The story of Joseph is one of the most remarkable accounts of faith and hope in the Old Testament, illustrating a journey that spans from the innocence of childhood to the heights of political power in Egypt. Joseph was favored among his 11 brothers and one sister, a favor symbolized by the richly ornamented "coat of many colors" his father gave him (Genesis 37:3). At a young age, Joseph began having dreams that indicated a future where he would rise to a position of leadership, even over his own family (Genesis 37:5). This dream enraged his family because they misunderstood its purpose. Eventually, it would become the beacon of hope that guided Joseph through years of trial and adversity.

Joseph's dreams told him he would be in a position of leadership, but that did not come easy nor in the way that he surely envisioned. One day Joseph was sent to check on his brothers in the field, where they had been plotting to kill him out of jealousy, due to the favoritism he was shown and his dreams which showed him as their ruler. Eventually they decided to throw him into a cistern. Instead of leaving him to die however, they sold him to a group of Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt (Genesis 37:18-28). They then deceived their father, Jacob, into thinking Joseph had been killed by a wild animal by showing him Joseph’s blood-stained coat. 

Joseph’s life seemed to spiral into despair, yet his hope in God never wavered. Though a slave, Joseph quickly rose in Potiphar’s household due to his integrity and God’s blessing. Even as he was unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned (Genesis 39:20), Joseph trusted that God was still with him. It shaped Joseph’s actions and character, allowing him to rise to a place of prominence even while suffering. Scripture tells us, "The Lord was with Joseph, and he became a successful man" (Genesis 39:2), underscoring that Joseph’s hope was deeply rooted in God’s presence and person, not his current circumstances or compulsion.

Eventually, Joseph’s hope was rewarded when he was brought out of the prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dream (Genesis 41:14-16). Joseph’s faithfulness in holding onto the vision God had given him resulted in his rise to the second-most powerful position in Egypt, becoming Pharaoh’s right hand. When famine struck the land, Joseph, in an extraordinary act of grace and forgiveness, accepted and provided for his brothers—the very ones who had betrayed him. His story culminates in a poignant declaration of hope: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph’s life demonstrates that hope in God transcends the darkest of circumstances and brings about restoration and redemption.

While Joseph's journey was filled with unexpected twists, betrayals - even by his own family, and deep suffering, his story reminds us that even when life doesn't go according to our plans, God is still at work, weaving together a greater purpose. Joseph’s rise from the pit to the palace wasn’t the result of his own strategy or timing, but a reflection of God’s divine plan unfolding through every hardship. It did not happen overnight either! Joseph maintained hope in the promises from God for 13 years before they were realized. Each seeming setback was there to put Joseph in the right place at the right time. This truth gives us hope in our own trials—knowing that no matter how bleak our situation may seem, God is in charge, and His plans for us are always for good. Just as He turned Joseph’s pain into a platform for saving many lives, God can use our struggles to shape a future far beyond what we can imagine. Trusting in His perfect timing allows us to hold onto hope, even when the path seems uncertain.