Joseph - a leader

Jacob, son of Isaac, had fallen in love with Rachel, and in Genesis chapter 29:18 he answered Laban, "For your younger daughter Rachel I would work seven years.” The story of Joseph should begin with the mentioned quotation. This quote should be viewed as the beginning foundation of an ideology that follows the life of Joseph throughout Genesis. It is due to Jacob's love for Rachel that sets up a chain of emotions and reactions that ultimately places Joseph, Jacob's and Rachel's first born, as the a catalyst for the Israelite community to continue the promise God conveyed to Abraham, Joseph's great-grandfather. God said to Abraham in Genesis chapter 15:5, "Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. So many will your descendants be.” God also said to Abraham in the same chapter verse 13, "Know for certain that your descendants shall be aliens in a land not their own; they will be enslaved and held in oppression for four hundred years.” God uses Joseph as an instrument to carry out the promise that he had made to Abraham to increase his descendents. It is not only through Joseph's character and his steadfast belief that he was destined for a higher calling, but through his actions and assumed supernatural interpreta

. . .

View the whole essay, without interruption

We were out in the field binding sheaves, when all at once my sheaf rose and stood upright, and your sheaves gathered around and bowed in homage before my sheaf. To further prove the importance Joseph had it Genesis, it states in chapter 50, out of all of Jacob's sons, only Joseph's bones were the only ones mentioned to be taken with the Israelites when God would lead His people out of Egypt. It is during interactions between Joseph's brothers and Joseph that several conditions result in his brothers being accused of being spies and, to a great degree, thieves.

Consistent with his character, Joseph's influence on God's promise is again shown by providing Israel and those living with him to depart from where they were living and make Egypt their home. Joseph’s tribe is the only tribe that does not carry his name, but carries two names instead. tion of dreams, which provided a way for Joseph's talents to be ultimately recognized and rewarded through the status he would receive as the plan of God was fulfilled. When the opportunity presented itself, his brothers, after plotting on what to do with him, ultimately sold Joseph as a slave to traders on their way to Egypt. Based on how Joseph played a role in facilitating the two promises made to Abraham by God, it is clear to see that Joseph was indeed a catalyst to bring about the fulfillment of these promises through his ability to interpret dreams and the demanding and outstanding leadership needed to fulfill them.

As a conclusion, it is important to know that Joseph gave his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, as the two that would carry his weight and would take his place among the other brothers. He uses his leadership in Egypt to set up the conditions where his brothers will ultimately have to recognize his calling as a leader. Having to prove themselves innocent, Joseph sets the conditions for his younger brother to be brought to Egypt as proof that they were not spies or thieves.

Genesis chapter 37:3 also demonstrates the love that Jacob had for his son Joseph. Joseph himself did not help in repairing the torn relationships with his family; in fact, he further widened the gap of hatred through the interpretation of a dream to his brothers in chapter 37:6 of Genesis.

This type of embodiment of leadership from Joseph created by Jacob's treatment of Joseph and by Joseph's own interpretation of what is concluded to be a dream placed by God, appears to be a main theme as this family lives together.

Approximate Word count = 1248
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Simply subscribe to view this paper, and 100,000 others.