God used Joseph's situation in Egypt to preserve Jacob's family through famine and to make Israel a great nation.
Joseph's brothers sold him to Egypt out of envy, but God was with him and gave him favor with Pharaoh. Joseph prepared Egypt for seven years of famine; when the famine hit Canaan, Jacob's sons had to go to Egypt. Joseph later said God had sent him ahead to preserve life (Gen. 45:7), and God told Jacob not to fear going down, because He would make Israel a great nation there (Gen. 46:3).
Genesis 45:7 — Joseph's own words declare that God sent him ahead to preserve the family, showing the divine purpose in his Egypt situation.
Genesis 46:3 — God tells Jacob not to fear going to Egypt because He will make Israel a great nation there.
The Bible directly states the purpose behind Joseph's presence in Egypt. In Genesis 45:7, Joseph tells his brothers, "God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." Later, in Genesis 46:3, God speaks to Jacob: "I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation." The move to Egypt was not merely an accident of famine but part of God's covenant purpose to build Israel into a nation. Acts 7:9-10 also summarizes Joseph's exaltation: "And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house."
Les Feldick teaches from the Joseph narrative that the brothers' rejection and sale of Joseph did not defeat God's plan. Though the brothers considered Joseph dead, God spared his life and positioned him in Egypt as the second greatest man in the land. Joseph controlled the grain and prepared Egypt for seven years of famine; when the famine hit Canaan, Jacob's sons had to go down to Egypt for food. Joseph later told them not to feel bad, because God sent him ahead of time to preserve them. Les emphasizes that without Joseph, the twelve sons would likely have perished in the famine. Les also shows the change in God's instruction at Genesis 46. Earlier the patriarchs had been told not to leave the Promised Land, but now God told Jacob, "Fear not to go down into Egypt," because He would make Israel a great nation there. Egypt, though a picture of the world and sinfulness, became the place where God permitted Jacob's entire household to settle. Les estimates 72 or 73 souls moved down, and over the next 400 years Israel became a nation of people.
Les explains that the brothers hated Joseph because he was the favored son. For all practical purposes, they killed him, but God had something else in mind and spared his life. Joseph ended up in Egypt, not by accident, but as the beginning of God's plan to preserve the family.
Joseph became the second greatest man in Egypt, in control of the grain, and got everything ready for the seven years of famine. When the famine reached Canaan, grain was only available in Egypt, so Jacob's sons had to go down.
Joseph told his brothers not to feel bad, because God had sent him ahead of time to preserve them. Les notes that had it not been for Joseph in Egypt, the twelve sons would probably have faded off the scene in the famine.
Les points out that God had previously instructed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob not to leave the land of promise. But now, after Joseph was already in Egypt and had prepared the way, God told Jacob, "Fear not to go down into Egypt," because He would make Israel a great nation there.
Les teaches that the nation of Israel came as a result of Joseph's being rejected and ending up in Egypt, where God blessed him and he broke the famine for his family. Jacob's household of 72 or 73 souls moved down into Egypt, and over the next 400 years Israel became a nation of people.
Is the New Covenant for Israel or the Church? Jeremiah 31 Explained
I will be with thee, will bless thee, for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will bless thee. Now you want to remember, Jerry and I were just talking, Jerry is the one that does the transcribing of all this, and he says once in a while his wife Lorna says, I wish Les would just finish a verse.
Joseph in Egypt and the Famine
Joseph was hated by his brothers and ended up in Egypt, where he became second-in-command in control of grain; when famine hit Canaan, his brothers were forced to come to Egypt.
God Sent Joseph Ahead
Joseph knew God had sent him ahead to preserve the family; had he not been in Egypt, the twelve sons would likely have died in the famine.
Stephen's Account
Stephen's account shows God was with Joseph, delivered him, and made him governor; the dearth then forced Jacob to send his sons to Egypt for corn.
God's Promise to Jacob
God told Jacob not to fear going down to Egypt, promising to make Israel a great nation there; Les says Israel became a nation as a result of Joseph's being in Egypt.
Fear Not to Go Down
God told Jacob, "Fear not to go down into Egypt," marking a change from earlier instructions not to go to Egypt.
Egypt as a Picture of the World
Egypt is pictured as the world and sinfulness, yet God permitted Jacob's family to go there and promised to make them a great nation.
Joseph's Words in Genesis 45
Joseph explains that God sent him to Egypt to preserve a posterity in the earth and to save lives by great deliverance, and the family is brought down to Goshen.
Genesis 45:7: And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Joseph's own testimony that his presence in Egypt was God's purposeful mission to preserve the family.
Genesis 46:3: And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
God's direct promise that the migration to Egypt would produce the nation of Israel.
Acts 7:9-10: And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Stephen's summary of Joseph's story showing God's sovereignty over the brothers' evil actions.
No. Joseph told his brothers not to feel bad because God had sent him ahead of time to preserve them. The brothers' sale of Joseph actually placed Joseph in Egypt where he could prepare for the famine and save the family.
In Genesis 45:7, Joseph said God sent him before the family to preserve a posterity in the earth and to save their lives by a great deliverance. Les Feldick explains this is why Joseph could tell his brothers not to blame themselves.
Earlier, God told Isaac to sojourn in the land. After Joseph had prepared Egypt, God told Jacob, "Fear not to go down into Egypt," because He would make a great nation there. Les highlights this as a deliberate change in God's direction.
Joseph's being in Egypt preserved the family through famine, and God moved Jacob's household of about 70 souls down to Egypt. Over the next 400 years, as Les teaches, Israel became a nation of people.
Watch the Teaching: Is the New Covenant for Israel or the Church? Jeremiah 31 Explained