The Brothers Return to Egypt

Review:

Points from the previous lesson.

• • The sense of divine retribution is beginning to awaken feelings of remorse in the brothers that they had not experienced up to this time.

• • God is convicting the brothers of their unconfessed sin.

• • Jacob is holding his sons accountable for the loss of Joseph and Simeon.

• • God is preparing Joseph’s brothers to be leaders of his chosen people.

These points continue through today’s lesson.

Genesis 43:1-18 NLT
The Brothers Return to Egypt
43 But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. ² When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”
³ But Judah said, “The man was serious when he warned us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ⁴ If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy more food. ⁵ But if you don’t let Benjamin go, we won’t go either. Remember, the man said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
⁶ “Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”
⁷ “The man kept asking us questions about our family,” they replied. “He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”
⁸ Judah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise we will all die of starvation—and not only we, but you and our little ones. ⁹ I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”
¹¹ So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts—balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. ¹² Also take double the money that was put back in your sacks, as it was probably someone’s mistake. ¹³ Then take your brother, and go back to the man. ¹⁴ May God Almighty give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. But if I must lose my children, so be it.”
¹⁵ So the men packed Jacob’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Benjamin. They finally arrived in Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. ¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” ¹⁷ So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into Joseph’s palace.
¹⁸ The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 43:1-18 NLT
The Brothers Return to Egypt
¹ But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan. 

The famine continued to ravage the land.  Jacob’s family would soon be facing starvation. 

² When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

Jacob was unable, on his own, to provide food for his family.

• God’s testing included Jacob.

³ But Judah said, “The man was serious when he warned us, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 

Joseph’s warning was taken seriously.

⁴ If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy more food. ⁵ But if you don’t let Benjamin go, we won’t go either. Remember, the man said, ‘You won’t see my face again unless your brother is with you.’” 

⁶ “Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”

• Jacob is holding his sons accountable for the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and now the potential loss of Benjamin.

Dissension continues to exist between Jacob and (most of) his sons. 

⁷ “The man kept asking us questions about our family,” they replied. “He asked, ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?” 

• The brothers are now trying to pass the blame on to “the man”. (Sound familiar?) 

⁸ Judah said to his father, “Send the boy with me, and we will be on our way. Otherwise, we will all die of starvation—and not only we, but you and our little ones. 

The famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan.

• Starvation for Jacob’s family was a reality. 

⁹ I personally guarantee his safety. You may hold me responsible if I don’t bring him back to you. Then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”

Judah, Jacob’s fourth son, steps up to bat. (not Reuben)

Jacob had not agreed to let Benjamin travel with Reuben.

Genesis 42:37-38 NLT
³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I don’t bring Benjamin back to you. I’ll be responsible for him, and I promise to bring him back.”
³⁸ But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.”

Judah was the brother who came up with the plan to sell Joseph, when the other brothers, except Ruben, were planning to let Joseph die in the cistern in the wilderness.

Genesis 37:26-27 NLT
²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime. ²⁷ Instead of hurting him, let’s sell him to those Ishmaelite traders. After all, he is our brother—our own flesh and blood!” And his brothers agreed.

Judah was willing to take the blame if Benjamin were not returned.

Here in chapter 43 and also in chapter 44, we see Judah’s character maturing.

• God’s testing is having a positive effect on Judah. (More about Judah in chapter 44.)

¹¹ So their father, Jacob, finally said to them, “If it can’t be avoided, then at least do this. Pack your bags with the best products of this land. Take them down to the man as gifts—balm, honey, gum, aromatic resin, pistachio nuts, and almonds. 

Apparently, these items were not available in Egypt.

¹² Also take double the money that was put back in your sacks, as it was probably someone’s mistake. ¹³ Then take your brother, and go back to the man. 

Jacob was doing what he could to save Simeon and Benjamin.  (Bribe the Egyptian governor.)

• Jacob resigned himself to the possibility of now losing his son Benjamin.

¹⁴ May God Almighty 

God Almighty – (Hebrew El-Shaddai) This name for God emphasizes His power.

