In the Book of Genesis God speaks directly to the patriarchs–Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At times, God comes to them in the person of an angel or angels, But, this is not the case in the story of Joseph, told toward the end of this biblical book. God’s role and intersection with human beings is more indirect than in the stories of the patriarchs.
The story is about the youngest son of Jacob, Rachel’s child. Joseph was Jacob’s favorite child, spoiled and immature, angering his brothers greatly. His father gave him a coat of many colors that shows Joseph was the favorite of Jacob. He had dreams about his brothers and father bowing before him to which they objected.
Jacob sent Joseph to the brothers who were pasturing the flocks near Dothan to see how they were faring. The brothers would have killed him without the intercession of Reuben. They dipped the many-colored coat in the blood of a goat and showed it to their father who believed that Joseph was killed by a wild animal. They had put Joseph in a pit and then sold him to traders, who in turn sold him to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Because of his gifts and talent, Joseph was eventually made overseer of Potiphar’s house.
Joseph, a handsome youth, caught the eye of Potiphar’s wife who tried to seduce him. When the attempt failed because of Joseph’s refusal to betray his master and sin against God, she complained to her husband that Joseph tried to seduce her. As a result, Joseph was thrown into prison. There, Pharaoh’s baker and cupbearer were also incarcerated. Joseph interpreted their dreams the ability of which came from God Himself. When Pharaoh heard about this, he had Joseph brought and asked him to interpret the king’s dreams. Joseph was correct in his interpretation which led eventually to his being appointed by Pharaoh governor of all of Egypt.
A famine was to occur throughout the region according to a dream of Pharaoh Joseph interpreted. Joseph was appointed to administer storage of a fifth of the grain for seven years to prepare for the coming of seven years of famine.
Because of the famine Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt, seeking to buy food. Joseph gave them grain and instructed them to bring their youngest brother Benjamin back to Egypt He kept Simeon as a hostage until the brothers returned. Jacob was inconsolable when he heard the news. He thought he would lose Benjamin like he lost Joseph. On their return, the brothers were brought to Joseph’s house. When Joseph saw Benjamin, the youngest, he turned aside and wept. Joseph sent the brothers off with grain and again the money with which they purchased the food. In addition, he had placed in Benjamin’s sack a silver cup. Joseph sent one of his servants to overtake the brothers to retrieve the cup which was in Benjamin’s sack. The brothers returned to Joseph’s house where Joseph said that he intended to keep Benjamin until their return.
In an emotion wrought scene Joseph finally revealed who he was to the consternation of the brothers. He instructed them to bring his father to Egypt which they would do. Jacob with his family came to Egypt where they are settled in the land of Goshen on land given to them by Pharaoh.
In the Joseph story God reveals himself in an indirect way as compared to His revelation of himself to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Below are instances of this fact.
“The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.” (Genesis 39: 2-3 ESV)
This text is a comment by the narrator. The Lord was behind Joseph’s success, recognized by Joseph’s master, Potiphar. No other indication of the Lord’s activity is given. Both Potiphar and the narrator recognize that the Lord was behind Joseph’s success.
“. . . the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; the blessing of Lord was on all that he had, in house and field.” (Genesis 39: 5 ESV)
Again, the narrator comments that God blessed Joseph and Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. No direct auditory or visual manifestation of God is mentioned.
“But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Genesis 39: 21 ESV)
Potiphar, his master, had Joseph put in prison, because Potiphar’s wife accused Joseph unjustly of attempting to have sex with her. God showed Joseph steadfast love, a common term in the Hebrew Old Testament, in prison as he did in Potiphar’s house.
“The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge because the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.” Genesis 39: 23 ESV)
The narrator comments on events where he sees the Lord at work in Joseph’s success.
“We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them. And Joseph said to them, ‘Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” (Genesis 40: 8 ESV)
Joseph asserts that God interprets dreams. The cupbearer and baker of Pharaoh asked Joseph to interpret their dreams. He did so accurately. God does not appear to Joseph but Joseph knew that his ability was a divine gift.
