answer to God for his actions. Now he was a stranger, a slave, and a prisoner, but he did not cease to be faithful to the Lord and receive blessings (Genesis 39:20-23). Joseph didn't see himself as unlucky, marginalized, or out of place. In this, he is an example to us all. We must put our best efforts into all we do, because we work for the Lord, not for men (Colossians 3:22-24).

TESTIMONY BEFORE PHARAOH

Joseph finally got the chance to get out after years in prison. All he had to do was please Pharaoh. He presented himself shaved and dressed appropriately (Genesis 41:14), but did not fail to declare that he served God despite being in front of a person considered a god on earth (Genesis 41:15,16,25,32). The commission that was given to him by Pharaoh was also based on the fact that he was seen to be filled with the Spirit of God (Genesis 41:37-40).

JOSEPH BECOMES EGYPTIAN

Joseph's new status made him a part of the court and priestly caste of Egypt (Genesis 41:45,46). He adopted the Egyptian manner of dress and language (Genesis 42:23). Now he was accepted and appreciated, but he did not deny his origins, as evidenced by the names given to his sons (Genesis 41:50-52). When he was recognized by his brothers and invited them to come to Egypt with their father, he did everything to make them feel at ease in the country and not mix with the Egyptians so as to compromise their mission (Genesis 45:3-13). He helped them present themselves to Pharaoh, thus obtaining approval at the highest level for this (Genesis 47:1-6,11,12).

SEEK THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE CITY

Joseph's life exemplifies the principle set forth in the promise to Abraham: the people of God must be a blessing to all nations. In his case, it was a people who had treated him as a stranger, slave, and prisoner. However, God blessed the house of Potiphar, the prison, and all the land. This illustrates the principle stated in Jeremiah's letter to the exiles in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1-14). They too were deported, mocked (Psalm 137:1-4) and hopeless, but they were to seek the peace and prosperity of the city where they were exiled. We must learn to be a blessing even when we are not where we would like to be.

JOSEPH SPOKE ABOUT THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT

Joseph seemed to be fully integrated in Egypt. However, he knew that the future of his family, which was to become a people, was not in Egypt. His faith is illustrated in Hebrews 11:22 by the mention of the exodus from Egypt and the instructions about his bones (Genesis 50:24-26; Exodus 13:19). Egypt was just a temporary residence, just like this world is for us believers.