The

church is the carrier of the story of God and how God is creating a

new people to make up a community of grace. There are twists and

turns in the story, as we can see in the life of Joseph, for example.

A favored son gets sold into slavery by his jealous ­brothers.

When it seems like things might get better for Joseph, something else

happens and he lands in prison with no hope of release. Then God

gives Joseph the ability to interpret dreams to bring about not only

his release but also the saving of his family and many others from

famine. (See Genesis 37-49.)

Genesis

50 brings us to the moment when Joseph’s father, Jacob, has died,

and the ­brothers of Joseph worry that he might punish them. What

will Joseph do now as payback for all the wrong they had done to him?

Joseph

looks beyond their actions to the ultimate purpose of God. God

desires to save people. God desires to use people like Joseph—and

us—to bring about a new day and provide new life for his people.

In

this story we see a picture of how God is at work in the twists and

turns of life—and he is still at work in our lives today!