The Scarlet Thread

Pt. 3 Joseph

Mankind is capable of doing incredible things. From antiquing, remodeling, refinishing, to repurposing there is this desire in us to redeem used, worn out things. We have an ability to envision value and purpose in things that seem like trash.

We get this from our Creator. Remember, we’ve been made in God’s image. So if we love to redeem things, I think that means God loves to redeem things. And when we talk about the spiritual part of you I think this especially makes sense.

The Bible says that before a person puts their trust in Jesus, they are considered spiritually dead. The Holy Spirit is not living in them, giving them life. But even after a person puts their trust in Jesus, the Bible says every good thing we try to do is the equivalent to a heap of dirty laundry. Very dirty laundry.

Now, I don’t want to bum anybody out prematurely, so allow me to give you some good news. God is powerful enough to give grace despite our sinfulness. That’s important to remember. Keep that in mind.

The Scarlet Thread is the story behind the stories of the Bible. It’s the Gospel and it runs through every chapter of the Bible. The goal of this blog series is to give you a jump start on reading the Bible in a new, Gospel-oriented way. So we’re just getting a few of the more familiar Bible stories and finding the Scarlet Thread running through them.

So far we’ve looked at the story of Creation in Genesis 1. We’ve looked at the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. And now I’d like to look at the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-41. As you read through this, I’m going to point at the sins of the characters in this story, and show how God is powerful enough to give grace despite their sinfulness.

1.   Joseph Sinned (Genesis 37:1-8)

He was no perfect saint. He sinned frequently. He was selfish, lustful, bitter, and proud. I know this because Joseph was a male human-being. He had his own issues. You can almost hear some pride hiding behind his words when he shares a prophecy with his brothers saying they will bow down to him. Joseph was a sinner. But God still poured out grace. God chose Joseph to rule a country despite his sinfulness, just as He has chosen to save us when we didn’t deserve it. This choosing was not because we were worthy of it but because God is generous. A Scarlet Thread of the Gospel.

2.   His Brothers Sinned (Genesis 37:18-24)

His brothers sinned long before they plotted against him. They had committed murder in their hearts already by their hate, and then they planned on killing him. That’s messed up! But God still poured out grace. Reuben, the oldest brother, saves Joseph from the murderous plot of his brothers by providing an alternative to death: throw him in a pit. Nice, Reuben.

Now, the name “Reuben” means “behold, a son” which symbolized another Son that would also deliver His people from death. A Scarlet Thread of the Gospel.

On a side note: Reuben would later sleep with his father’s concubine. A obvious no-no! This guy was a shadow of the Gospel, but only a shadow. A two-dimensional image of the real thing.

So the brothers throw him in a pit, don’t know what to do with him, and decide to sell him into slavery. My brothers bullied me, but they never achieved the bully status of selling me into slavery.

3.   The Slavers Sinned Genesis 37:36

The slavers sinned by committing a crime against the image of God. All people are made in God’s image and are inherently valuable. Slavery, the owning of another human being, is deeply wrong. But God still poured out grace. He led the slavers to sell Joseph to a wealthy officer of Pharaoh. As far as slavery goes, this was an alright gig. He excelled in his service so much that Potiphar made him head of the household.

God never wants us to remain enslaved to our own sins and addictions. The Gospel is what frees us from that spiritual slavery. A Scarlet Thread of the Gospel.

4.   Potiphar’s Wife Sinned (Genesis 39:11-15; 20-21)

Potiphar’s wife sinned by committing adultery in her heart and lying as well. Joseph didn’t deserve this. He was just a handsome guy minding his own business and yet because of one scandalous lie he was immediately thrown into prison. But God still poured out grace. Joseph eventually rose through the ranks of prisoners and earned favor in the sight of the guards.

God often times takes us through dark paths. He doesn’t promise us an escape from the difficulties, but He promises we will persevere. A Gospel Thread.

5.   Pharaoh Sinned (Genesis 41:7-8; 14; 37-40)

Pharaoh went searching for answers and put his trust in things other than God. He ruled with cruelty and with no regard for God or the people made in His image (like Joseph, the slave/prisoner.) But God still poured out grace. Joseph was brought in to interpret Pharoah’s dream and was given the opportunity to save millions of people from an unexpected famine.

This all happened as a foreshadow to how God has chosen to save us from an unexpected demise. The Scarlet Thread.

6.   His Brothers Sinned Again Genesis 42:1-2; 13

Years later, his brothers wind up in Egypt, looking for food. When Joseph approaches them in disguise, they lied directly to his face about him being dead. Really they had been lying about his death all along. Can you imagine what a miserable life you’d live, carrying that kind of a secret with you?

But God still poured out grace. Joseph put them through a test, eventually revealed his identity, forgave his brothers, and then brought them all to live with him in security and comfort.

Likewise, God will forgive our sins when we come to Him. He will provide a place in Heaven for us to live with Him in security and comfort. A Scarlet Thread.

The Scarlet thread of Joseph’s story, and your story, is this: Nobody has ever earned God’s grace. It has only ever been given despite our sinfulness. Everybody has disqualified themselves from a place at His table, and yet, in His marvelous grace He invites us to live with Him forever.