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Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way
Betrayal. Slavery. Power. Redemption.
We think we know the story of Joseph—the young man sold into slavery by his own brothers before rising to immense power over all of Egypt. But is it possible that we've missed the real story behind the story?
In Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors, Voddie Baucham Jr. helps us to understand the crucial role that the story of Joseph plays in redemptive history. Engaging and thoughtful, this book will help you read the Bible from a Christ-centered perspective and revitalize your love for God—the true hero of history.
We think we know the story of Joseph—the young man sold into slavery by his own brothers before rising to immense power over all of Egypt. But is it possible that we've missed the real story behind the story?
In Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors, Voddie Baucham Jr. helps us to understand the crucial role that the story of Joseph plays in redemptive history. Engaging and thoughtful, this book will help you read the Bible from a Christ-centered perspective and revitalize your love for God—the true hero of history.
ebook
First published October 1, 2013
104 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Voddie T. Baucham Jr.
29 books777 followersVoddie Baucham wears many hats. He is a husband, father, pastor, author, professor, conference speaker and church planter. He currently serves as Pastor of Preaching at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, TX. He has served as an adjunct professor at the College of Biblical Studies in Houston, TX, and Union University in Jackson, TN. He has also lectured at Southern Seminary.
Voddie makes the Bible clear and demonstrates the relevance of God’s word to everyday life. However, he does so without compromising the centrality of Christ and the gospel. Those who hear him preach find themselves both challenged and encouraged.
Voddie’s area of emphasis is Cultural Apologetics. Whether teaching on classical apologetic issues like the validity and historicity of the Bible, or the resurrection of Christ; or teaching on biblical manhood/ womanhood, marriage and family, he helps ordinary people understand the significance of thinking and living biblically in every area of life.
It is impossible to understand Voddie’s approach to the Bible without first understanding the path he has walked. Raised in a non-Christian, single-parent home, Voddie did not hear the gospel until he was in college. His journey to faith was a very unusual and intellectual one. Consequently, he understands what it means to be a skeptic, and knows what it’s like to try to figure out the Christian life without relying on the traditions of men. As a result, he speaks to ‘outsiders’ in ways few Bible teachers can.
Voddie Baucham holds degrees from Houston Baptist University (BA in Christianity/BA in Sociology), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min.), an honorary degree from Southern California Seminary (D.D.), and additional post-graduate study at the University of Oxford, England (Regent’s Park College).
Voddie and his wife, Bridget have been married since 1989. They have six children, Jasmine L. Holmes, Trey (Voddie, III), Elijah, Asher, Judah, and Micah. They are committed home educators.
Voddie makes the Bible clear and demonstrates the relevance of God’s word to everyday life. However, he does so without compromising the centrality of Christ and the gospel. Those who hear him preach find themselves both challenged and encouraged.
Voddie’s area of emphasis is Cultural Apologetics. Whether teaching on classical apologetic issues like the validity and historicity of the Bible, or the resurrection of Christ; or teaching on biblical manhood/ womanhood, marriage and family, he helps ordinary people understand the significance of thinking and living biblically in every area of life.
It is impossible to understand Voddie’s approach to the Bible without first understanding the path he has walked. Raised in a non-Christian, single-parent home, Voddie did not hear the gospel until he was in college. His journey to faith was a very unusual and intellectual one. Consequently, he understands what it means to be a skeptic, and knows what it’s like to try to figure out the Christian life without relying on the traditions of men. As a result, he speaks to ‘outsiders’ in ways few Bible teachers can.
Voddie Baucham holds degrees from Houston Baptist University (BA in Christianity/BA in Sociology), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min.), an honorary degree from Southern California Seminary (D.D.), and additional post-graduate study at the University of Oxford, England (Regent’s Park College).
Voddie and his wife, Bridget have been married since 1989. They have six children, Jasmine L. Holmes, Trey (Voddie, III), Elijah, Asher, Judah, and Micah. They are committed home educators.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 3, 2023
I have translated, studied, podcasted, and preached on the Joseph narrative over the years, but there is always more to learn. And learn more I did in this excellent, accessible book. I especially like how Baucham showed us how Joseph was serving the greater purpose of God’s use of Judah. It is far too easy (and misguided) to think the Joseph story is about Joseph; it is not. He is a significant character, but is part of the greater salvation narrative. If you are looking for a readable, theological, non-moralistic book on Joseph that helps to put this narrative into the plan of salvation in Jesus, you will certainly enjoy this one.
December 10, 2013
Honestly, what took me so long?!? I was so excited when I got the new book, Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors, by Voddie Baucham in October. I love Baucham as a speaker and a writer and the topic of reading the Old Testament from a distinctly Christian perspective has been persistently exciting and intriguing to me, but I still somehow allowed myself to let this work drift to the back of my mind and then almost slip into the dreaded abyss of my To-Be-Read list, a virtual Bermuda Triangle of good books and good intentions. Thank God that it did not.
Literally, “Thank God” that it did not! This book deserves a wide audience and I enjoyed it immensely.
First, Baucham is a brilliant writer. He is humorous and bright, and the manner in which he lays out information--organized, clearly presented, points building upon previous points—really speaks to me. This is not a long book at all and, especially in the hands of Baucham, 170 pages fly by.
But, more importantly for me, this is a subject worth investigating. If there is a character or story in the Old Testament that gets more of an Aesop’s Fables/Veggietales treatment from the pulpit and Sunday School lectern than Joseph and his technicolored bed-jacket I would be surprised. When we really begin to trust the words of Christ, that Moses wrote about Him(John 5:46 ) and all of the Old Testament is about Him(Luke 24 ) we begin to look at the Old Testament in quite a different manner. We guard against preaching a sermon or sharing a devotion or leading a small group where an unconverted Jew could praise and enjoy how we handled the Old Testament text, like the situation Voddie experienced. We are wary of reading these narratives through the lenses of “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” and instead seek to read them as pointing to the person and work of Jesus Christ, the full revelation of God.
