7 takeaways from this study

1. Divine faithfulness transcends human limitations: God’s covenant promises extend far beyond cultural, geographical, or historical boundaries. The narrative of Yosef demonstrates that divine purpose can transform seemingly hopeless situations into redemptive opportunities, showing that no pit is too deep for God’s restoration.

2. Suffering is not the end, but a pathway to exaltation: The life of Yosef reveals a spiritual principle: faithful endurance through unjust suffering leads to unexpected elevation. This pattern, mirroring the Messiah’s journey, teaches that temporary setbacks are not permanent defeats when one maintains spiritual integrity.

3. Prophetic insight emerges in unexpected places: True spiritual understanding (like Yosef’s dream interpretations) often comes not from position or privilege, but from humble dependence on God. The ability to discern divine messages requires a heart postured in humility and trust.

4. God’s justice operates on a comprehensive, multilayered scale: The prophetic passages in Amos demonstrate that divine justice isn’t limited to individual actions but encompasses entire national and cultural systems. Every action, no matter how small, is noticed and ultimately accountable to heaven.

5. Redemption is a collaborative divine-human process: The Beatitudes and Yosef’s story illustrate that spiritual transformation requires both divine initiative and human cooperation. We’re not passive recipients but active participants in God’s redemptive mission.

6. Covenant promises are consistently progressive: From Eden to Abraham, from Yosef to Yeshua, God’s promises continuously expand, revealing a plan that moves from particular (Israel) to universal (all nations), demonstrating an ever-widening circle of redemptive love.

7. Spiritual resilience is cultivated through trials: Maintaining faith during challenging circumstances is not just admirable but transformative. Yosef’s ability to trust God in prison, to resist bitterness, and to ultimately bring blessing demonstrates that our response to suffering matters more than the suffering itself.

This study follows the threads of covenant faithfulness through. Our journey through Genesis, Amos and Matthew will reveal how Heaven’s love transcends human limitations, lifting the humble and bringing justice to the oppressed.

The righteous remnant often suffers, but in the end, they are ultimately lifted up by God. The people of the earth are participants, not bystanders, in the lead up to the Day of the Lord. On the Day of the Lord, nations and people are judged for violating God’s standards. Those who walk in humility and righteousness participate in God’s redemptive mission, while those who walk in selfishness and iniquity will face God’s judgment.

Let’s start with Yosef (Joseph), a remarkable figure who embodies the concept of Messiah Ben Yosef (Messiah, Son of Joseph) — the suffering servant archetype. Thrown into a pit by his brothers, falsely accused, and imprisoned, Yosef represents the ultimate picture of undeserved suffering and ultimate redemption.

In Genesis 40, we find Yosef in prison, interpreting dreams with a profound statement: “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8). This isn’t just a casual remark — it’s a declaration of divine connection. Even in the depths of his circumstances, Yosef maintains an unwavering trust in Adonai.

Yosef suffers unjustly in prison, yet remains faithful, foreshadowing the Messiah (Yeshua) who also suffered despite innocence. He did not beg for his life.

The Hebrew word נָשָׂא nasa, meaning “to lift up,” becomes crucial here. It’s not just a physical lifting, but a spiritual elevation. Yosef will be lifted from the pit to the palace, a prophetic shadow of the Messiah’s journey.

Our study reveals a stunning truth: God’s covenant isn’t limited by human boundaries. From the Garden of Eden through Abraham and his descendants, we see a progressive unfolding of a promise that extends to all nations. The Hebrew concept of חֶסֶד khesed — loyal love that goes beyond mere obligation – shines through.

Amos provides a powerful perspective on divine justice. The prophet declares God’s judgment on nations, showing that no one escapes divine accountability (Amos 1:3-2:6). God does not play favorites, as He, through Amos rebukes the descendants of Israel for forsaking their covenant responsibilities. Yet, within this judgment, we see a remarkable thread of mercy.

Amos tells us that God sees and honors faithful suffering, ultimately using it for His redemptive purposes. God has taken note of everything, both great and small.

Even though God was known as the God of Israel, He also made His power evident in Egypt, in Babylon, in Syria and Nineveh. You can’t escape His jurisdiction. 

