Loved by His Father, Hated by His Brothers
Jacob, after returning to Canaan, had twelve sons. His youngest-but-one was named Joseph. Jacob loved Joseph more than the other sons. He even gave Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors. When the other sons saw that their father Jacob loved Joseph more than them, they hated Joseph. And when he told them of his dreams that suggested they would some day bow down to him, they hated him even more.
One day Joseph went to the place where his brothers were taking care of the sheep and goats. At first the brothers planned to kill him, but they ended up selling him to some merchants on their way to Egypt. After that they slaughtered a goat and covered the coat with blood, and then took it home to Jacob, who mourned Joseph’s death, thinking a wild animal had killed his son.
Enslaved in Egypt
In Egypt Joseph was made a slave owned by a man named Potiphar. Even though Joseph served his master well and brought blessing to his home, he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of trying to rape her and was thrown into jail. Even in jail God blessed him. He became known as one who could tell the meaning of dreams. When Pharaoh had a troubling dream, God showed Joseph the meaning to give Pharaoh. There would be seven years of good harvest followed by seven years of famine. Pharaoh was so pleased that he made Joseph governor over all Egypt so that he could oversee the preparation for the famine. After seven years of plenty there was indeed a famine in Egypt.
Reunited with his Brothers
At that time there was also a famine in Canaan, where Jacob and his sons lived. But there was still grain in Egypt because Joseph had stored grain during the seven years of good harvest. Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, so he sent ten of his sons to get grain. When Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt, Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize Joseph. They came to Joseph and bowed down before him, because Joseph was the governor of Egypt. After some time for Joseph to secretly test his brothers in several ways, he saw that they were truly sorry for selling him into slavery. Then Joseph tearfully revealed himself to them. He said, "I am Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! Do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here. There will be seven years of famine. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve your family and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me lord of Pharaoh's household and ruler of all Egypt.”
After this, Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and all his family. Jacob lived there in Egypt seventeen years before he died and was taken back to Canaan to be buried. After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid Joseph would punish them for what they had
done to him, so they begged him again to forgive them. But Joseph said to them, "Do not 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.