660) The life of Joseph, as recorded in Genesis 41, is my all-time favorite one to study with the exception of the life of Jesus. I’ve even named my protagonist, Joseph, in my up-coming novel, The Bottle House, in honor of Jacob’s favorite son. I admire so much of Joseph’s character. If anyone had a right to be bitter and angry, Joseph did. His brothers bullied, lied about, and sold him as a slave, and then he is accused of rape. Despite these, Joseph stayed true to his God, thus bringing much-needed food to the known world for seven long years of severe drought.

As I think about these events, I realize that in supplying food during this bleak time, God is providing for the needs of the very people who mistreated Joseph and to nations of people who did not accept Him as God. What an example of unconditional love. God did not stand there, cross His arms and say, “Yes, these people will receive this nourishment and those people don’t.” Jesus told us Himself that God sends the rain on the just and the unjust. (Matthew 5:45) This is the love that made it possible for Joseph to endure so many difficult things, and if we allow it, it can make it possible for us, too.