“A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. And as he interpreted to us, so it came about.” (Genesis 41: 12-13 ESV)
Joseph was an interpreter of dreams–a talent that came from God himself. The cupbearer was spared execution. When Pharaoh mentioned his disturbing dreams, the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh summoned Joseph.
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘ I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. Joseph answered Pharaoh, ‘It is not me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’ ” (Genesis 41: 15-16 ESV)
Words from Joseph himself witness to the fact that God is behind the interpretation of dreams.
“Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, ‘The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.” (Genesis 41: 25 ESV)
Joseph tells Pharaoh that God has revealed to the king what he is going to do. In the Joseph story, dreams are a way in which God communicates with human beings. Pharaoh has the dream; Joseph interprets it. It is Joseph who God has given the gift of interpretation.
“And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.” (Genesis 41: 32 ESV)
Two dreams of Pharaoh warned of famine in Egypt for seven years. God works through events and dreams for his purposes to be fulfilled, a fact Joseph perceives.
“And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?'” (Genesis 41: 38 ESV)
Pharaoh perceives that Joseph possesses the Spirit of God.
“So Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me, please.’ And they came near. And he said, ‘I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.’ ” (Genesis 45: 4-8 ESV)
God brings His will to fruition through Joseph in his captivity. He is the one who sent Joseph to Egypt to save Israel and his family. His activity is woven into events. Ironically, the dream about his brothers and father bowing down to him comes true. The brothers show obeisance to Joseph, the governor of Egypt.
“And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.” (Genesis 46: 2-3 ESV)
Like Joseph, Jacob had dreams (visions of the night) `God sent him. The difference is that Jacob’s dream involved a direct address from God to him.
“And Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Cannan and blessed me, and said to me, Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you. and I will make you a company of peoples and will give you this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.'” (Genesis 48: 3-4 ESV)
Unlike with Joseph, El Shaddai (a name for God) speaks to Jacob (also called Israel) directly in a dream. Joseph’s dreams had no such direct address. God promises Jacob the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession.
“Joseph said to his father, ‘They are my sons, whom God has given me here.'” (Genesis 48: 9 ESV)
God acts through events. His sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are gifts of God. They with their uncles represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
In all of this, the point is that in the story of Joseph God acts hidden through events. Either the narrator or the protagonist recognizes this. Only when Jacob comes on the scene do we have God speaking directly. God speaks directly throughout the Bible. The prophets received a Word of the Lord directly. They were privileged to enter the throne room of God. In Revelation, John, the prophet, claims such access. But, God also works hidden in history and in people’s lives.
What does this mean for apologetics and witness? They address the fact of God’s activity in people’s lives. Of course, this perception, hard to verify, is one that can in certain instances be false. Nonetheless, a witness may speak in truth of God’s activity, blessings, and gifts in his life. How does one defend such an idea?
Several observations
- Any claim to God’s activity must conform to the Bible’s witness that must be regarded as reliable.
- Conversion is one of the most clear instances of God’s activity.
- God comes to us in judgment and mercy.
- The assent of a community, the Church, re-enforces the trustworthiness of the witness to the deeds of God in history and His involvement in the events of our lives.
- God never does anything wicked.
- While there is never absolute certainty, it is good to thank God for the blessings in this life. Even the recognition of the judgment of God rescues the lost.
- God never instructs us to harm another individual. He calls us to serve. The civil government is responsible for retaliation to protect its citizens.
- Certain persons receive God’s Word in direct address and visual experiences.
- Jesus Christ is the definitive action of God in history.
- While the perception of God’s deeds in events may be nothing but a desire for wish-fulfillment, we should assume that such is not always the case.
- Absolute certainty in this life cannot be achieved. We must live with this fact, while also believing that God works among us.
- The Word and Sacraments are a clear mode of the hidden God’s reaching out to us with His saving grace.
- Good reasons need to be given, when one claims that God is working in a person’s life.
- Relating one’s personal experience of God in life can be part of apologetics and witness.
- Answer to prayer, or even when prayer does not seem to be answered, may impel a person to listen to God more carefully. In other words, in prayer don’t do all the talking. God speaks in our prayers. Listen carefully.
Michael G. Tavella
November 11, 2024
Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours, 397
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard, 1855
