In Genesis 50:15-21, Joseph’s narrative reaches its climactic point with the clear picture of the fulfillment of the dream as traced back in Genesis 37. The dream motif in Joseph’s narrative is key as it provides a vehicle through which God’s purpose is revealed . It shows how God’s hand was behind the scenes pulling the strings causing the events in Joseph’s life with the intention that through him, His blessings upon the survival of Israel and many others is realized. This is brought out clearly in 50:20,“you meant it for evil (but) God meant it for good”. A clear demonstration that when evil confronts the purposes of God, it succumbs. A fact echoed by Job when speaking of God’s purposes, he says “no plans of yours can be thwarted” (Job
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His brothers thought Joseph would revenge for their culpability over what befell him, rather his reply gave meaning to the suffering he faced in view of God’s ultimate purpose. Stephen was later to proclaim “God delivered Joseph from his tribulations (Ac.7:10) . This means that, within the sovereign plans of God, human suffering finds not just a theological purpose, but also its chronological end. Human suffering is not eternal. It is temporary. Joseph left his brothers as a slave, but at the end he was in charge over all of Egypt. This truth is picked up later by John in his message from the Lord Jesus to the church of Smyrna. Jesus identifies himself as the first and the last. He then encourages this church over what they were about to suffer. He says “you will have tribulation for ten days”(Rev.2:10).The significance of ‘ten days’ here is not so much on the length of days as it is underscoring the temporary nature of suffering. For Just as God established the limits to waves (Job 38:11), so has he marked the end of human pain and suffering
His brothers thought Joseph would revenge for their culpability over what befell him, rather his reply gave meaning to the suffering he faced in view of God’s ultimate purpose. Stephen was later to proclaim “God delivered Joseph from his tribulations (Ac.7:10) . This means that, within the sovereign plans of God, human suffering finds not just a theological purpose, but also its chronological end. Human suffering is not eternal. It is temporary. Joseph left his brothers as a slave, but at the end he was in charge over all of Egypt. This truth is picked up later by John in his message from the Lord Jesus to the church of Smyrna. Jesus identifies himself as the first and the last. He then encourages this church over what they were about to suffer. He says “you will have tribulation for ten days”(Rev.2:10).The significance of ‘ten days’ here is not so much on the length of days as it is underscoring the temporary nature of suffering. For Just as God established the limits to waves (Job 38:11), so has he marked the end of human pain and suffering