But maybe you’re like me. Maybe this process and this perspective is relatively foreign to you and the idea of seeing Christ in the Old Testament, apart from prophecies, types and Christophanies, is a bit complex, confusing, and some other “C”-word that says basically the same thing and completes my tri-alliteration. Maybe you just have a hard time reading the text and not just grabbing the “low-hanging fruit” of Aesop-like morals that are right before your face. If any of that resonates at all with you, then this book will be a great blessing.
Baucham, beyond just explaining the need for a Christ-centered hermeneutic to read the Old Testament, actually demonstrates it with the brilliant story of Joseph. He takes the reader through the entire narrative, showing just how the story, the characters, the setting, everything points to Christ. He uses the New Testament references to the Joseph narratives and the fact that Christ said that the Old Testament was about Him, to tell this old, old story in a way that is, sadly, quite new for most of us. Baucham leads the reader to see the story about Joseph in the Genesis framework of “land, seed, covenant” and as a continuation of the story of Jacob that culminates in, not the restoration of Joseph but, the emergence of Judah, with an eye always looking for the Christ makes this a story worth retelling again and again.
I have always enjoyed the story of Joseph. I enjoy it even more now that I can see clearly that it is, and how it is, about Christ.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review.
Literally, “Thank God” that it did not! This book deserves a wide audience and I enjoyed it immensely.
First, Baucham is a brilliant writer. He is humorous and bright, and the manner in which he lays out information--organized, clearly presented, points building upon previous points—really speaks to me. This is not a long book at all and, especially in the hands of Baucham, 170 pages fly by.
But, more importantly for me, this is a subject worth investigating. If there is a character or story in the Old Testament that gets more of an Aesop’s Fables/Veggietales treatment from the pulpit and Sunday School lectern than Joseph and his technicolored bed-jacket I would be surprised. When we really begin to trust the words of Christ, that Moses wrote about Him(John 5:46 ) and all of the Old Testament is about Him(Luke 24 ) we begin to look at the Old Testament in quite a different manner. We guard against preaching a sermon or sharing a devotion or leading a small group where an unconverted Jew could praise and enjoy how we handled the Old Testament text, like the situation Voddie experienced. We are wary of reading these narratives through the lenses of “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” and instead seek to read them as pointing to the person and work of Jesus Christ, the full revelation of God.
We look at the world through a lens that is calibrated for legalism. We see something sinful or unjust, and we know immediately that (1) that is wrong, and (2) what ought to be done instead. This is not wrong, per se; it’s just not enough. Sure, Joseph’s brothers were wrong to be filled with such hatred toward him. That’s a no-brainer. However, did we need the story of Joseph to show us that? Certainly there’s another point to be made.
But maybe you’re like me. Maybe this process and this perspective is relatively foreign to you and the idea of seeing Christ in the Old Testament, apart from prophecies, types and Christophanies, is a bit complex, confusing, and some other “C”-word that says basically the same thing and completes my tri-alliteration. Maybe you just have a hard time reading the text and not just grabbing the “low-hanging fruit” of Aesop-like morals that are right before your face. If any of that resonates at all with you, then this book will be a great blessing.
Baucham, beyond just explaining the need for a Christ-centered hermeneutic to read the Old Testament, actually demonstrates it with the brilliant story of Joseph. He takes the reader through the entire narrative, showing just how the story, the characters, the setting, everything points to Christ. He uses the New Testament references to the Joseph narratives and the fact that Christ said that the Old Testament was about Him, to tell this old, old story in a way that is, sadly, quite new for most of us. Baucham leads the reader to see the story about Joseph in the Genesis framework of “land, seed, covenant” and as a continuation of the story of Jacob that culminates in, not the restoration of Joseph but, the emergence of Judah, with an eye always looking for the Christ makes this a story worth retelling again and again.
I have always enjoyed the story of Joseph. I enjoy it even more now that I can see clearly that it is, and how it is, about Christ.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher to review.
January 19, 2020
“The only character worth exulting in scripture is the character of Christ. Anything we see in the character of another is only praiseworthy to the degree that reflects the character of Christ. The Bible is not a book of character studies; it is a book of redemption.”
“However, the greater echo calling out for the end of Genesis is the echo of Christ, the Messiah, the Promised Seed. We have caught a glimpse of the Savior to come. He is the Lion of Judah! At the close of Genesis, we can almost hear him roar. No longer are we tempted to limit the Joseph narrative to the story of a boy prospering far away from home. Our attention has been drawn far afield. Joseph is a player in a much more significant drama. God redeems Judah so Judah’s son David can be king, and his greater Son, Jesus, can be King of kings, and the Redeemer of God’s elect.”
“Look ahead you the rest of the story of God’s redemption. Read the entire Bible in light of the truths we’ve learned in the story of Joseph. And in every page, look for echoes of the Promised One. He is there. He is always there.”
“However, the greater echo calling out for the end of Genesis is the echo of Christ, the Messiah, the Promised Seed. We have caught a glimpse of the Savior to come. He is the Lion of Judah! At the close of Genesis, we can almost hear him roar. No longer are we tempted to limit the Joseph narrative to the story of a boy prospering far away from home. Our attention has been drawn far afield. Joseph is a player in a much more significant drama. God redeems Judah so Judah’s son David can be king, and his greater Son, Jesus, can be King of kings, and the Redeemer of God’s elect.”
“Look ahead you the rest of the story of God’s redemption. Read the entire Bible in light of the truths we’ve learned in the story of Joseph. And in every page, look for echoes of the Promised One. He is there. He is always there.”
April 10, 2025
An excellent and theologically sound exploration of the story of Joseph. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to explore the story within the story of the Joseph narrative.
June 20, 2015
Short and incisive book on how the history of Joseph is actually about Jesus. May upend your reading of all the Bible.
September 10, 2017
Very easy read, but not simplistic. Loved it!
