January 1, 2011 (Genesis 33-50)

All through Genesis we are given glimpses of God's control over all events. It is most pronounced through the story of Joseph being sold into slavery. Even though what happened to him seemed to be horrible, and I would imagine he thought God had abandoned him, God had a plan. Joseph never lost his faith, as is evidenced by his response to Pharaoh's wife (39:8-9 - But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. ⁹ No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.”) and his response to Pharaoh (41:16 - “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”).

On his death bed, he still had not lost his faith. He believed God's promise, that He would lead them to the promised land, as is evidenced by his request:

^50:24 “Soon I will die,” Joseph told his brothers, “but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

²⁵ Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, “When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.” ²⁶ So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.