Naming the Faithfulness of God
Joseph’s life was marked by betrayal, injustice, and prolonged waiting. Sold by his brothers, falsely accused, and forgotten in prison, he epitomizes suffering. Yet in Genesis 41, everything shifts. God raises Joseph from prisoner to governor overnight. Authority, influence, and stability finally come. The most significant moment in Joseph’s story, however, isn't in Pharaoh’s palace—it's at his home. Before the famine begins and Joseph reunites with his family, the Scripture records that he has two sons. Joseph names them Manasseh and Ephraim, subtly acknowledging God's work in his life.
Genesis 41:51
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family.”
The word “forget” does not imply Joseph lost his memory. He still remembered the pain of the pit and the injustice of prison, but God had taken away their control over him. The pain no longer dominated his life. It’s like a scar—showing where he was hurt but no longer bleeding. The scar marks the injury without hindering him from moving forward. God transformed Joseph’s open wounds into healed reminders of grace.
Many believers continue as before, saved and forgiven, yet still influenced by past events. However, God’s grace goes beyond forgiveness; it frees us from their hold. Like Joseph, we may remember what happened, but it no longer defines us.
Genesis 41:52
Joseph’s second son is named Ephraim: “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
Notice what Joseph does not say: he does not claim that God removed the suffering. Egypt remained foreign ground, and the pain persisted. However, in the place where hardship once reigned, God brought forth abundance. A gardener knows this well—rich soil is often created through pressure, breaking down, compaction, and long-term work. What appears barren on the surface can become the fertile ground for growth. Often, God uses life’s toughest seasons to produce the deepest fruit.
Fruitfulness isn't limited to perfect conditions. God often accomplishes His greatest work in places we wouldn't select—times of loss, waiting, disappointment, or uncertainty. Even in hardship, the land of affliction can turn into a source of abundance when God is with us.
The order of Joseph’s sons also holds wisdom: Manasseh precedes Ephraim, indicating that healing comes before fruitfulness. God cares for the heart first, then increases the harvest. Unhealed pain can block future blessings, but in His mercy, God prepares us first before blessing us.
Before Joseph was used to save nations, God first renewed his soul. Joseph’s life ultimately illustrates Christ, the One who was rejected, humbled, and exalted at the perfect time by God so that many could live. Through Christ, we also encounter Manasseh and Ephraim: receiving forgiveness for the past and becoming fruitful in the present.
Perhaps the question for us today is simple:
What are you naming your life by the wound, or the faithfulness of God?