Genesis 28:1-4 NLT
¹ So Isaac called for Jacob, blessed him, and said, “You must not marry any of these Canaanite women. ² Instead, go at once to Paddan-aram, to the house of your grandfather Bethuel, and marry one of your uncle Laban’s daughters. ³ May God Almighty bless you and give you many children. And may your descendants multiply and become many nations! ⁴ May God pass on to you and your descendants the blessings he promised to Abraham. May you own this land where you are now living as a foreigner, for God gave this land to Abraham.” 

Genesis 35:11-12 NLT
¹¹ Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! ¹² And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you.”

Jacob appears to be putting some trust in God. (In case the bribe doesn’t pay off.)

• God’s testing is having a significant impact on Jacob.

give you mercy as you go before the man, so that he will release Simeon and let Benjamin return. 

But if I must lose my children, so be it.”

• Jacob knew that the events going on around him were completely out of his control. 

¹⁵ So the men packed Jacob’s gifts and double the money and headed off with Benjamin. They finally arrived in Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. ¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon.

The feast was both a celebration and a test.

Joseph had to feel good about the fact Benjamin was alive and well.

Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.” ¹⁷ So the man did as Joseph told him and took them into Joseph’s palace. 

¹⁸ The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house.

• The brothers were terrified (again).

Genesis 42:28
²⁸ “Look!” he exclaimed to his brothers. “My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!” Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, “What has God done to us?” 

Genesis 42:35
³⁵ As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money. 

• The brothers were not seeing any good coming from the Egyptian governor’s invitation.

“It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”

• The brothers’ guilt was overwhelming.

Numbers 32:23 NLT
²³ … and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Jeremiah 16:17 NLT
¹⁷ I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me.

Luke 12:2 NLT
² The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.

• You may be sure that your sin will find you out.

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Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt

Genesis 42:1-38 NLT

Introduction:

“Widespread” famine (verse from the previous lesson)

Genesis 41:57 NLT
⁵⁷ And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

God’s prophecy to Abraham:

Genesis 15:13 NLT
¹³ Then the Lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.

God is going to use this famine to bring Israel into Egypt, under the rule of Joseph.

Genesis 42:1-38 NLT
Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt
42 When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? ² I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.”
³ So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain. ⁴ But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him. ⁵ So Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.
⁶ Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded.
“From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.”
⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. ⁹ And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”
¹⁰ “No, my lord!” they exclaimed. “Your servants have simply come to buy food. ¹¹ We are all brothers—members of the same family. We are honest men, sir! We are not spies!”
¹² “Yes, you are!” Joseph insisted. “You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”
¹³ “Sir,” they said, “there are actually twelve of us. We, your servants, are all brothers, sons of a man living in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is back there with our father right now, and one of our brothers is no longer with us.”
¹⁴ But Joseph insisted, “As I said, you are spies! ¹⁵ This is how I will test your story. I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you will never leave Egypt unless your youngest brother comes here! ¹⁶ One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison. Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true. By the life of Pharaoh, if it turns out that you don’t have a younger brother, then I’ll know you are spies.”
¹⁷ So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. ¹⁸ On the third day Joseph said to them, “I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live. ¹⁹ If you really are honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families. ²⁰ But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. This will prove that you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” To this they agreed.
²¹ Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”
²² “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!”
²³ Of course, they didn’t know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter. ²⁴ Now he turned away from them and began to weep. When he regained his composure, he spoke to them again. Then he chose Simeon from among them and had him tied up right before their eyes.
²⁵ Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men’s sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother’s payment at the top of his sack. He also gave them supplies for their journey home. ²⁶ So the brothers loaded their donkeys with the grain and headed for home.
²⁷ But when they stopped for the night and one of them opened his sack to get grain for his donkey, he found his money in the top of his sack. ²⁸ “Look!” he exclaimed to his brothers. “My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!” Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, “What has God done to us?”
²⁹ When the brothers came to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them. ³⁰ “The man who is governor of the land spoke very harshly to us,” they told him. “He accused us of being spies scouting the land. ³¹ But we said, ‘We are honest men, not spies. ³² We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One brother is no longer with us, and the youngest is at home with our father in the land of Canaan.’
³³ “Then the man who is governor of the land told us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families and go on home. ³⁴ But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give you back your brother, and you may trade freely in the land.’”
³⁵ As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money. ³⁶ Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!”
³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I don’t bring Benjamin back to you. I’ll be responsible for him, and I promise to bring him back.”
³⁸ But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 42:1-38 NLT
Joseph’s Brothers Go to Egypt
¹ When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? ² I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.” 

