Our Mess, His Message

Written By: Paige Wassel

The messy accounts of people’s lives told in the Bible give its pages authenticity. When it comes to dysfunctional families of the Old Testament, Jacob’s family could be their own reality show.

Jacob’s story begins in Genesis 25, when at his birth, his very name means “to grasp the heel” or “to deceive,” an identity he seems to embrace in tricking his twin Esau out of his birthright and his father’s deathbed blessing. Fearing his brother will kill him, Jacob goes on the run and ends up working for his uncle Laban, who tricks him into marrying both his daughters, Leah and Rachel. Jealousy leads the sisters to compete for Jacob’s attention and love through their children. They use their servants to give Jacob even more offspring until he has 12 sons.

A wrestling match with God in the desert is a turning point in Jacob’s faith and identity, as he is renamed Israel meaning “he struggles with God.” Yet, years later family dysfunction sets in again, as he favors his son Joseph over his other sons by giving him a special coat. Joseph wears his coat around his brothers and shares dreams suggesting he will rule over them, until in their resentment they throw him in a pit and consider killing him. Ultimately, they sell him into slavery and tell their father a ferocious animal killed him.

And you thought your family had problems.

Joseph’s life in captivity in Egypt is a roller-coaster ride. After being promoted to head of his master Potiphar’s household, he is then taken to prison after Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph of rape. In prison, he gains favor again by correctly interpreting a fellow inmate’s dream, but when this cupbearer returns to Pharoah’s service, he forgets Joseph until the king needs his own dream interpreted. Joseph explains to Pharaoh how God is using his dreams to alert him the country will have years of abundance followed by years of famine. The king appoints Joseph as second in command, tasked with getting the country through the lean years.

As famine hits Egypt, nearby Canaan is not spared, and Jacob/Israel tells his oldest sons to go to Egypt to buy food. They are reunited with Joseph, but due to the years apart and Egyptian fashion trends, they don’t recognize him, though he knows who they are. The story continues with some testing by Joseph before he eventually reveals himself to his brothers, blessing them not only with food but land where they can bring their father and all their families to ride out the famine.

Thank you for bearing with this whirlwind retelling of years of generational dysfunction from Jacob to Joseph. For the full account, see Genesis 25-47.

The lives of Jacob and Joseph emphasize how God can use anyone, regardless of his or her history, to bring about His plans. While they both endured hard times and were given specific promises from God, Jacob and Joseph lived out their faith in different ways.

For much of his life, Jacob reacted to unfavorable circumstances by leaning into old habits, relying on lies and tricks to try to avoid the consequences of his sin and the sin of others. Yet, God still uses him to fulfill his promise to Abraham of creating a great, chosen nation through his descendants.

Joseph endured years of his life going from bad to worse, experiencing betrayal, abandonment, false accusations, isolation, prison, and feeling forgotten. It would have been understandable if he continued the cycle of dysfunction when he meets his brothers, punishing them for their sins against him. But he ultimately chooses to serve them, showing them mercy and revealing how God used his circumstances to position him for a greater purpose.

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t 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.” – Genesis 50:19-21

Joseph sees God’s plan and provision in the midst of his mess. He keeps seeking God and holding to his standards even when given many opportunities to stumble. He offers his brothers grace they do not deserve, giving them and us a glimpse of the unearned grace God bestows on us, despite how we treat him.

God works through flawed people to accomplish his purposes; it’s all he has to work with.