October 16, 2013
Voddie Baucham's book, Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way, is easily the best, and most accessible, redemptive-historical commentary on the story of Joseph that I have ever read. The book itself is definitely a break from the previous books that Baucham has written (The Ever-Loving Truth, Family Driven Faith, and Family Shepherds), but it is still filled with the typical depth and sense of humor that we have come to expect from Baucham. The book was actually born out of a combination of a decision by Baucham's church leadership to preach through Genesis and Baucham's decision to teach through the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) in his family worship time. What follows is not a technical or scholarly look at the life of Joseph where Baucham delves thoroughly into the original languages, nor is it a book where Voddie has read a ton of different commentaries and compiled the best thoughts of other writers on paper, nor is it a compilation of sermons that Voddie preached. Also, this is not a book that looks at the story of Joseph through moralistic "eyes" where we are given a bunch of "Be like him", "Don't treat your family like Joseph's brothers treated him", "God will eventually reward you for your mistreatment if you just remain faithful and have a positive attitude", etc. Lets be honest, that is the way that most preachers preach through the life of Genesis, so that is the way that most of us are geared towards reading it. Rather, this is a book that looks at the story of Joseph from a redemptive-historical perspective, where the main focus is on how Joseph fits into the story of redemption through the preservation of the Promised Seed (Genesis 3:15). According to Voddie, the goal of this book "...was not to find Christ behind every rock. It was, however, to be mindful of the gospel at every turn. The only character worth exalting in Scripture is the character of Christ. Anything we see in the character of another is only praiseworthy to the degree that it reflects the character of Christ. The Bible is not a book of character studies; it is a book of redemption. Therefore, reading and interpreting the life of Joseph, if done right, will exalt God's redemptive work. It is my sincere hope that this is precisely what this book does."
Honestly, one of the main problems that authors deal with when they try to write from a redemptive-historical method is the fact that they over-allegorize, and quickly lose their readers because they are trying to find a picture of Christ in every nook and cranny in the Bible. Now, he does confess that early on in his ministry he made the mistake of moralizing much of the OT and repents of that mindset, but the problem could occur that he could go from one end of the spectrum, moralizing, to the opposite end of the spectrum, over-allegorize, but this book is a good example of writing from a biblical redemptive-historical perspective. It honors Christ without minimizing the wide-ranging problems that Joseph legitimately faced in his life.
The first chapter of the book is devoted to why readers should not over-moralize the story of Joseph and should view it through the interpretive key, which is Jesus. Voddie doesn't give a thorough analysis on why the redemptive-historical method is the best practice when reading the Bible, but he does provide enough evidence to show that it is the most Biblically sound method, and one that Christ Himself taught (see John 5:46, John 1:45; Luke 24:25-27). Also, I agree with Voddie that adopting this method doesn't mean that morality is irrelevant. If you claim that you are a believer in the redemptive-historical approach to Scripture, then you sometimes get accused of being "soft on sin" because people don't see you pushing people to action or obedience, "but instead calls upon them to simply rest in Christ's redemptive work." And the second thing we get accused of, and one that I touched on briefly above and that Voddie disagrees with, is that we strive to find Jesus in every verse. Voddie's desire is to read Joseph's story and understand it in it's immediate context before even beginning to put it in its broader, redemptive-historical context. Once you understand the immediate context, then you can move on to meditating on the story of Joseph in light of Christ. One of the best points that Voddie makes in the first chapter is encouraging his readers to see what the New Testament said about the story of Joseph so that we can gain a better understanding of how we should look at it. The last few paragraphs of Chapter 1 really set the tone for the rest of the book:
"'By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones' (Heb. 11:22). That's it. That's how the author of Hebrews views the crux of the Joseph narrative. Not a word about all the things we make such a big deal of in our efforts to apply the text. For the author of Hebrews, Joseph's story is about faith - a faith that allowed him to look beyond Egypt to the exodus. The good news in the story of Joseph is not that he went 'from the pit to the palace'. If it were, then the palace would be the end of the story. As it stands, the palace only gets us halfway. The palace is good news in the temporal sense, but no more. If we were merely a temporal people, that would be enough. But we are more than that. We were made for eternity. And unless there's something in the story of Joseph that gets us ready for, closer to, or more informed about that, there's no good news at all."
Chapter 2 is a look at the book of Genesis as a whole, and sets the context of what is going on in the life of Joseph. Voddie doesn't mince words when he talks about just how dense of a book that Genesis is and how we are presented with the doctrines of creation, God, man, sin, salvation, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and last things. He provides a great overview of Genesis and keys to its understanding by discussing in detail the 11 different mile markers that Moses provides (referred to as Toledots) and also the progression of redemptive history through "land, seed, and covenant".
The remaining chapters are a chapter-by-chapter commentary on Genesis 37-50. Voddie makes sure to outline how Joseph's story fits into the bigger picture of "land, seed, and covenant" while never shying away from the tough questions a person must ask of the text. I am tempted to post more quotes from Voddie, but the fact is that you truly need to read this book for yourself. I felt like Voddie's book was such an easy read, but one that rightly divides the Word of Truth as it pertains to the story of Joseph. This book is along the lines of Tim Keller's "God's Word For You" commentary series that currently includes Galatians and Judges (both of which I highly recommend). To put it succinctly, get this book and read it, and then re-read it again to make sure you didn't miss anything.
Title: Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way
Author: Voddie Baucham
Publisher: Crossway Publishers (2013)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Crossway Publishers book review bloggers program on NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
Honestly, one of the main problems that authors deal with when they try to write from a redemptive-historical method is the fact that they over-allegorize, and quickly lose their readers because they are trying to find a picture of Christ in every nook and cranny in the Bible. Now, he does confess that early on in his ministry he made the mistake of moralizing much of the OT and repents of that mindset, but the problem could occur that he could go from one end of the spectrum, moralizing, to the opposite end of the spectrum, over-allegorize, but this book is a good example of writing from a biblical redemptive-historical perspective. It honors Christ without minimizing the wide-ranging problems that Joseph legitimately faced in his life.