³ So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain. ⁴ But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him. 

Jacob would not allow Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, to travel with his other sons.
Benjamin was the second son of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved.
Jacob had already “lost” Joseph.

Jacob did not know what had really happened to Joseph, but he did know the character of his other sons.

Refer to Jacob’s blessings for his sons in chapter 49. A brief description of his sons.

Unruly
In their anger they murdered men.
Crippled oxen just for sport.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down – who dares to rouse him.
A sturdy donkey.
 A poisonous viper along the path.
A ravenous wolf devouring his enemies.

Jacob would not allow Benjamin to go with his brothers.  Jacob feared for Benjamin’s safety.

• Jacob knew the character of his sons. 

⁵ So Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.

Famines were not uncommon in the ancient world.

Famines were devastating in an agrarian society.

Famines were often accompanied by disease and war.

This famine was severe and widespread (worldwide).

Genesis 41:57 NLT  “…throughout the world.”

• Famines were devastating in an agrarian society.

⁶ Since Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground.  

• Joseph’s dream became a reality. (Over 15 years had elapsed.)

⁷ Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger

and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded.
 “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.”

Joseph would be putting his brothers through various tests to see if they had changed.
In reality, this was God at work.
God was preparing these men to be leaders in Israel.   (God’s sovereignty was at work.)

• God was using events in this story to prepare Joseph’s brothers to be leaders of his chosen people. 

⁸ Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him. 

… they didn’t recognize him … for good reason.

15 years have passed.  He had grown from a teenager to an adult.  He was dressed as an Egyptian.  He had a leadership role in Egypt.

Joseph did not look “Jewish”. (My words)

He treated them without a hint of familiarity. 

⁹ And he remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before. 

He remembered the dreams he’d had about them many years before as they were coming true.

He said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”

Joseph accused his brothers of being spies (verses 9, 12, 14, 16)

Famines were often accompanied by disease and war. (As stated previously.)

Joseph (God) was testing his brothers.

Psalm 139:23-24 NLT
²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

¹⁰ “No, my lord!” they exclaimed. “Your servants have simply come to buy food. ¹¹ We are all brothers—members of the same family. 

We are honest men, sir!

Joseph knew that this was hardly an accurate assessment. 

We are not spies!” 

¹² “Yes, you are!” Joseph insisted. “You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.” 

¹³ “Sir,” they said, “there are actually twelve of us. We, your servants, are all brothers, sons of a man living in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is back there with our father right now, and one of our brothers is no longer with us.” 

… one is no more … NIV & ESV…
… one is gone … CEB
… died a long time ago … ERV
… and one is not … ASV 

¹⁴ But Joseph insisted, “As I said, you are spies! ¹⁵ This is how I will test your story. I swear by the life of Pharaoh that you will never leave Egypt unless your youngest brother comes here! 

The phrase, “I swear by the life of Pharaoh …” would mislead his brothers. 

¹⁶ One of you must go and get your brother. I’ll keep the rest of you here in prison.

Similar to what they had done to Joseph.
Genesis 37:24 NLT
²⁴ Then they grabbed him (Joseph) and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

Then we’ll find out whether or not your story is true. By the life of Pharaoh, if it turns out that you don’t have a younger brother, then I’ll know you are spies.”

Joseph may have wanted to know that his younger brother had not been harmed by his brothers.

¹⁷ So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. ¹⁸ On the third day Joseph said to them, “I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live.  

¹⁹ If you really are honest men, 

choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families. ²⁰ But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. This will prove that you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” To this they agreed.

Joseph implied that Simeon would die if the brothers did not bring Benjamin back with them.

²¹ Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”

“… we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph …”

“… when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. …”

• The sense of divine retribution began to awaken feelings of remorse in the brothers that they had not experienced up to this time.

²² “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?” Reuben asked. “But you wouldn’t listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!”

Reuben recognized they would be held accountable for their actions.

Numbers 32:23 NLT
²³ … and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.

Galatians 6:7 NLT
⁷ Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

²³ Of course, they didn’t know that Joseph understood them, for he had been speaking to them through an interpreter. ²⁴ Now he turned away from them and began to weep. 

Joseph had forgiven his brothers.

Joseph may have learned, for the first time, of Reuben’s attempt to save him.

