Joseph from Genesis
Joseph from Genesis was good, but he got handed some bad things in life.
His Israelite half-brothers, jealous of their father's love for his favorite son Joseph, threw Joseph into a pit to kill him, then changed their minds and sold him into slavery to foreigners bound for Egypt. He was 17. Betrayal by your own family, your own brothers, plus slavery in a foreign country is a rough start.
It got worse. He was sold to a guy called Potiphar where he served faithfully and brought success to Potiphar's household. Potiphar's wife found Joseph attractive, and continually tried to persuade him to sleep with her. Joseph behaved himself. He did not give in to it. Yet Potiphar's wife falsely accused him of trying to rape her, and he went to prison.
But the Bible tells us God was with Joseph. God had a plan. We learn that God sent Joseph to Egypt to save lives.
Pharaoh had a disturbing dream about skinny grain swallowing up fat grain and skinny cows swallowing up fat cows. It was a dream from God, and God gave the interpretation to Joseph, who was brought out of prison. Joseph explained to Pharaoh there would be seven years of plentiful crops followed by seven years of famine, and suggested storing up food in the plentiful years to avoid starving in the famine. Joseph was subsequently put in charge of all Egypt under Pharaoh.
His brothers were affected by the famine. When they were hungry in their country, they travelled to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized them but they didn't recognize him, and he spoke with them through an interpreter.
Joseph decided to test his brothers to see if they had changed. They told them that next time they come to buy food, they have to bring their youngest brother back (the brother, Benjamin, that was also from Rachel before she died, his father's favorite of his four wives, like he was).
So they brought Benjamin on their next journey to Egypt. Joseph had his servants hide his silver cup in Benjamin's sack before they left. His soldiers chased them down and accused them of being thieves. Joseph said whoever is found with the cup would stay to be his servant. When the cup was found in Benjamin's sack, his half-brother Judah offered himself instead of Benjamin, as they had witnessed their father's great grief already over losing Joseph (they had led their father to believe Joseph had been killed by wild animals).
Joseph forgave his brothers. He provided for them and brought them to Egypt so they could have food during the famine.
It's just so rare to find someone who does the right thing in the face of temptation, who is honest, fair, good, true, a person of character. He still suffered for doing what was right, and he forgave the ones who caused him his suffering.
This true story from history can be found in Genesis 37-47. It's worth reading.
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