In Matthew 5:1–12, Yeshua (Jesus) delivers the Beatitudes, a revolutionary manifesto of spiritual transformation. The Greek word μακάριος makarios, often translated as “blessed,” more accurately means “supremely fortunate” or “truly happy.”

Consider these profound declarations:

These aren’t just nice sentiments — they’re a radical reframing of spiritual success. Success isn’t about power or wealth, but about spiritual alignment with God’s heart.

Yosef’s life becomes a profound type (prophetic foreshadowing) of the Messiah. Falsely accused, suffering unjustly, yet maintaining integrity – sound familiar? It’s a direct parallel to Yeshua’s journey.

The dream interpretations in Genesis 40 become a metaphor for spiritual insight. Just as Yosef could interpret dreams, the Messiah brings divine understanding to human confusion.

Yeshua concludes this section with a powerful metaphor: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). In the ancient world, salt was a preservative and purifying agent. Light represents revelation and hope.

This isn’t just a nice suggestion — it’s a calling. We’re invited to be agents of preservation and revelation in a broken world.

Matthew 5 calls disciples to live out their calling as the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” echoing Israel’s original role (Isaiah 49:6).

‘He says, “It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light to the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”’ (Isaiah 49:6, NASB 1995)

After the Babylonian exile, many returned to Israel, but most remained. This is why we have a Babylonian Talmud. God always preserves a remnant who follow where He tells them to go, while the majority stay where they choose to remain.

See Yosef (Joseph) as a messiah-type figure, rejected by his brothers yet destined to lift many.

The Hebrew words נָשָׂא (nasa) and רוּם (rum) both mean “to lift up,” while the covenant terms חֶסֶד (khesed)—“kindness”—and זָכַר (zakhar)—“remember”—are also central to Yosef’s story.

“So Joseph was imprisoned… where the king’s prisoners were confined.” (Genesis 40:3, NASB)

At this point, Yosef has been brought low a second time. Yet he returns to his destiny, not only as “the dreamer” (Genesis 37:19), but also as an interpreter of dreams.

Many commentators throughout the centuries have noted that the presence of the cupbearer (wine) and the baker (bread), who came to Yosef with their dreams, echoes the themes of Passover. The three days between the dreams and their fulfillment further echo Passover and, more importantly, foreshadow the Messiah.

“He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day,
That we may live before Him.” (Hosea 6:2, NASB 1995)

Hosea was speaking to a people in exile. As a prophet, his mission was to rescue his unfaithful wife—a living parable of God’s longing to bring Israel back. Even when the world writes us off, God does not. His love covers a multitude of sins.

God not only loved the people of Israel, but also the people of the nations, who were ignorant of their sin. Yeshua said, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

“And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17, NASB 1995)

Another example of three days appears in the story of Esther, who fasted and prayed for three days before approaching the king. She bravely declared, “If I perish, I perish.”

In Genesis 40:8, Yosef said, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell [your dream] to me.” This demonstrates Yosef exercising prophetic authority—evidence that God spoke to Yosef, and Yosef spoke with God. He continues in this prophetic role during his first audience with Pharaoh.

The Hebrew word רוּם room/rum, can be translated “lift up” but more accurately means “to exalt.” That becomes profound in the key verse Psalm 3:3. God is the one who lifts up the humble. As it says in 1Peter 5:6, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”

So what does this mean for us today? Three key principles:

1. Trust during suffering
2. Maintain integrity when no one is watching
3. Believe in God’s ultimate redemptive plan

Our journey through these texts reveals an unbroken promise. From Yosef’s pit to the Messiah’s cross, from Amos’s prophetic warnings to the Beatitudes’ hope — we see a consistent narrative of God’s faithful love.

The Hebrew word זָכַר zachar, meaning “to remember,” becomes powerful. God remembers His promises, even when humans forget.

As Messianic believers, we stand in a unique position. We see the continuity of God’s plan — how the Hebrew Scriptures point to Yeshua, how the promises made to Israel extend to all nations, how suffering can be transformed into redemption.

Our calling? To be living letters, walking out this covenant faithfulness in our daily lives.