The first chapter of the book is devoted to why readers should not over-moralize the story of Joseph and should view it through the interpretive key, which is Jesus. Voddie doesn't give a thorough analysis on why the redemptive-historical method is the best practice when reading the Bible, but he does provide enough evidence to show that it is the most Biblically sound method, and one that Christ Himself taught (see John 5:46, John 1:45; Luke 24:25-27). Also, I agree with Voddie that adopting this method doesn't mean that morality is irrelevant. If you claim that you are a believer in the redemptive-historical approach to Scripture, then you sometimes get accused of being "soft on sin" because people don't see you pushing people to action or obedience, "but instead calls upon them to simply rest in Christ's redemptive work." And the second thing we get accused of, and one that I touched on briefly above and that Voddie disagrees with, is that we strive to find Jesus in every verse. Voddie's desire is to read Joseph's story and understand it in it's immediate context before even beginning to put it in its broader, redemptive-historical context. Once you understand the immediate context, then you can move on to meditating on the story of Joseph in light of Christ. One of the best points that Voddie makes in the first chapter is encouraging his readers to see what the New Testament said about the story of Joseph so that we can gain a better understanding of how we should look at it. The last few paragraphs of Chapter 1 really set the tone for the rest of the book:
"'By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones' (Heb. 11:22). That's it. That's how the author of Hebrews views the crux of the Joseph narrative. Not a word about all the things we make such a big deal of in our efforts to apply the text. For the author of Hebrews, Joseph's story is about faith - a faith that allowed him to look beyond Egypt to the exodus. The good news in the story of Joseph is not that he went 'from the pit to the palace'. If it were, then the palace would be the end of the story. As it stands, the palace only gets us halfway. The palace is good news in the temporal sense, but no more. If we were merely a temporal people, that would be enough. But we are more than that. We were made for eternity. And unless there's something in the story of Joseph that gets us ready for, closer to, or more informed about that, there's no good news at all."
Chapter 2 is a look at the book of Genesis as a whole, and sets the context of what is going on in the life of Joseph. Voddie doesn't mince words when he talks about just how dense of a book that Genesis is and how we are presented with the doctrines of creation, God, man, sin, salvation, Christ, the Holy Spirit, and last things. He provides a great overview of Genesis and keys to its understanding by discussing in detail the 11 different mile markers that Moses provides (referred to as Toledots) and also the progression of redemptive history through "land, seed, and covenant".
The remaining chapters are a chapter-by-chapter commentary on Genesis 37-50. Voddie makes sure to outline how Joseph's story fits into the bigger picture of "land, seed, and covenant" while never shying away from the tough questions a person must ask of the text. I am tempted to post more quotes from Voddie, but the fact is that you truly need to read this book for yourself. I felt like Voddie's book was such an easy read, but one that rightly divides the Word of Truth as it pertains to the story of Joseph. This book is along the lines of Tim Keller's "God's Word For You" commentary series that currently includes Galatians and Judges (both of which I highly recommend). To put it succinctly, get this book and read it, and then re-read it again to make sure you didn't miss anything.
Title: Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way
Author: Voddie Baucham
Publisher: Crossway Publishers (2013)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Crossway Publishers book review bloggers program on NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
November 3, 2022
I decided to prepare and deliver a series of messages on the Bible character, Joseph. I believed that this would be a simple task. The easiest, and what seemed to be the most obvious way to prepare was to view Joseph and his life through the lens of staying faithful in hard times, and God will bless you.
There is nothing wrong with approaching the story of Joseph and the text in this manner. I've known many renowned pastors/preachers who have handled the text this way. But unfortunately, this method left me with a sense of unease.
Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism is a counseling term referring to teaching that focuses on doing. We teach/preach to people to act in a moral/ethical way that centers on how an individual looks externally, disregarding how the person is inward.
The way that I prepared for these messages focused on the externals, not the internals. Most of the books I used in preparation approached the text similarly. Finally, in frustration, I was ready to scrap the series.
Then I came across Voddie Baucham's book, Joseph and the Many Colored Gospel. This book approached the life of Joseph from the viewpoint of being instead of doing. The book focused on Joseph being a follower of God, which then determined how he lived his life for God.
Baucham continually draws out the gospel found in the New Testament while writing about this Old Testament character.
I rarely recommend Christian books. They are usually vapid and superficial. This book is the exception. I was not disappointed in this book and did not regret the purchase.
There is nothing wrong with approaching the story of Joseph and the text in this manner. I've known many renowned pastors/preachers who have handled the text this way. But unfortunately, this method left me with a sense of unease.
Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism is a counseling term referring to teaching that focuses on doing. We teach/preach to people to act in a moral/ethical way that centers on how an individual looks externally, disregarding how the person is inward.
The way that I prepared for these messages focused on the externals, not the internals. Most of the books I used in preparation approached the text similarly. Finally, in frustration, I was ready to scrap the series.
Then I came across Voddie Baucham's book, Joseph and the Many Colored Gospel. This book approached the life of Joseph from the viewpoint of being instead of doing. The book focused on Joseph being a follower of God, which then determined how he lived his life for God.
Baucham continually draws out the gospel found in the New Testament while writing about this Old Testament character.
I rarely recommend Christian books. They are usually vapid and superficial. This book is the exception. I was not disappointed in this book and did not regret the purchase.
April 16, 2025
What a great book! I would give this book to anyone wanting to learn about the book of Genesis and the Joseph narrative. Baucham rightly shows how this story isn't ultimately about Joseph, but instead points forward to Jesus. Anyone reading this will takeaway at least 3 things...
1. Voddie wants you to be grounded in the text! Every section starts with the passage he is commentating on / writing about.
2. Voddie has clear and appropriate application. Unlike many books on OT figures, his application isn't just moralistic. He interprets with a covenantal / redemptive historical hermeneutic.
3. Finally, Voddie wants the reader to know how to read and understand the Bible. While brief, he shows how this story fits into the entire story of Scripture.
1. Voddie wants you to be grounded in the text! Every section starts with the passage he is commentating on / writing about.
2. Voddie has clear and appropriate application. Unlike many books on OT figures, his application isn't just moralistic. He interprets with a covenantal / redemptive historical hermeneutic.
3. Finally, Voddie wants the reader to know how to read and understand the Bible. While brief, he shows how this story fits into the entire story of Scripture.
August 2, 2023
First Voddie Baucham book I have read, after hearing messages from him online in different capacities. Really appreciate his straightforward and clear writing style, and this work highlights the clear gospel themes throughout the Genesis account of Joseph. Love seeing the typology and future-looking details!
July 6, 2021
I started this book while reading Genesis. This book gave so much more meaning and understanding to the story of Joseph. Reminded me to always keep Christ in mind as i read the Bible. Highly recommend
February 7, 2021
I absolutely loved this book. This book really challenged me to think differently about the story of Joseph. I learned a lot and will definitely come back to this book over and over.
