Joseph Prime Minister of Egypt
Two years after the cupbearer for Pharaoh agreed to remember Joseph to Pharaoh, he has an opportunity to fulfill his promise. Pharaoh has some disturbing dreams. He dreams about seven sleek and fat cows, but then seven ugly, gaunt cows eat the fat cows. Again, he dreams about seven stalks of healthy grain that are consumed by unhealthy-looking grain. As soon as we wake, he calls for wise men and magicians to interpret the dream for him. None of them could interpret the dream. The cupbearer remembers Joseph in prison correctly interpreted both his and the baker's dreams.
Pharaoh sends for Joseph and tells him his dreams. Joseph interprets the dreams that Egypt will have seven good years of crops, but that will be followed by seven years of famine. Joseph not only interprets Pharaoh’s dream but suggests a plan of action to store enough during the good years to get them through the bad years. Pharaoh is so impressed that he makes Joseph, Prime Minister of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh in power. Only God could take a man in prison and lift him to such a lofty rank.
Genesis 42-45
Joseph and His Brothers
The famine also was in Canaan. Jacob and his sons and their families run out of food. Jacob sends ten of the brothers to Egypt to buy food. He leaves Benjamin at home with him.
When the brothers go to buy Egypt, Joseph recognizes them, but they don’t recognize Joseph. They bow down to Joseph, which fulfills the dream Joseph had as a teenager.
Joseph speaks harshly to them. He accuses them of being spies. He finds out that Jacob is still alive and finds out about his brother Benjamin. He gives them food but requires Simeon to stay in jail until they bring back their brother Benjamin. On the way back, they find that their silver has been put back in their sacks.
When the brothers go back, they tell Jacob everything that happened, but Jacob wouldn’t let Benjamin go first. Reuben pleads with his father to allow them to go back, but Jacob does not listen to his oldest son, possibly because he had slept with one of his concubines. After some time had gone by, it was evident that they had to go back to buy more food. This time Judah became the spokesperson for the brothers and pledged that he would take care of Benjamin.
The brothers again went and bowed down before Joseph. He sold them dine with him and sold them food, but he also slipped his silver cup in Benjamin's sack. Joseph then sent his guards to stop the brothers, and they accused them of stealing. Joseph's servant told them that the one who took the cup had to go back, but the rest of them could leave. Of course, the cup is found in Benjamin’s sack. But this time, all the brothers went back to plead for Benjamin. Joseph’s test of his brothers had worked. The brothers had changed. They were willing to protect Benjamin rather than abandon him. A far cry from how they treated Joseph.
When they stood before Joseph, this time, he revealed who he was. Joseph wept so loudly that Pharaoh’s household heard it. Joseph sent his brothers to get Jacob and their families to bring back to live in Egypt so they wouldn’t starve during the famine years. Pharaoh is going to send carts for their families to ride on their trip to Egypt. Joseph tells his brothers “not to quarrel along the way.” I am not sure what Joseph thought they would quarrel about. Maybe it was who was at fault for how they treated Joseph. Quarreling is never healthy. It is not healthy for families, churches, or governments. It would be a good lesson for us to learn to go through this life without quarreling.
Genesis 46 & 47
Jacob and Sons Move to Egypt
Joseph’s brothers go back to move Jacob and their families to Egypt. They have to tell Jacob they lied about Joseph and that he is alive and in Egypt. Jacob is overjoyed to hear Joseph is still alive, and they move to Egypt. On the way out of Canaan, Jacob stops at Beersheba to worship. God speaks to him after he worships and assures Jacob that his descendants will flourish in Egypt but will one day come back to the Promised Land. They leave with 66 members of the family, not counting their wives. Hundreds of years later, Moses will lead millions out of Egypt.
When they get to Egypt, Joseph has them settle in Goshen. There would be plenty of grass there, with it being bottomland from the Nile river. Joseph had some of his brothers meet with Pharoah, and when he told them that they were shepherds and herders of livestock, he suggested they settle in Goshen and gave them the land of Goshen. This would also keep them away from the Egyptians because they despised shepherds.
Genesis 48 & 49
Jacob’s Blessing of His Sons
The brothers send word to Joseph that Jacob is ill. Joseph takes his two sons to visit Jacob on his death bed. When they get there, Jacob rallies and sits up. He wants to bless Joseph’s sons. Jacob claims Joseph’s sons as his own. This gives them the inheritance rights of a son. Both of Joseph’s sons inherit land in Canaan when they go back. This is a way for Jacob to give Joseph a double portion of the inheritance, something usually intended for the oldest son. Still, Reuben is out of favor with Jacob because of his sleeping with one of his concubines. Plus, Jacob is not interested in the inheritance going to the older child. Jacob was younger than Esau. Joseph is one of his youngest children. He also gives the greater blessing to Joseph’s younger son.
After blessing Joseph’s two sons, the rest of his sons come in and are blessed before Jacob dies. Jacob is taken back to the field with the cave where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah are buried. I find it interesting that Jacob was buried with Leah, given that Rachel was the favored wife.
Genesis 50
Joseph Assuring His Brothers
When they got back to Egypt, Joseph’s brothers were afraid he would want to get even. So they lied to him and told him that their father wanted him to forgive them. Joseph assured them, telling them, “what you intended for harm, God intended for good” (Genesis 50:20). Sir Thomas Moore made the observation, “Joseph’s brothers did him more good through their jealousy and hatred than they would have with love and kindness.” An excellent way to live life is when you are mistreated; recognize that it may be God getting you ready for difficult trials down the road.