"Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady, his strong arms stayed limber, because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob, because of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel, because of your father's God, who helps you, because of the Almighty, who blesses you with blessings of the heavens above, blessings of the deep that lies below, blessings of the breast and womb. Your father's blessings are greater than the blessings of the ancient mountains, than the bounty of the age-old hills. Let all these rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince among his brothers.”(Genesis 49:22-26)

Joseph here is called the “prince among the brothers.”

He was spiritually rich compared to his brothers who were at one time spiritually and morally bankrupt. Jealousy and bitter envy were their undesirable qualities. But God was faithful. Though He let Joseph suffer for a while, He saw to it that his brothers came and fell at his feet, not because Joseph desired it, but because God felt that, that would be the right thing.

Joseph faced several other problems, but God helped him to overcome them and finally God exalted him to a very high position in Egypt, the land where he came to as a slave.

We read in the book of Genesis:

So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way !" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:38-43)

Regarding this the Psalmist says,

He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; and he sent a man before them - Joseph, sold as a slave. They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true. The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. (Psalm 105:16-22)

If we are faithful, God will see to it that those who hurt us unwontedly are brought to book, not because we desire it, but because He is a righteous God. We serve a just God and he will bless us if we remain humble in his presence.

Posted by Dr. Johnson Cherian