The Beginnings of Joseph

So, what started this whole thing is my expectation that the life I had before would be the life I have now, except better. After all, I am more educated and wiser…um, older! I still have favor in people's eyes. I'm not bragging but I want to express the magnitude of my experience. I have singular conversations with corporate leaders, pastors, ministry leaders, etc. Almost all those conversations lead to some sort of opportunity or promise of a future one.  

Yet, for the vast majority of the last twenty months, I have struggled to keep my four walls secure: housing, utilities, food and transportation (a very simple life!) My question: how do I have favor with God and man but still do not have the blessings? Do you see the assumption in that question?! 

One thing about such questions: if you do not ask the right person, you probably will not get a truthful answer, or worse, you get many "truthful" answers that leave you wanting and confused. After throwing out the question to a select few, I boldly asked Father God. He immediately reminded me of the story of Joseph in Genesis. Of course, I knew the general story but I had this feeling of expectant anticipation that sent me searching for deeper details and meaning. You're cordially invited on my journey of discovery.

Joseph was the first-born son of Jacob and Rachel, but Jacob's eleventh son (twelfth child counting daughter Dinah). He had so much favor that Joseph's brothers hated him, and refused to talk with him. The Amplified version of Genesis 37:4 states that his brothers could not even greet him or speak to him in a peaceful way. That's some resentment! The counselor side of me thinks of this in the context of family systems and how this may have impacted Joseph's view of himself. What an experience of extremes! To be so very loved and so very hated, all within the same family unit.

Before we head forward, it's important to observe the past. Significant parts of this story include the details of Jacob's pursuit of Rachel, prior to Joseph’s birth. If you remember, Laban tricked Jacob into marrying both his daughters: Leah and Rachel. Jacob loved and wanted Rachel (Genesis 29:17-20, 30) but got Leah on the wedding night (Gen 29:23-25). Can you imagine?! That part has always baffled me. What would be your human response? Jacob had worked a “quick” seven years for Rachel, has sex with her (or so he thought…weird!) on their wedding night, only to wake up next to a different woman! I imagine he felt deep anger, probably resentment, maybe foolishness or shame for not realizing sooner that Leah was not Rachel. (Note: there some cultural differences here that are beyond my scope of specific knowledge; be careful not to put your Western experience on a non-western event in history.) When Jacob went to Laban to complain, Laban manipulated another seven years of work from Jacob in order to have Rachel as his wife that day (Gen 29:28-30). Jacob surrendered and stayed, because he loved Rachel. He ended up remaining in Laban's land for a while (someone else can research that…) and he put up with a lot (Gen 31:6-7)!
Back to Joseph’s life, he was treasured by Jacob because he was the product of the love he had for Rachel...after, Rachel's sister, Leah, gave Jacob nine children (with the help of her maid)! Rachel’s maid gave Jacob two sons. Joseph is the product of years of work, waiting, disappointment, frustration, heartache, etc! Fourteen years of working plus the heartache of watching Rachel go through the emotional turmoil of seeing her sister have many children, plus the stress of moving his family out of Laban's territory and all the abuse he endured, plus...etc. There are considerable stressors in Jacob’s life, to say the least! When Joseph came along, I am certain he was very celebrated…at least on Rachel’s wing of the house.

This hit me: it was God’s intention to keep Jacob waiting for Joseph. He was advocating for Leah, the unloved woman (Gen 29:31). As I look at my circumstances, I am certain that neither Jacob nor Rachel saw that God was working out a different situation by using their circumstances. He was blessing Leah. It was crucial for a man to have offspring, in that culture; you might say it was his retirement plan.  God let Leah have the favor for a while. I submit God was giving Jacob opportunity to actually love Leah (Reuben, her firstborn means “see, a son!” Gen 29:32 AMP). All three of her first sons were an attempt to get love from her husband (look up the meanings of their names). I’m not sure Jacob ever got the lesson.Will you and I?

Questions for further thought: (I recommend you doing your own work on applying this to your life, including journaling your thoughts and insights! Even if you don’t like journaling, try it.)

1. That thing you’ve been waiting for, what is God’s greater intent? What might be his greater picture for your time of waiting? I dare you to ask Him...
2. If you’re Rachel, what characteristics do you know about God that might lead you to respond in gratitude during your waiting, instead of anger/frustration/disappointment/depression/anxiety? 
3. The assumption in the question…what do you think it is?