 When he regained his composure, he spoke to them again. Then he chose Simeon from among them and had him tied up right before their eyes.

Joseph did not keep Reuben, but he chose Simeon, the oldest of the brothers who had participated in the crime against him.

²⁵ Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men’s sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother’s payment at the top of his sack. 

These actions would “strike the fear of God” into the hearts of the brothers. 

1. 1. 28 “… their hearts sank. Trembling … “What has God done to us?” ” 

1. 1. 35 “The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money.” 

He also gave them supplies for their journey home. ²⁶ So the brothers loaded their donkeys with the grain and headed for home.

²⁷ But when they stopped for the night and one of them opened his sack to get grain for his donkey, he found his money in the top of his sack. ²⁸ “Look!” he exclaimed to his brothers. “My money has been returned; it’s here in my sack!” Then their hearts sank. Trembling, they said to each other, “What has God done to us?” 

“What has God done to us?”

Their guilty conscience and fear of vengeance from God surfaced again.

• God was convicting the brothers of their unconfessed sin. 

²⁹ When the brothers came to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them. ³⁰ “The man who is governor of the land spoke very harshly to us,” they told him. “He accused us of being spies scouting the land. ³¹ But we said, ‘We are honest men, not spies. ³² We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One brother is no longer with us, and the youngest is at home with our father in the land of Canaan.’
³³ “Then the man who is governor of the land told us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families and go on home. ³⁴ But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give you back your brother, and you may trade freely in the land.’”
³⁵ As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money.  

³⁶ Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!”

“You are robbing me of my children!

Genesis 43:6 NLT
⁶ “Why were you (speaking to the brothers) so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”

• Jacob was holding his sons accountable for the loss of Joseph and Simeon.

Clearly, there is dissension within the family.

³⁷ Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons (Jacob’s grandsons) if I don’t bring Benjamin back to you. I’ll be responsible for him, and I promise to bring him back.”

Again tried to take the lead in doing the right thing. 

³⁸ But Jacob replied, “My son (clear favoritism over the other brothers) will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left. If anything should happen to him on your journey, you would send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave.”

The brothers needed to acknowledge their crime against Joseph.

God planned to bring the family into Egypt so that it would grow there into a great nation.  It was necessary that the people who entered into Egypt were faithful to the Lord.

• God was preparing Joseph’s brothers to be leaders of his chosen people.

Romans 12:2 NLT
² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

(More testing to follow)

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Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt

Introduction:

Can Christians have effective roles in secular governments?

This lesson will show that the answer is obviously “yes”.

Joseph demonstrated clearly that a God-fearing individual can have a leadership position and serve a secular nation effectively without compromising his relationship with God in any way.

Genesis 41:37-57 (NLT)
Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt
³⁷ Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. ³⁸ So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
⁴¹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” ⁴² Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. ⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”
⁴⁵ Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. ⁴⁶ He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.
⁴⁷ As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. ⁴⁸ During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. ⁴⁹ He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.
⁵⁰ During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. ⁵¹ Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” ⁵² Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
⁵³ At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. ⁵⁴ Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. ⁵⁵ Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” ⁵⁶ So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. ⁵⁷ And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 41:37-57 (NLT)
Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt
³⁷ Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 

• Joseph did not need to compromise his values in any way to be well received by Pharaoh and his officials.

• Christians can be effective in leadership positions in a secular government.

Joseph was very much “in the world”.

³⁸ So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 

Pharaoh recognized the fact that God was working in Joseph’s life.
(Without understanding fully who God was.)

We should all be living our lives in such a way that others will see Christ in our lives.

Matthew 5:15-16 NLT
¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. 

• Pray that others will see Christ in your life.

⁴⁰ You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”

Genesis 45:26 NLT … he is governor …      NIV & ESV “ruler”

Genesis 45:8 NLT … the manager of his entire palace and the governor …

⁴¹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 

Verse 43      So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 

Verse 44 … in the entire land of Egypt …

Verse 46 … he inspected the entire land of Egypt …

Genesis 42:6 NLT … Joseph was governor of all Egypt …

Genesis 45:8 NLT … the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt 

⁴² Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger.

This ring was used to “sign” documents and carried the authority of Pharaoh. 

He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 

Emblems of the office.

Signified Joseph’s status as a ruler.

⁴³ Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command.

Joseph was second-in-command in all of Egypt.

And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!”

This goes beyond what Joseph had dreamed.

