According to Hebrews 2:10, “For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering” in order to elevate many sons to glory.
Joseph went through a lot of suffering and disappointment. And that was not ‘by accident’, but purposely planned by God! By this, Joseph’s character and faith were purified and sanctified. The apostle Peter compares this process to gold that is tested by fire. Once the gold comes out of the oven, it is purer than ever before. When Joseph came out of prison, after being cast off by his own family, being falsely accused by his master, and being forgotten by the cupbearer, he was ‘ready’ for his task as a ruler and for meeting his brothers. God had given him practical wisdom, but also a forgiving and thankful heart. His relationship with the Lord had not been damaged by his experiences, but had only matured.
The process is best shown by Jesus Christ. Hebrews 2:10 tells us that even though He was holy and clean and had never committed any fault, He was made perfect by suffering. He was ready for His role as “a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God,” able to relate to our frailties since, in every way, He had experienced the same temptations as us (Hebrews 2:17, 4:15).
Joseph is a motivational example. He directs us to the source of our salvation, Jesus. Which life lessons have you discovered while reading Joseph’s biography?