November 5, 2019
O melhor livro que li em 2019. Leitura fácil, porém profunda, envolvente, em que somos levados cena por cena da narrativa de José sob um ângulo totalmente focado na redenção. Incrível. Aplicações profundas e transformadoras. Que livro!!
July 10, 2014
Although the first chapter of the book was quite dry, thankfully, I kept reading. This was a great book that looked at the story of Joseph in a way that I had never thought of before and it really brought the story to life in a new and profound way.
November 12, 2013
Joseph: And the Gospel of Many Colors is not a full-fledged commentary on the account of Joseph, nor was it meant to be. It is more of an overview of the life of Joseph using a Christo-centric perspective. I wanted to read this book partly because I thought that perhaps I was misunderstanding what people mean by "Christo-centric" as a hermeneutic. Some of Baucham's explanations, such as the following, encouraged me in that regard: "This does not mean that we find Jesus in every verse. Another objection to the redemptive-historical approach to the Old Testament narrative is that it inevitably leads to allegorizing the text. Suddenly, every part of the story refers to an aspect of Christ. The pit can't just be a pit; it has to be a type of grave. The prison can't just be a prison; it has to be a type of hell. And, of course, coming out of prison and going before Pharaoh must be a type of resurrection. The possibilities are endless and the dangers, myriad."
But it turns out that I was wrong and hadn't misunderstand what "Christocentric" seemed to be implying. Perhaps I still don't completely understand the argument, but I disagree with the results of the hermeneutic. Despite what the author says in the above excerpt, he goes on to call Joseph's brother Judah "the forerunner of Christ", not simply genetically, but because of some of his actions: Judah obeyed his father and offers himself as substitute prisoner of the Egyptian in the stead of his brother Benjamin, "Once more there are echoes of his greater son, Jesus: 'Greater love has not one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends'(John 15:13)'…" Where does God in His word ever make such a connection? God was certainly gracious to Judah in making him the genetic forefather of the Messiah but I don't see where he was ever said to be the forerunner of Christ by his actions.
�My disappointment started at the beginning of the book, this excerpt being a large part of my discouragement: ".…..Everything we've observed about the Joseph narrative is true. And anyone teaching the story in a manner commensurate with the brief outline I've just given would be showing faithfulness to the text. Joseph was faithful. His brothers were sinful. He was rewarded with position, power, and prominence. All true! However, let me ask you a question. What separates the telling of the story from any other moral tale? More importantly, where is the good news? ……Also, do you notice the materialistic bent? Joseph was faithful to his father and he got sold into slavery. He was faithful to his master and he got sent to prison. He was faithful in the prison and he got promoted to second-in-command to Pharaoh, himself. There you have it: faithfulness = material wealth, success, notoriety, etc. How is that different from a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or plain old secular, irreligious tale? How is it distinct from Aesop's Fables? Because it mentions God as the source of the success? IS that all? There must be something more!" Why? Someone can preach the account of Joseph's life without making God's material rewards for him a standard for all Christians. And God certainly is the source of Joseph's success. What would be wrong with simply preaching the providence of God in Joseph's life in particular and acknowledging that God graciously used him to save the nation of Israel from whence the Messiah would come? Is it no different from a fable if we don't see Judah as a forerunner of Christ by his actions? If we don't see, or speak of, the tests Joseph made of his brothers as being similar to the 'tests' of 1st John, does this mean that we are misinterpreting the text? Baucham himself mentions "Of course, the tests in Genesis 42 do not include the person and work of Christ, and right belief therein. However, the similarities are clear. The apostle John encourages us throughout his letter to examine ourselves for evidence that our faith in Christ has produced fruit similar to that being tested in Genesis 42."
The author explains that he used to preach verse-by-verse, expository messages, that he was "steeped in an expository tradition that was so concerned with the 'grammatical-historical' exegesis of texts that it became 'atomistic' in its execution….If the text was about practical matters, I did not want to 'spiritualize' it and make it about something else…" He recounts that his change came when he spoke on an Old Testament passage and a Jewish woman heard it and rather than being offended at the message, complemented him on it. Baucham was appalled that his message was not a stumbling block to the Jewess(1 Cor. 1:23-24), "was it because she was 'being saved'? No. It was because I had not preached Christ!" I don't see that the passage means that a pastor is not preaching correctly if he is not offensive to unbelievers in every text he preaches upon. I'm pretty sure that if the Jewess had started attending every service at the church Pastor Baucham is pastor of, she would have been extremely offended sooner or later.
The Christocentric hermeneutic seems forced, not natural. In the book it is mentioned that the author of Hebrews spoke of Joseph, "'By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones" (Heb. 11:22). That's it. That's how the author of Hebrews views the crux of the Joseph narrative. Not a word about all the things we make such a big deal of in our efforts to apply the text. For the author of Hebrews, Joseph's story is about faith - a faith that allowed him to look beyond Egypt to the Exodus." Where was the author of Hebrew's Christocentric Hermeneutic there? If faith was the crux of the Joseph narrative then why did Baucham seem to imply that the crux of the narrative was Christ?
"We were made for eternity. And unless there's something in the story of Joseph that gets us ready for, closer to, or more informed about that, there's no good news at all." But isn't God's providential control good news? Isn't "
Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work."(2Ti 3:16-17 ASV) Why doesn't Paul say that "every Scripture that is Christocentrically interpreted is profitable…"? I have never understood that when Christ said that 'Moses wrote of me" he meant that everything Moses wrote was about Christ, rather it was that Moses wrote of Him. When on the Emmaus road Christ "interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." I have always taken it to mean that He explained all of the prophetic texts that are found in the Scriptures.
I am very sorry to be so negative. There were good things in the book, and Baucham didn't find Christ in every text, He did see the providence of God. But some of his interpretations were odd and his explanation of Christocentric was not Biblically convincing. I simply don't see that using a literal/grammaitical/historical hermeneutic turns historical narratives of the Bible into fables.
