Happy 4th Tuesday! Today I hope you’ll help me welcome my friend, Mary Englund Murphy. Mary is an award winning author who communicates with enthusiasm, humor, and passion, and speaks to the listener’s heart. Her extraordinary life experiences have equipped her to grasp the unique needs of women of all ages.
Her newest release Joseph: Beyond the Coat of Many Colors won the 2012 SELAH award for best Bible study.
Mary speaks for retreats, conferences and other special events, and is a member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She and her husband Bill reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma and have three grown children and two grandchildren. You can reach Mary Englund Murphy through her website or by phone at .
And readers, be sure to leave a comment for Mary and you’ll be in the drawing for a free autographed copy of her book!
Welcome, Mary! Okay, let’s jump right in. Joseph is such a well known figure from the Bible, there must be numerous books and Bible studies on him. I’ve gotta ask, what prompted you to write Joseph: Beyond the Coat of Many Colors?
Yes, there are a many books written on Joseph, but very few Bible studies that are devoted entirely to his story. Several authors include a chapter about him, but that’s all. I found only two Bible studies entirely about Joseph.
Your title is intriguing Joseph: Beyond the Coat of Many Colors. What do you mean by the phrase “beyond the coat of many colors”?
Many of us who were raised in church have what I call a Sunday school view of Joseph and therefore we miss many of the treasures that are found in a deeper study of his life. We tend to think of him as a little boy dressed in something like a multi-colored striped bathrobe, being thrown into a pit, sold as a slave and then ending up as prime minister of Egypt. This Bible study goes way beyond all your preconceived notions about Joseph.
Can you give us a brief overview of Joseph’s story for those who may not be familiar with the Bible?
Joseph’s story is found in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. He was the eleventh, and favorite, of the twelve sons of Jacob and was literally despised and hated by his brothers. When Joseph was seventeen years old, his father gave him the famous coat. The brothers plotted to murder Joseph but ended up selling him to slave traders. He spent thirteen years as a slave and a prisoner until Pharaoh heard that Joseph could interpret dreams. When Joseph gave Pharaoh God’s interpretation he was promoted to second in command of Egypt. Joseph saved the country from famine and eventually was reunited with his family and brought them to Egypt.
Okay, so Joseph had a few very trying years, but look how it all turned out for him – wealth, prestige, honor, a wife and children, and he was restored to his family. Anyone could make it through difficulties with all that in their future.
That’s exactly what I was referring to previously. We tend to view Joseph from an overall perspective – the favored child, the coat of many colors, conflict with his brothers, a few rough years in Egypt, then promotion to wealth and prosperity. Sometimes we think he persevered with virtually no problems, but the Scriptures indicate that he did he have challenges with the same things we struggle with like depression. Joseph was a great man but he had feelings and emotions just like the rest of us.
The term “blended family” is used to describe families that have step-children and step-parents or half-siblings or step-siblings. How do you see Joseph fitting into those categories?
Joseph’s father Jacob had two wives and two concubines all at the same time and all four women produced children. Even though that was culturally acceptable there were jealousies and conflict galore. Joseph’s family gives new meaning to the blended and dysfunctional family.
I know that you can relate to Joseph in this area. Would you mind telling us a little about your family background?
I was born into a broken/blended home. My parents were married a total of 10 times. I’ve had 3 stepfathers, two stepmothers, and 21 step, half and adopted brothers and sisters. In fact, my own family background is one of the primary reasons I decided to write about Joseph; I can relate to him in so many areas.
Many of the books and studies about Joseph focus on grace and forgiveness. Can you talk about some of the other things we can learn from his life?
His story is a wealth of information on life. Raising children, dealing with jealousy and disappointments, sexual purity, employee/employer relationships, what to do when you feel like God isn’t there.
Well, we’re almost done, but for the last question: What is the primary message you want people to take away from this study?
I want people to understand that God knows the end of their story just as He knew the end of Joseph’s. Don’t give up, and know that God is working in your life with purpose just as He did with Joseph. God knows the end of your story just as He knew the end of Joseph’s story. God isn’t finished with you yet.
And that is a great message! God knows the end of our stories and He isn’t finished with us yet. Thanks for the reminder!
Okay friends, remember to leave a message for Mary and you’ll be in the drawing for a free autographed copy of Mary’s book, Joseph: Beyond the Coat of Many Colors.
Thanks for joining me today, sweet friends. Be sure to check back on Thursday for some new opportunities!
Blessings,
Vonda
