Bible person
Joseph of Egypt
From the pit to the palace
Sold by his brothers, enslaved and unjustly imprisoned, he becomes governor of Egypt and saves his family: “what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good.”
From the pit to the prison
Jacob's favorite son, a dreamer, is sold by his own brothers, enslaved in Egypt and unjustly imprisoned after being slandered, years of injustice without losing his integrity.
From the palace to forgiveness
He interprets Pharaoh's dream and becomes governor, saving many peoples from famine. When he meets his brothers again, he forgives: 'what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good'.
A foreshadowing of Christ
Rejected by his own, humiliated and then exalted to save, Joseph's story anticipates patterns that are fulfilled in Jesus.
Did you know?
- 'What you intended against me for evil, God intended for good' (Gen 50:20) is one of the key verses about providence. Genesis 50:20
Where to read in the Bible
- Genesis 37–50
Connections
- foreshadows Jesus of Nazareth · cross-reference · Acts 7:9–10
- linked to Jacob (Israel) · stated in the text · Genesis 37:3
- linked to Jacob (Israel) · stated in the text · Genesis 30:24
- saved Jacob (Israel) · stated in the text · Genesis 45:7