Bethel Church of Houston

Revelation and reunion at last. But what about accountability? And how do we account for forgiveness? These are the Gospel-drenched questions.

The clandestine testing by Joseph of his brothers continues. Why were there issues so important to Joseph, and to Moses? Was it merely personal satisfaction? Or was there something else... something more eternal, in view?

Tuvya Zaretsky is one of the founders of the Jews for Jesus ministry. He was the first field missionary beginning his service in February 1974. Tuvya continues to serve the Lord, now as the Director of Staff Development internationally in the Los Angeles office. He also chairs the Board for the Jews for Jesus in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Tuvya was raised in Northern California in the institutions of American Judaism. During his bar mitzvah at age thirteen, Tuvya read from Isaiah 6:1-8 and declared with the prophet, "Hineni-Here I am, send me!" However, his search for spiritual truth didn't come into focus until ten years later, when a Christian colleague encouraged him to seek God in the pursuit of truth. Tuvya came to believe in Y'shua (Jesus) on December 7, 1970. Ever since, he has been joyfully saying to God, "Hineni-Here am I."

Moses takes great care and plenty of ink to describe the prolonged reunion of Joseph and his brothers. There are eternal lessons here, even for us today.

Faithful and costly service to his father in the context of churlish brothers. Faithful and pure service in the tempting household of Potiphar. Faithful and friendly service in an Egyptian prison. And faithful service and administration over the most powerful nation on earth. As a modern proverb puts it, Joseph "bloomed where he was planted"! What about us? And where's the Gospel in all this?

He woke up in a dungeon. Yet that very night he traveled to a brand new home, in a chariot second only to the king, the Pharaoh. Was this the great opportunity? For sure! An overwhelming blessing? Perhaps. Or maybe, a new and threatening temptation!

In a water cistern, sold to slave traders, servant in an influential household, an innocent prisoner: through it all Joseph remained God's man. God was working, but so was Joseph.

Joseph has always stood as a prime example of resisting temptation. Yet, as in all our studies in Genesis, God was the real hero. So, what does that mean for us, today, as followers of Jesus in a highly sexualized society?

If grace is indeed grace... and if God is committed to accomplishing His purpose in the life of each and every one of His own, then what motivations are there for pursuing holiness? Do our sins matter? Our text gives us yet another example of deep failure and immortality within the context of God's covenant people.

For those raised "in church", the life of Joseph is one of the great Stories of the Bible. Joseph's saga, one of betrayal, loss, gain, and power, ultimately points to God's gracious and sovereign Providence. He really is in control!