The elements of the Gospel – life, death and resurrection – are found in the beautiful story of Joseph. In his account, we see Joseph’s life at age 17 – favored by his dad, full of hopes and dreams – followed by the descent into betrayal, slavery and prison – the death of his dreams and identity. But God’s sovereign plan was to move him upward to a resurrection in a place of power in order to preserve His people and bring glory to God!


What we don’t see in his story – yet it’s where we all live – are the daily decisions Joseph made to sacrifice his dreams and identity to God. Under crushing circumstances, not knowing the end of his story (as we do), he entrusted his life to the sovereign goodness of his loving heavenly Father. We don’t have all of the details either, but we know that they’re there because we see the “resurrection” – the love and grace that Joseph extended to his brothers when he revealed himself to them. That glorious, gracious response, that faith-filled forgiveness, was forged in the furnace of daily dying.