Jacob lives up to his name; he is a heal-grabbing trickster. Jacob schemes against his brother, his father, his uncle and has distrust for God throughout. Yet Jacob is blessed.
Joseph has no character flaws. The only thing you could even level against him was possibly being foolish in telling his brothers about his dreams, but even that I don't think is a bad thing because he's just telling his family a prophetic dream he had. Joseph is upright and driven by his desire to be righteous in every moment of his story. Yet Joseph's life is a cavalcade of unfortunate events.
Jacob's story makes us ask: Why do good things happen to bad people? The answer is: God is ALWAYS faithful to His people, even His SINFUL people.
Those God chooses to be blessed will be blessed even if they are rotten to the core. God will bless those He chooses to bless and His blessing isn't contingent upon their character but His. Jacob's story is pure Gospel for those of us who live like Jacob more than like Joseph on our average day.
Joseph's story makes us ask: Why do bad things happen to good people? The answer is: God is ALWAYS doing good in ALL circumstances, even SINFUL circumstances.
Joseph is by most any measure a good person. Yet his life is full of tragedy. He was beloved by his father and despised by his brothers. He was thrown in a pit. He was sold into slavery. He became an exemplary slave yet was falsely accused of raping a woman he refused to cheat with and then was thrown into prison. He became an exemplary prisoner yet he stayed in chains. He helped a prisoner that was freed yet was forgotten and left in chains for two more years.
Joseph had to deal with some serious crap.
If you know his story you know that he eventually got exalted in Egypt and helped saves the entire region from a devastating famine. He even saves his family (read that as, he saved the entire nation of Israel's future).
In talking to his brothers who put him on this journey of suffering Joseph said these words:
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20
They meant it for evil against Joseph; God meant it for good for many people. Joseph's pain was part of God's perfect plan of salvation. If Joseph hadn't been sold by his brothers he would have starved with them in a famine and the nation of Israel's story would have ended while Israel (Jacob) himself was still around.
Isn't this just like Jesus? The beloved son was despised and rejected. The beloved son went to a land not His own to be treated as a slave. The beloved son experienced pain He did not deserve. It was intended to harm Him, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
So, if you're living a life like Jacob rejoice for God doesn't give up on His people. If you're in a season of a Joseph life rejoice for God means it all for good.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
Hold on tight. It may hurt right now and you might not seeing it, but God is doing His perfect plan perfectly. Do you think Joseph liked his suffering? I don't, but we know in reading his story that God was in every step. God is in every step of your plan, too. He loves you. He wants the best for you. And He is always doing good in all circumstances, even sinful circumstances, even your circumstances today.
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