Joseph: From Dreamer to Deliverer

by R.C. Sproul

The life of Joseph is one of the Bible’s most cherished stories. After a beloved son is betrayed by his resentful brothers, he must endure years of slavery, false accusations, and wrongful imprisonment. At every turn, Joseph’s faith is tested, culminating in a pivotal Will he save his brothers in their hour of need? In this dramatic telling, Dr. R.C. Sproul shows how Joseph foreshadows the greater Deliverer, Jesus Christ, and encourages Christians to trust in the sovereign God who works all things for our good.

Genres: Theology

185 pages, Hardcover

Published March 28, 2024

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great study of the story of Joseph. Which is absolutely worth a deep read/study. Sproul does an amazing job at breaking down scripture and explaining it in a very real, human, understandable way. His teaching is very easy to read and to follow along with the scripture he is teaching/speaking on.

[Matt Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

The familiar story of Joseph. What could R.C. have to add that we don’t already know? Honestly not much. In fact it coasts over the most impactful verse of the story (Gen 50:20). But it is a reminder of the foundations of the story and in effect the Gospel. The story of Joseph is a forecasting of the. Rest of the Bible. It also answers questions of theodicy, evil and suffering. A good but brief read.

[Bill Pence · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.C. Sproul went home to be with the Lord in December, 2017. Fortunately, Ligonier Ministries has continued to release his teaching material in a variety of formats since then. For this book on the life of Joseph, Ligonier Ministries edited and adapted Dr. R.C. Sproul’s original material with the assistance of his wife Vesta Sproul.
Joseph is one of my favorite individuals in the Bible. Dr. Sproul tells us that so extraordinary is Joseph’s virtue that throughout church history, many interpreters have seen him as a type or forerunner of our Lord Himself. In this short book, Sproul takes us through Joseph’s incredible life in which we see God’s sovereign hand of providence working from the time he was betrayed by his brothers at age seventeen, to serving as second only to Pharoah in Egypt, and being reunited with his brothers and his dear father Jacob.
Dreams are a key theme in Joseph’s life, from sharing a dream of his brothers bowing down to him to interpreting dreams while he was in prison to eventually interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh.
This book serves as an excellent introduction to the life of Joseph and the doctrine of providence. Another book on Joseph’s story and the doctrine of providence that I would recommend to you is Alistair Begg’s book The Hand of God: Finding His Care in All Circumstances.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes from this book:
• God does not promise us freedom from pain, persecution, tribulation, or suffering. On the contrary, He promises that these things will happen to us, but in the midst of these circumstances, He also promises His presence.
• Wherever Joseph was, he did his work to the glory of God. No job was too menial or too low for him to apply his energy in this way.
• As Christians, we should be able to absorb a lot of misrepresentation. Yet we also must do so with prudence and wisdom, defending ourselves not simply for the sake of defending ourselves but for the sake of defending the truth.
• If we are willing to endure suffering and humiliation for a season, God has promised a future for His people beyond what the eye has seen, the ear has heard, or the heart has imagined (see 1 Cor. 2:9).
• God allowed Joseph to bear fruit amid his seemingly barren life experience. Out of that affliction came great fruitfulness.
• We must not assume that unbelieving, impenitent sinners, even though they may acquire a hardness of heart or stiffness of neck, are left without any conscience. The conscience is still God’s inner voice by which even unbelievers are accused of their sin.
• After all the years in prison, after all the time in exile, after all the loneliness in Joseph’s life, his greatest dream was fulfilled. After a similar period of mourning and grief in Jacob’s soul, his deepest dream was fulfilled. The father saw his son, and the son saw his father. It was enough.
• God was involved, and God was working His good plan even through their evil plan. That’s hard for us to grasp, but it’s a principle that we find throughout Scripture.
• May we remember this story from sacred Scripture and marvel at the wonder of God’s sovereignty, drawing strength and encouragement despite all the ups and downs of our own lives, trusting that the same God who orchestrated the events of Joseph’s life for good has not changed and that He is working good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).

[Vincent Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joseph is a well-known Bible character whose life ends the time of the patriarchs. In this book, R.C. Sproul makes an attempt to briefly summarize Joseph's life and to help the reader understand what was going on beneath the surface.

The book is short and doesn't really shed much new light on the story of Joseph. If you are unfamiliar with Joseph as a type of Christ, his brothers' anger at his father's favoritism, and their guilt manifested in their later interactions with prime minister Joseph, then this book made be interesting for you. For me, it touched on most of the things that I have heard about Joseph in various sermons through my life, but nothing new.

I don't really know whether to recommend the book or not. It probably depends on one's familiarity with the story of Joseph. He was an amazing character and one that we would do well to consider. This might be a good book to use as an introduction for those who need a primer to introduce them to the beats of this amazing man who lived a life a life of forgiveness.

[Matthew Bramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading 2026.01.13.

Fourth book read in 2026.

A great, quick read. Sproul takes a figure who often lives in the background of Genesis—at least in my own memory—and brings him sharply into focus. Joseph is familiar, but not always well-known, and this book helps bridge that gap.

As always, R.C. Sproul excels at weaving theology, history, and biblical narrative together in a way that feels both accessible and weighty. He doesn’t rush past the text or overcomplicate it. Instead, he patiently shows how God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, and providence are on display in Joseph’s life—even through suffering, betrayal, and long waiting.

It’s the kind of book that reminds you why Genesis matters and why Joseph’s story is more than just a moral lesson—it’s a testimony to a God who is always working, even when His purposes are hidden.

Highly recommended if you want a short but rich dive into Scripture.

[H. L. Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through this work by R. C. Sproul, not only do I find the life of Joseph with more clarity but the intricate weaving of God at work through his life. I found this insightful as he keeps the Scripture central and only uses other Scripture to support ideas/truths throughout the entire book. Tying together the life of Jesus, Paul, and many Old Testament examples - how refreshing to see many angles into the text. This resource is a treasure to me, as Joseph is a long-time favorite from the Word but now it has become even brighter, clearer, more cherished by understanding it better.

[Greg Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good, quick read to begin the new year. This book was adapted from Dr. Sproul's sermons. It is basically a passage by passage exposition of the Genesis account of Joseph's life. "The same God who orchestrated the events of Joseph's life for good has not changed and that He is working good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose". A good reminder as we enter the new year.

[Asher Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing objectionable, but there really is not much to be gained from reading this that you can't get from just reading Joseph's story. Sproul is an excellent theologian but a mediocre expositor: the form is basically "large chunk of biblical text - pretty direct restatement of the text - occasional piece of sometimes relevant trivia." This probably suffered in the adaptation from teaching series to book as well.

[Thomas Norton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book for readers of all levels. It is a pocket-sized book with chapters of roughly 10 pages. I really enjoyed seeing just now much typology is in the life of Joseph, (Genesis 37-50). Dr Sproul also draws great attention to God's providence, how the actions of men were bringing to pass what God has ordained. I would recommend this book, especially to someone who wants to read more but is daunted by large volumes.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Sproul, but in short form. The book is almost more of a booklet, and a decent bit of the text is the actual text of Genesis. Still, Sproul traces the arc of the Joseph story and offers helpful insights along the way. Some of the nuances and connections in the Joseph story were passed over, but that may be due to the short format of the book.

[Adam Solorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compact but meaningful study of the life of Joseph. Very good content. Full of Biblical insights. Easy to read.

[Stacy Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about the life of Joseph and how God worked through him despite his brothers’ intentions.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid insight, and sound doctrine, but too short and succinct to provide anything more than a basic introduction to Joseph’s story.