We all know the history of Moses freeing the Jews from Pharaoh’s evil enslavement. But did you ever wonder how they came to be slaves in the first place? Genesis 47 catalogs the spiral the Jews experienced during the seven years of famine of which Joseph (not Mary’s husband, Joseph of the coat-of-many colors fame) first dreamt. To buy food, they initially used their money. After their money was gone, they traded their livestock. When that too belonged to the Pharaoh, they traded the only thing they had left, themselves. So, is it true Joseph is responsible for the enslavement of the Jews?
Conclusion; True! Verse 25 captures their hope that it would be a benevolent trade “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” In Exodus 1 we learn of a new king, “to whom Joseph meant nothing” (in his defense, it had been three hundred years!) coming to power. Out of fear of the now swollen population of Jews, “They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.” So, thank Joseph yes, but not strictly for centuries of enslavement, but for keeping the chosen people alive so as to deliver to us the line leading to David and his supreme descendant, Jesus.