Joseph was one of the youngest of 12 sons of the partriach Jacob--who later became known as Israel (after which the nation is named). When Joseph was in his late teens, he started having visions in which he would one day rule over his brothers. His brothers became indignant:
His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
At that time a great famine had spread throughout the land. The only food available was in Egypt under Joseph's command. His brothers came to Egypt to plead for food. They came and bowed before Joseph in fulfillment of the visions that Joseph had years before. When they realized it was Joseph they were speechless and terrified. The story culminates in Joseph's good will statement to his brothers:
His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
I believe this is an analogy and lesson for us all. We all know that God is the supreme ruler of all creation. The great message handed down to us is that God has made Jesus Christ Lord of all. He took him from a lowly manger and raised him up to rule over his brothers, you and I. He delivered him from the lowest prison of death and raised him from the dead as King of kings, sitting him at his right hand in glory. The Bible says that it is for our good that Jesus has been exalted to the highest place. It was so that Jesus would become the mediator between us and God. It was so that his death would be a substitutionary payment for our sin; to take away our guilt and shame and give us a place in God's family forever as beloved children.
Yet many of Jesus' brothers act like Joseph's brothers did and respond with disdain and unbelief toward Jesus' rule. Like Joseph's brothers they ask, "Will he actually rule us?" and reject the idea right out. Many of us, who acted this way, have realized the error of our ways and have come to the One in command of the life-giving food, bowing before him and pleading for mercy. And like Joseph to his brothers, he has spoken kindly to us, giving us food and telling us that it was for our good, to save our lives, that God raised him up.
Someday a great famine will come, figuratively speaking. The great question is: who will continue to disregard the gift of Christ's lordship? Those who did so in Joseph's day perished because there was no food in the land except under Joseph's control. And who will realize that there is no other place to find eternal life and escape punishment of sin:
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." -John 6:67-69