I'll end on a positive note with my favorite quote from the book: "If we refuse to forgive, we have stepped into dangerous waters. First, refusing to forgive is to put ourselves in the place of God, as though vengeance were our prerogative, not his. Second, unforgiveness says God's wrath is insufficient. For the unbeliever, we are saying that an eternity in hell is not enough, they need our slap in the face or cold shoulder to "even the scales" of justice. For the believer, we are saying that Christ's humiliation and death are not enough. In other words, we shake our fists at God and say, "Your standards may have been satisfied, but my standard is higher!" Finally, refusing to forgive is the highest form of arrogance. Here we stand forgiven. And as we bask in the forgiveness of a perfectly holy and righteous God, we turn to our brother and say, "My sins are forgivable, but yours are not." In other words, we act as though the sins of others are too significant to forgive while simultaneously believing that ours are not significant enough to matter."
Many thanks to Good News Publishers / Crossway Books and Bibles for sending me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable).
But it turns out that I was wrong and hadn't misunderstand what "Christocentric" seemed to be implying. Perhaps I still don't completely understand the argument, but I disagree with the results of the hermeneutic. Despite what the author says in the above excerpt, he goes on to call Joseph's brother Judah "the forerunner of Christ", not simply genetically, but because of some of his actions: Judah obeyed his father and offers himself as substitute prisoner of the Egyptian in the stead of his brother Benjamin, "Once more there are echoes of his greater son, Jesus: 'Greater love has not one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends'(John 15:13)'…" Where does God in His word ever make such a connection? God was certainly gracious to Judah in making him the genetic forefather of the Messiah but I don't see where he was ever said to be the forerunner of Christ by his actions.
�My disappointment started at the beginning of the book, this excerpt being a large part of my discouragement: ".…..Everything we've observed about the Joseph narrative is true. And anyone teaching the story in a manner commensurate with the brief outline I've just given would be showing faithfulness to the text. Joseph was faithful. His brothers were sinful. He was rewarded with position, power, and prominence. All true! However, let me ask you a question. What separates the telling of the story from any other moral tale? More importantly, where is the good news? ……Also, do you notice the materialistic bent? Joseph was faithful to his father and he got sold into slavery. He was faithful to his master and he got sent to prison. He was faithful in the prison and he got promoted to second-in-command to Pharaoh, himself. There you have it: faithfulness = material wealth, success, notoriety, etc. How is that different from a Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or plain old secular, irreligious tale? How is it distinct from Aesop's Fables? Because it mentions God as the source of the success? IS that all? There must be something more!" Why? Someone can preach the account of Joseph's life without making God's material rewards for him a standard for all Christians. And God certainly is the source of Joseph's success. What would be wrong with simply preaching the providence of God in Joseph's life in particular and acknowledging that God graciously used him to save the nation of Israel from whence the Messiah would come? Is it no different from a fable if we don't see Judah as a forerunner of Christ by his actions? If we don't see, or speak of, the tests Joseph made of his brothers as being similar to the 'tests' of 1st John, does this mean that we are misinterpreting the text? Baucham himself mentions "Of course, the tests in Genesis 42 do not include the person and work of Christ, and right belief therein. However, the similarities are clear. The apostle John encourages us throughout his letter to examine ourselves for evidence that our faith in Christ has produced fruit similar to that being tested in Genesis 42."
The author explains that he used to preach verse-by-verse, expository messages, that he was "steeped in an expository tradition that was so concerned with the 'grammatical-historical' exegesis of texts that it became 'atomistic' in its execution….If the text was about practical matters, I did not want to 'spiritualize' it and make it about something else…" He recounts that his change came when he spoke on an Old Testament passage and a Jewish woman heard it and rather than being offended at the message, complemented him on it. Baucham was appalled that his message was not a stumbling block to the Jewess(1 Cor. 1:23-24), "was it because she was 'being saved'? No. It was because I had not preached Christ!" I don't see that the passage means that a pastor is not preaching correctly if he is not offensive to unbelievers in every text he preaches upon. I'm pretty sure that if the Jewess had started attending every service at the church Pastor Baucham is pastor of, she would have been extremely offended sooner or later.
The Christocentric hermeneutic seems forced, not natural. In the book it is mentioned that the author of Hebrews spoke of Joseph, "'By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones" (Heb. 11:22). That's it. That's how the author of Hebrews views the crux of the Joseph narrative. Not a word about all the things we make such a big deal of in our efforts to apply the text. For the author of Hebrews, Joseph's story is about faith - a faith that allowed him to look beyond Egypt to the Exodus." Where was the author of Hebrew's Christocentric Hermeneutic there? If faith was the crux of the Joseph narrative then why did Baucham seem to imply that the crux of the narrative was Christ?
"We were made for eternity. And unless there's something in the story of Joseph that gets us ready for, closer to, or more informed about that, there's no good news at all." But isn't God's providential control good news? Isn't "
Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work."(2Ti 3:16-17 ASV) Why doesn't Paul say that "every Scripture that is Christocentrically interpreted is profitable…"? I have never understood that when Christ said that 'Moses wrote of me" he meant that everything Moses wrote was about Christ, rather it was that Moses wrote of Him. When on the Emmaus road Christ "interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." I have always taken it to mean that He explained all of the prophetic texts that are found in the Scriptures.
I am very sorry to be so negative. There were good things in the book, and Baucham didn't find Christ in every text, He did see the providence of God. But some of his interpretations were odd and his explanation of Christocentric was not Biblically convincing. I simply don't see that using a literal/grammaitical/historical hermeneutic turns historical narratives of the Bible into fables.
I'll end on a positive note with my favorite quote from the book: "If we refuse to forgive, we have stepped into dangerous waters. First, refusing to forgive is to put ourselves in the place of God, as though vengeance were our prerogative, not his. Second, unforgiveness says God's wrath is insufficient. For the unbeliever, we are saying that an eternity in hell is not enough, they need our slap in the face or cold shoulder to "even the scales" of justice. For the believer, we are saying that Christ's humiliation and death are not enough. In other words, we shake our fists at God and say, "Your standards may have been satisfied, but my standard is higher!" Finally, refusing to forgive is the highest form of arrogance. Here we stand forgiven. And as we bask in the forgiveness of a perfectly holy and righteous God, we turn to our brother and say, "My sins are forgivable, but yours are not." In other words, we act as though the sins of others are too significant to forgive while simultaneously believing that ours are not significant enough to matter."