So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. ⁴⁴ And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”

• Joseph had been faithful over all the little things God had sent his way; now he would become ruler over all the land of Egypt under Pharaoh.

Psalm 105:16-22 NLT (we looked at this passage in the previous lesson)
¹⁶ He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
cutting off its food supply.
¹⁷ Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸ They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
¹⁹ Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
²⁰ Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
²¹ Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;
he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
²² He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased
and teach the king’s advisers. 

⁴⁵ Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. 

Scholars are uncertain of the meaning of this name.

Speculation includes:

“The Nourisher of the Two Lands, the Living One.”

“God speaks and He lives.” 

He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath.

An Egyptian wife.

She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 

On, a city which was a center of sun worship. (The sun god, Ra.)

• Joseph was integrated into Egyptian culture.

So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. ⁴⁶ He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

13 years after he was sold by his brothers.

And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt. 

⁴⁷ As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. ⁴⁸ During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. ⁴⁹ He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure. 

⁵⁰ During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. ⁵¹ Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” ⁵² Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.” 

Even though Joseph was being integrated into the Egyptian culture, Joseph did not forget his background and Joseph gave his sons Hebrew names.

Manasseh – forget (forgetful) – “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.”

Ephraim – fruitful – “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”

• Even though Joseph was integrated into the Egyptian culture, Joseph did not forget his Hebrew heritage. 

Jacob recognized his grandsons as Hebrews.

Genesis 48:5 NLT
⁵ “Now I (Jacob) am claiming as my own sons these two boys of yours, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born here in the land of Egypt before I arrived. They will be my sons, just as Reuben and Simeon are.

The tribe of Ephraim became one of the strongest tribes of Israel and the leading tribe in the northern kingdom after the division of the twelve tribes.

⁵³ At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. ⁵⁴ Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. 

The interpretations of Pharaoh’s dreams were coming true.

⁵⁵ Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” ⁵⁶ So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. ⁵⁷ And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.

• Joseph continued to be the “go to” man as the severe famine spread throughout the land of Egypt.

Remember Joseph’s two dreams.

The interpretations of Joseph’s dreams were coming true.

Genesis 37:5-10 NLT
⁵ One night (when he was 17 years old) Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. ⁶ “Listen to this dream,” he said. ⁷ “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
⁸ His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.
⁹ Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”
¹⁰ This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

• God communicates through dreams and visions.

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Pharaoh’s Dreams

God uses dreams to elevate Joseph into a leadership role in Egypt.

Genesis 41:1-36 (NLT)
Pharaoh’s Dreams
¹ Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. ² In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. ³ Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. ⁴ Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up.
⁵ But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. ⁶ Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. ⁷ And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream.
⁸ The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.
⁹ Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. ¹⁰ “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. ¹¹ One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. ¹² There was a young Hebrew man with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. ¹³ And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.”
¹⁴ Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. ¹⁵ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”
¹⁶ “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”
¹⁷ So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, ¹⁸ and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. ¹⁹ But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. ²¹ But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up.
²² “In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. ²³ Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. ²⁴ And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.”
²⁵ Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. ²⁷ The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine.
²⁸ “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. ²⁹ The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. ³⁰ But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. ³¹ This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. ³² As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.
³³ “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. ³⁴ Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. ³⁵ Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. ³⁶ That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”

Examine the Scriptures

Genesis 41:1-36 (NLT)
Pharaoh’s Dreams

¹ Two full years later,

Two years, forgotten, in prison is a long time.
By this time Joseph may have been in Egypt for 12 or 13 years.
Joseph would have been about 30 years old.

Genesis 41:46 NLT
⁴⁶ He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

This story is taking “years” to develop.

Matthew 25:23 NLT
²³ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. 

 Luke 16:10 NLT
¹⁰ “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. 

• Joseph had proven to be faithful in small matters, now he would be put in charge of larger matters. 

Pharaoh dreamed 

In the ancient Near East, dreams were often viewed as a medium of divine revelation.

A bullet point from our last lesson:

• • • The Egyptians and Babylonians developed a professional class of dream interpreters.

These men were considered to be dream experts.

Another bullet point from our last lesson:

• • • God communicates to individuals through dreams.

Dreams were taken seriously.

Skipping ahead to verse 25, 28 & 32.  

1. 1. 1. 25. … God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.  

1. 1. 1. 28. … God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.  

