Yes — God sovereignly allowed Joseph to be sold into Egypt to preserve Jacob's family through the famine and to make Israel a great nation.
While the brothers acted out of envy, God was with Joseph, gave him favor with Pharaoh, and made him governor over Egypt. From that position, Joseph was able to feed the family when famine came, and the sons of Jacob moved to Egypt, where God promised to make them a great nation.
Genesis 46:3 — God's direct promise to Jacob that going into Egypt was His plan to make Israel a great nation.
Acts 7:9-10 — The biblical account of Joseph's sale shows human envy overruled by God's presence and deliverance.
In the book of Acts, Stephen summarizes Joseph's story: "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" (Acts 7:9-10). Later, when a famine came over Egypt and Canaan, Jacob heard there was corn in Egypt and sent his sons down (Acts 7:11-12). When Jacob was ready to go, God 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" (Genesis 46:3). The Scripture narrative presents Joseph's slavery as the event that brought the covenant family into Egypt and set the stage for the nation of Israel.
Les emphasizes that Joseph's brothers were guilty of a real sin, but God's sovereignty worked through it. When Joseph met his brothers, he told them not to blame themselves — "God did it." Les says the sovereign God set it up so Joseph would end up in Egypt, sending seven good years to prepare for seven years of famine. Les traces the result: because Joseph controlled the grain in Egypt, the brothers had to come to Egypt when famine hit Canaan. Jacob and about seventy-two or seventy-three souls moved down to Egypt, and God told Jacob not to fear, because He would make him a great nation there. Over the next 400 years in Egypt, Israel became a nation of people. Les also notes that the brothers' sin placed Israel under Egypt's idolatry, and God would later have to redeem them. Les also draws a typological parallel: Joseph's rejection by his brothers pictures the Lord Jesus, whom Israel rejected. At Christ's return, Israel will look on Him whom they pierced and mourn, just as Joseph's brothers were reunited with him in weeping.
The patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt, but God was with him and made him governor. Joseph was in control of the grain and prepared Egypt for the seven years of famine. When the famine hit Canaan, the brothers had to go to Egypt for food, and Jacob eventually sent all the sons down. God then assured Jacob it was safe to go, because He would make Israel a great nation there.
Les says Israel came into Egypt "as a result of Joseph being rejected by his brethren." God blessed Joseph, Joseph broke the famine for his family, and Jacob's household came down into Egypt — about 72 or 73 souls. There, over 400 years, Israel became a nation of people. God had even told Jacob, "I will there make of thee a great nation," showing that the Egyptian stay was part of His plan.
Les connects Joseph's weeping at reunion with Zechariah's prophecy that Israel will one day look on Him whom they pierced and mourn. Just as Joseph was rejected by his brothers and later became the one who preserved them in Egypt, Christ was rejected by Israel and will be recognized as their God when He returns. This typological lesson reinforces the deeper purpose behind Joseph's painful journey.
Joseph's Reunion and Israel's Future Mourning
Les links Joseph's weeping at the reunion with Zechariah's prophecy that Israel will mourn when they recognize the One they pierced.
God's Sovereignty Over the Brothers' Sin
Les explains that Joseph told his brothers not to blame themselves because God did it, and that the sovereign God prepared seven good years to meet the seven years of famine.
The Consequences of Sin and God's Redemption
Les notes that the brothers' sin sent Israel into Egypt and under Egyptian idolatry, making it necessary for God to redeem His covenant people.
Joseph Positioned as Egypt's Grain Administrator
Les shows that Joseph, though treated as dead by his brothers, was second in command in Egypt and controlled the grain, forcing the brothers to come to him in the famine.
Stephen's Account of Joseph in Acts 7
Les reads the biblical account that the patriarchs sold Joseph out of envy, but God was with him, delivered him, and made him governor over Egypt.
Joseph's Rejection Leads to the Nation of Israel
Les says the nation of Israel came from Joseph's rejection: the family entered Egypt and became a nation of people over 400 years.
God Permits Jacob to Go to Egypt
Les explains that God permitted Jacob to enter Egypt despite Egypt being a picture of the world, because God promised to multiply Israel there.
A Recurring Pattern of Joseph and Daniel
Les repeats that Joseph was sold by envious brothers yet God made him governor over Egypt, and points to Daniel as another Jew raised to high office in a Gentile land.
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 promise to Jacob explains the wider purpose of Joseph's presence in Egypt.
Acts 7:9: And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
This shows the human cause of Joseph's slavery and God's presence with him.
Acts 7:10: 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.
It records God's deliverance and Joseph's elevation to power in Egypt.
Zechariah 12:10: And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Les draws this verse into the Joseph account to show the typology of Israel mourning over the rejected Messiah.
According to Les, yes. Joseph told his brothers not to blame themselves, saying God did it. Les says the sovereign God set it up so Joseph would be in Egypt, preparing seven good years before seven years of famine.
The Scripture records that the patriarchs moved with envy. Les adds that the brothers hated Joseph because he was the favored son. So far as they were concerned they killed him, but God spared his life and used the situation for good.
Joseph was in charge of grain and broke the famine for his family. Jacob and his household came to Egypt, where God promised to make them a great nation. Over 400 years, Israel became a nation of people.
Watch the Teaching: Joseph as a Type of Christ: The Hidden Prophecy in Genesis 37-46