Many thanks to Good News Publishers / Crossway Books and Bibles for sending me a free review copy of this book (My review did not have to be favorable).
April 18, 2019
This book attempts to work on two levels: One as an exegesis of the end of Genesis, the other as an example of a Christological hermeneutic. There are ways that the book both succeeds and fails in both.
One of the positives is that Voddie does a very good job at deconstructing the Moralistic Hermeneutic. He does a good job arguing that the Moralistic Hermeneutic really turns Biblical narrative into nothing more than Aesop’s Fables. He notes that sound preaching must be a “stumbling block to the Jews”, and remarks on how moralistic preaching is not. He also solidly handles texts where Jesus made statements relevant to this discussion (John 5:46 and Luke 24:25-27).
Voddie also does a good job at handling certain aspects of the text. He notices three themes that flow throughout Genesis (Land, Seed, and Covenant) and traces these very well throughout Joseph’s life. He rightly recognizes Judah as a type of Christ in chapter 44, and beautifully exposits the ways in which Judah prefigures Christ. He draws some valid connections between Joseph and the Patriarchs and between entering into Egypt and the Exodus. His explanation of the blessings Jacob pronounces on Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah are profound, and his point about Ephraim and Manasseh - being sons of an Egyptian woman adopted into the Covenant by Jacob - pointing towards the ingrafting of the gentiles and our own adoption as sons is thought provoking (at least enough to cause me to study the point further).
However, on the downside, Voddie doesn’t recognize Joseph as a type of Christ. He fails to recognize that Christ is the favored Son, betrayed by His brothers, stripped of His glorious garment, tossed in a pit (the grave), and imprisoned for the sins of His brothers, only to rise up, forgive His brothers, and use His exalted status to be used by God to save and feed both Jew and Gentile (Egyptian). (As a side note, though this would probably be too much to ask of a popular level book, I would also have been interested to see the parallels between Joseph and Jeremiah explored). Though Voddie does a good job explaining the text otherwise, this is a huge point to miss and does lessen the strength of this book as a test case for Redemptive Historical Preaching.
Furthermore, there are a few applications Voddie makes that I don’t think I’d be willing to make myself. For example, I don’t know how valid of an application it is to say, “Naming children is a gospel opportunity.” I agree with the principle, and will probably keep that in mind when one day naming my children, but I don’t think that’s what this text is intending to teach.
Overall, I do recommend the book, but I do think it falls short in some areas. If Goodreads were to allow partial stars, this would probably be something between 3 and 4. I can’t deny that the treatment does get a lot right. It’s just missing one big piece: Jesus is the Greater Joseph.
One of the positives is that Voddie does a very good job at deconstructing the Moralistic Hermeneutic. He does a good job arguing that the Moralistic Hermeneutic really turns Biblical narrative into nothing more than Aesop’s Fables. He notes that sound preaching must be a “stumbling block to the Jews”, and remarks on how moralistic preaching is not. He also solidly handles texts where Jesus made statements relevant to this discussion (John 5:46 and Luke 24:25-27).
Voddie also does a good job at handling certain aspects of the text. He notices three themes that flow throughout Genesis (Land, Seed, and Covenant) and traces these very well throughout Joseph’s life. He rightly recognizes Judah as a type of Christ in chapter 44, and beautifully exposits the ways in which Judah prefigures Christ. He draws some valid connections between Joseph and the Patriarchs and between entering into Egypt and the Exodus. His explanation of the blessings Jacob pronounces on Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah are profound, and his point about Ephraim and Manasseh - being sons of an Egyptian woman adopted into the Covenant by Jacob - pointing towards the ingrafting of the gentiles and our own adoption as sons is thought provoking (at least enough to cause me to study the point further).
However, on the downside, Voddie doesn’t recognize Joseph as a type of Christ. He fails to recognize that Christ is the favored Son, betrayed by His brothers, stripped of His glorious garment, tossed in a pit (the grave), and imprisoned for the sins of His brothers, only to rise up, forgive His brothers, and use His exalted status to be used by God to save and feed both Jew and Gentile (Egyptian). (As a side note, though this would probably be too much to ask of a popular level book, I would also have been interested to see the parallels between Joseph and Jeremiah explored). Though Voddie does a good job explaining the text otherwise, this is a huge point to miss and does lessen the strength of this book as a test case for Redemptive Historical Preaching.
Furthermore, there are a few applications Voddie makes that I don’t think I’d be willing to make myself. For example, I don’t know how valid of an application it is to say, “Naming children is a gospel opportunity.” I agree with the principle, and will probably keep that in mind when one day naming my children, but I don’t think that’s what this text is intending to teach.
Overall, I do recommend the book, but I do think it falls short in some areas. If Goodreads were to allow partial stars, this would probably be something between 3 and 4. I can’t deny that the treatment does get a lot right. It’s just missing one big piece: Jesus is the Greater Joseph.
October 19, 2022
The story of Joseph is one of the most powerful examples of God's goodness and sovereignty working in harmony for the good of His people. The words of Joseph to his brothers at the end of his life are the same hope of those who go through difficulty and injustice -- "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."
Often the story of Joseph is applied merely as a picture of Jesus and how He saves His people, and the way God works with Judah the chosen line of the Messiah is contrasted like an embarrassing flaw in the story of redemption. Even though Joseph does paint a glorious example of faith, there is more to his story than similarities to Jesus. The story of Joseph and his brothers is actually a story of grace and the gospel.
I loved how the author not only wrote of the spiritual implications of the story of Joseph, but also the cultural and historical significance which gave richer meaning and depths of grace to those implications. Yes, the Old Testament points to Jesus but it's also about real people in real history with real stories of gospel shadows. This is a great book!
Often the story of Joseph is applied merely as a picture of Jesus and how He saves His people, and the way God works with Judah the chosen line of the Messiah is contrasted like an embarrassing flaw in the story of redemption. Even though Joseph does paint a glorious example of faith, there is more to his story than similarities to Jesus. The story of Joseph and his brothers is actually a story of grace and the gospel.
