Joseph: Cultivating a Life of Dependence on God

by Bill Crowder

"
You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good." —Genesis 50:20 (NASB)





The story of young Joseph and his coat of many colors is one of the best-known in the Bible. And for good reason. This ancient drama of family inheritance, sibling rivalry, betrayal, cover-ups, enslavement, false accusations, prophetic dreams, and shocking reversals contains many relevant insights for relying on God amid today's difficulties.




With pastoral warmth,
Our Daily Bread devotional author Bill Crowder brings Joseph's story to






Follow Joseph's growth from arrogant youth to humble leader 








Discover historical context to help make sense of confusing details 








Reflect on relatable themes such as family dysfunction, waiting on God, and reconciliation 








Respond to study questions to apply biblical principles to your own life






Revisit the life of Joseph to see how God can use trials such as broken relationships and unexpected setbacks to mature you and draw you closer to Himself. Whether read alone or in a church group, this book is perfect for anyone who wants to know the Bible better—and knows that the Bible makes us better. 

152 pages, Paperback

Published September 2, 2025

About the author

Bill Crowder, who spent over twenty years in pastoral ministry, is vice president of ministry content at ODB Ministries. He is a contributor to Our Daily Bread and the author of five books, including The Spotlight on Faith, Singing the Songs of the Brokenhearted, and The Path of His Passion. He and his wife, Marlene, have five children.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that examines the chapters of Joseph’s life, from boyhood to adulthood. It gives many insights I had not previously considered, and I highlighted many passages. The author does a great job of thoroughly examining the biblical texts while adding in interesting quotes and personal stories. He also quotes hymns and shares thought-provoking questions. This is a good book for individual or group study.
I received a preview copy from NetGalley.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book on Joseph's life! It definitely gave me a different way to see things I thought I knew. The history about the culture was very helpful.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully inspiring deep dive into the Old Testament Joseph! Drawing on solid Biblical truths, author Bill Crowder breaks down family dysfunction which can be multigenerational. In this case, he discusses Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph and the repercussions of choices. Jacob's favouritism played a huge part in young Joseph's immature arrogance relating to dream interpretation, the jealousy of Joseph's brothers, and the desperate steps people take. After selling Joseph who was then imprisoned, his brothers lived their lives in daily guilt which undoubtedly tore away at them. But the story is ultimately about forgiveness, redemption, and God's constant presence. Joseph did not seek revenge but rather treated his brothers with love and enjoyed reconciliation with them. As Crowder reminds us, God is in control in all circumstances. Our choices can have long lasting consequences and we all live with them. Crowder's dental story really put this into perspective.

Crowder's writing style is conversational, powerful and practical. My heart rejoiced at the hymns he includes and I really liked the (sometimes tough) discussion questions at the chapter endings. There are so many takeaways and aha moments here. This is precisely the passage in Genesis I am studying in my devotions right now which is no coincidence. This book adds further layers to ponder and reassures that no matter the choices we make, there is nothing we can do to make God love us any less. God uses every situation and every person to orchestrate great things. This is truly a beautiful, beautiful book.

[Michaela Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crowder's book JOSEPH offers a wonderful perspective on the biblical account of Joseph. It takes a deep-dive into the family dynamics that brought about Joseph's betrayal and, ultimately, placed him where God wanted him. It covers a range of topics from Joseph's character arc and how he grew/matured throughout the Genesis account, as well as the ways the Lord used those setbacks and betrayals to bring about good. Genesis 50:20 is one of my favorite Bible verses, so to see it as presented by Crowder was fascinating. This is a good book to work through alone or in a group setting, with some questions that may be better mulled over in quiet if some aren't comfortable sharing. (I may be presenting this book as a study option for my church's young adult group!) Overall, this is an impactful study, short and thought-provoking, and it's clear that Crowder put a lot of research and time into cultivating this resource. Highly recommended!

*I read an advanced review copy; all my thoughts/opinions are my own.*

[Sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first Crowder book, and it won't be my last! Diving deeper into the backstory of characters in the Bible is always an eye-opening experience for me. I loved this story about Joseph, particularly how Crowder was able to relate it to modern times. May we all have faith like Joseph, abstain from holding grudges, and forgive those who have wronged us. Great read! I appreciated the thought-provoking discussion questions at the end of each chapter. Great read, will be recommending!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was supplied with a review copy of the book trough NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.

In this book Crowder follows the life of the biblical Joseph. Beginning the conflict with his brothers the story ends after the reunion in Egypt.
Crowler suplements the biblical stories with songs, stories from his own and other peoples lives. All of this snippits fit the biblical story well. I enjoyed the deeper look into Joseph and other characters and was able to look at a few things from a new viewpoint.
After each chapter there are discussion questions you can think about yourself or discuss with your small group. In my oppinion this would be a great book to read with your small group.