1. 1. 1. 32. … these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

 These dreams are clearly from God.

 God is telling Pharaoh (an unbeliever) in advance what he is about to do.

• Pharaoh’s dreams were from God.
• God communicates with unbelievers.

(Pharaoh dreamed) that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River.  

² In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 

“come up out of the river”

In Egypt, cows liked to stand half-submerged in the Nile among its reeds in refuge from the heat and the flies.  They would come up out of the water for pasture.

There was nothing unusual about this part of Pharaoh’s dream.  This is normal, everyday life in Egypt.

 ³ Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 

 ⁴ Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows!

The dream takes a turn to the bizarre.

The weak overtaking the strong. 

At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. 

⁵ But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. ⁶ Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. ⁷ And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads!

The second dream was similar to the first dream.

The weak overtaking the strong.

 Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream.

 ⁸ The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams.

Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams.

• Pharaoh took these dreams seriously.

  So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt.

Repeat:
A bullet point from our last lesson:

• • • The Egyptians and Babylonians developed a professional class of dream interpreters.

These men were considered to be dream experts. 

When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.

The combined expertise of a full council of Pharaoh’s advisors and dream experts failed to provide an interpretation of the two disturbing dreams.

• Pharaoh’s dream experts were unable to interpret his dreams. 

⁹ Finally, the king’s chief cup-bearer spoke up. “Today I have been reminded of my failure,” he told Pharaoh. ¹⁰ “Some time ago, you were angry with the chief baker and me, and you imprisoned us in the palace of the captain of the guard. ¹¹ One night the chief baker and I each had a dream, and each dream had its own meaning. ¹² There was a young Hebrew man

Recognized as Hebrew, not Egyptian.

 with us in the prison who was a slave of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he told us what each of our dreams meant. ¹³ And everything happened just as he had predicted. I was restored to my position as cup-bearer, and the chief baker was executed and impaled on a pole.”

Joseph had accurately interpreted the dreams of the cup-bearer and baker.

• Joseph had established a good reputation for himself. (Reputations matter.)

God was about to use a Hebrew slave

• Over the years, God had been preparing Joseph “for such a time as this”.

¹⁴ Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. ¹⁵ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”

 ¹⁶ “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”

Genesis 40:8
⁸ And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied.

• • • “Interpreting dreams is God’s business” 

¹⁷ So Pharaoh told Joseph his dream. “In my dream,” he said, “I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, ¹⁸ and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. ¹⁹ But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I’ve never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ These thin, scrawny cows ate the seven fat cows. ²¹ But afterward you wouldn’t have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up.
²² “In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. ²³ Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. ²⁴ And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but no one could tell me what they mean.” 

²⁵ Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 

Joseph tells Pharaoh that his dreams come from God.

God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do. 

²⁶ The seven healthy cows and the seven healthy heads of grain both represent seven years of prosperity. ²⁷ The seven thin, scrawny cows that came up later and the seven thin heads of grain, withered by the east wind, represent seven years of famine. 

²⁸ “This will happen just as I have described it, for God has revealed to Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do.  

²⁹ The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. ³⁰ But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land. ³¹ This famine will be so severe that even the memory of the good years will be erased. 

Long famines were rare in Egypt.

³² As for having two similar dreams, it means that these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen.

• Repetition of a divine revelation was often used for emphasis.

Remember that Joseph also had two similar dreams.

God is in control.  Believe it!

 ³³ “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. ³⁴ Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. ³⁵ Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. ³⁶ That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.” 

• Not only does Pharaoh hear about the upcoming famine, Pharaoh is also told very clearly how to prepare for the upcoming famine.

Matthew 25:23 NLT
²³ “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. 

 Luke 16:10 NLT
¹⁰ “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. 

Psalm 105:9-22 NLT
⁹ This is the covenant he made with Abraham
and the oath he swore to Isaac.
¹⁰ He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
¹¹ “I will give you the land of Canaan
as your special possession.”
¹² He said this when they were few in number,
a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
¹³ They wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
¹⁴ Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
He warned kings on their behalf:
¹⁵ “Do not touch my chosen people,
and do not hurt my prophets.”
¹⁶ He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
cutting off its food supply.
¹⁷ Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸ They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
¹⁹ Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
²⁰ Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
²¹ Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;
he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
²² He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased
and teach the king’s advisers. 

• “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” Psalm 105:19

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