I loved how the author not only wrote of the spiritual implications of the story of Joseph, but also the cultural and historical significance which gave richer meaning and depths of grace to those implications. Yes, the Old Testament points to Jesus but it's also about real people in real history with real stories of gospel shadows. This is a great book!
July 18, 2020
This is a fantastic book covering the life of Joseph. Among his closing remarks, Voddie Baucham sums up his book, "No longer are we tempted to limit the Joseph narrative to the story of a boy prospering far away from home. Our attention has been drawn far afield. Joseph is a player in a much more significant drama. God redeems Judah so Judah's son David can be king, and his greater Son, Jesus, can be King of kings, and the Redeemer of God's elect." Throughout the book, Baucham uses many contrasts such as Joseph and his brothers or Egypt and Israel. He wants the reader to see that this is NOT a story of a person who suffers wrongly and being rewarded for his obedience. It goes much deeper than this. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
December 31, 2019
...look for the echos of the promised one...”
I had no idea what I was getting into when beginning this book. Always a treasure when a book directs us to Jesus. V. Beacheum’s exposition of the Joseph narrative (inGenesis) focuses not on application, but of historical redemptive understanding. How refreshing and encouraging to learn the depth of this passage. This book reads like an exciting commentary of a familiar children’s story. Yet rich in the themes of covenant, land and seed. A great resource for those preaching or teaching in this passage. I’ll be checking out Voddie Baucham’s library for another enriching read.
I had no idea what I was getting into when beginning this book. Always a treasure when a book directs us to Jesus. V. Beacheum’s exposition of the Joseph narrative (inGenesis) focuses not on application, but of historical redemptive understanding. How refreshing and encouraging to learn the depth of this passage. This book reads like an exciting commentary of a familiar children’s story. Yet rich in the themes of covenant, land and seed. A great resource for those preaching or teaching in this passage. I’ll be checking out Voddie Baucham’s library for another enriching read.
February 25, 2023
Excellent❤ Joseph's story is about God's redemption of His people. It isn't about prosperity or God blessing you when you do the right thing.
I love this quote from the book because it describes Joseph's story perfectly, "Proper anthropology will keep us from thinking more of man than we ought. We will not attribute power or authority to men that actually belongs to God. We will also be reminded that man is sinful, fallen and frail. People will fail us, hurt us, disappoint us, and sometimes bless us. However, none of this will happen outside of God's providential plan. Nor will the wicked go unpunished." pg. 127
I love this quote from the book because it describes Joseph's story perfectly, "Proper anthropology will keep us from thinking more of man than we ought. We will not attribute power or authority to men that actually belongs to God. We will also be reminded that man is sinful, fallen and frail. People will fail us, hurt us, disappoint us, and sometimes bless us. However, none of this will happen outside of God's providential plan. Nor will the wicked go unpunished." pg. 127
June 27, 2024
June 26, 2024 * 3 to 3.5 stars
Good overall, but it didn't blow me away, probably because I've been a Christian since I was 12 years old and have studied Genesis in several Bible studies (mostly Bible Study Fellowship and Precept/similar Inductive Bible stories
studies) and heard lots of sermons that approached the story of Joseph pretty much the same way so I felt like I'd already heard that sermon. If it had been full of things I'd never heard before, which is what I expected, I probably would have given it a higher rating.
Good overall, but it didn't blow me away, probably because I've been a Christian since I was 12 years old and have studied Genesis in several Bible studies (mostly Bible Study Fellowship and Precept/similar Inductive Bible stories
studies) and heard lots of sermons that approached the story of Joseph pretty much the same way so I felt like I'd already heard that sermon. If it had been full of things I'd never heard before, which is what I expected, I probably would have given it a higher rating.
May 1, 2025
This is a really great read. I disagree strongly with Baucham's take that Joseph (and Daniel) are characters who are never described as sinning. However, Baucham's overarching, redemptive-historical approach is a great improvement over the traditional treatment of Joseph - that traditional treatment presents Joseph as one long morality tale about sexual purity, faithfulness, stewardship, and forgiveness. Baucham touches on all of those themes - but his broader approach focuses on the gospel. A wonderful read!
June 20, 2018
This book is a highlight of my 2018 reading. I have been spending a significant amount of time trying to hone my skill at teaching from Old Testament narrative, and this book is an excellent tool for both understanding the story of Joseph correctly and for interpreting the Old Testament rightly. A must read!
September 18, 2019
Baucham tries to help his readers understand how OT passages, such as the story of Joseph, are to be understood and interpreted in the light of the NT, in particular with reference to Jesus Christ. Great principles and directions for future studies in the OT, but I expected a bit more from his treatment of the story of Joseph.
May 18, 2022
This was an excellent read. Voddie Baucham Did an Excellent job Of showing the Providence of God, the Act of Forgiveness & God being a God of hope in the story of Joseph. A side note was that I learned a lot about the principles of forgiveness and also the establishment of the tribe of Judah through this book as well. Hey babe
May 20, 2022
There is so much more to the Joseph narrative than we've been taught. It was never about him getting a big payoff after suffering hardships. This book offers so much insight to God's character and his good intentions for us in spite of our falling way short of his standard. A highly recommended read!
May 18, 2024
Great book. I went through this with some men at church. It was a great in depth explanation of the story of Joseph. Voddie does an excellent job at expositing the truths of the texts in Gen 37-50. It’s a helpful read if you want to understand the redemptive nature of God through the Joseph narrative. Highly recommend.
September 16, 2017
Helpful Analysis of Joseph's Life
This is an inter and helpful analysis of the life of Joseph. It goes beyond traditional readings that focus on use the topics of forgiveness and justice and examines how the story fits in God's overarching plan of redemption.
This is an inter and helpful analysis of the life of Joseph. It goes beyond traditional readings that focus on use the topics of forgiveness and justice and examines how the story fits in God's overarching plan of redemption.
October 29, 2017
This is the best teaching on the Jospeh narrative I have ever heard or read. The author carefully works through the text, exploring the biblical theological themes that are there and for us to see. Fantastic!
January 30, 2020
Read this book as part of my daily devotions. Was really interesting to get a more in depth look at one particular story of the Old Testament, especially seeing it in a different light from the classic moral lessons the Joseph story usually comes with.
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