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Genesis 41:8-13

In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged."

Who are the "magicians and wise men" of today?

Why does the chief cupbearer tell Pharaoh about Joseph now?

Did he just now remember him?

I think not--there was no benefit before.

Genesis 41:14-16

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

Give me a spiritual maturity on Joseph. He is 100+ as far as I'm concerned. Think of you in this same position. The boldness of Joseph in telling it like it was. "I cannot do it, but God can." Do you know what we're to do today as Christians with everything that happens to us? Say, "I cannot do anything. I can do nothing of my own--only through Christ who strengthens me." There's another spiritual maturity level. Can you say that in your life? Anything you do of the flesh as a Christian (anything in the world) it counts for nothing. It wreaks havoc. It can only be with a pure motive. Joseph just said it like it was. There was nothing spiritually deep or unusual about what Joseph said. He just stood there and said, "No. I can't do it, but God can." We look at it and say, "Wow! Awesome!" But look how Joseph looked at it. "Well, of course I can't do it. God does it. It's just normal." That's what we need to be, as Christians.

How did Joseph respond? Wouldn't the younger Joseph had said, "I've been interpreting dreams all my life!"? Is that what you would have said?

As much as Joseph desired to be released from his captivity, he never brought up the subject. His first concern was not with his own comfort, but with God’s glory. He did not bargain or take advantage of the situation.

Who gave Joseph this gift? Do you believe that God was preparing Joseph all his life for his own deliverance and the deliverance of His covenant people? Isn't God preparing you? What gift do you have and see God developing?

Proverbs 18:16

A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great.

We're skipping some. Pharaoh tells Joseph the dreams. Joseph's going to interpret them.

Genesis 41:25-28

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. "It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.

What does Joseph say again? He doesn't say, "I did it." He says, "God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do."

Did Pharaoh believe in God? No.

Why did God reveal the future to Pharaoh?

• Love of man?
• To save Israel?
• A promotion plan for Joseph?

Genesis 41:29-32

Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

What is Joseph doing? Who is getting the credit? God. Every step of the way. Joseph is just a messenger, an instrument for God. God is doing it all.

Again, Joseph calls it like it is.

Genesis 41:33-37

"And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.

Joseph provides the problem (the future famine) as well as the solution (gather now).

Where was Joseph before this scene? He was in prison. Why was he in prison? Because he was falsely accused of having sexual relations with Potiphar's wife. While he was with Potiphar, everything blossomed and grew because God blessed him. He was thrown in prison and had to start all over. What happens in prison? Everything got organized and the prisoners were happy. Why? Because God blessed him. Now he's in front of Pharaoh. He's not looking back and saying, "Look how great I am! I straightened out Potiphar's house. I straightened out that prison. Pharaoh, I'm a wise and discerning man. I can straighten out your mess too." No. He said, "God, God, God!"

Genesis 41:38-41

So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."

There's a scene out of the movie "Joseph" that's really great. All the magicians and wise men of Egypt were trying to interpret the dreams. They had chicken bones, rocks, and all kinds of stuff. That didn't work. Joseph interprets the dreams and says, "You need a wise and discerning person." So Pharaoh's walking around looking at Potiphar, the magicians, the wise men and everybody like, and says to them all, "Obviously, none of you fit the bill." I love that scene.

What is Pharaoh starting to entertain? Is it possible someone in Egypt is looking at this Hebrew (who has probably been talking about God since he arrived) and beginning to think, "Wait a minute. There's something to this." There's more than just the "wolf-head-god-with-the-bird-body." There's something else.

This took 13 years (30 - 17). Gifts and talents are impressive and immediate, but character is what God looks for and always takes time to develop.

What was the ultimate outcome of this promotion?

Saved Israel, but then slavery for hundreds of years!

1. Does that make any sense to you?
2. Wouldn't it have been easier on all concerned just to rescue Joseph from the dry well and insure that he became the leader of his family? (I have no doubt it would have been easier - and I bet this was God's original plan. But a series of sins got in the way - starting with Laban's deceit in giving Leah to Jacob (Israel) as a wife instead of Rachel (Genesis 29). If Rachel had been Jacob's only wife, then Joseph would have been the oldest and Jacob's heir. The next major sin was selling Joseph as a slave. The consequences of that sin were horrendous -- the brothers were guilt-ridden (as we will see) and their descendants became slaves.)
3. When you consider sinning, do you think about the life altering consequences that could follow?

Genesis 41:42-43

Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

The ring was signature authority.

Don't miss this. What happened to his robe? His brothers used it to convince Jacob that Joseph had been killed by wild animals. Here he is, back in robes again, fine linen. God was blessing Joseph again. Was Joseph saying, "I'm going to be the best Christian there is in Egypt. I'm going to have a stiff upper lip and I don't care what happens?" What was he doing? He's saying, "I'm just going to take whatever God gives me; the next step. If I'm thrown in prison or in slavery, I'm going to praise God. I'm going to be with Him. There's a reason for this and I'm going to keep going."

Joseph was made second-in-command of Egypt. How about that? A Hebrew slave, second-in-command? Who would've "thunk" it? A year before, someone's sitting around in prison thinking, "That Joseph. He's pretty good in prison, but that's about all he can do." Who would've thunk it?

Genesis 41:44-45a

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt." Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife.

What does Joseph have now? A pagan wife. Is he going to be tempted or distracted now? What is he? You have to read the rest of Genesis to see it all. Does Joseph get distracted by this? No.

Zaphenath-Paneah means:

"God speaks and He lives" or "Revealer of secrets"

Genesis 41:50-52

Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."

These are Hebrew names, not Egyptian names.

Manasseh: "forgetfulness" or "amnesia"

Ephraim: "fruitfulness" or "ambrosia"

He forgets his misery, but not his faith or his family.

Jacob will bless Manasseh and Ephraim as two of his sons and they will become two of the twelve tribes of Israel. Some people overlook this. It's an unbelievable story. We have the twelve tribes, but they're not all the twelve sons of Jacob. There is no tribe of "Joseph." We don't hear about the tribe of Joseph in the wilderness. What do you hear about? The tribe of Manasseh and the tribe of Ephraim. This is where they come from. They are Joseph's children.

I don't think his wife had much influence over Joseph. I think it's the other way: Joseph had an influence over his wife. Remember who gave him his wife. He didn't go out looking for one. Pharaoh said, "Here. You have to have a wife."

Genesis 41:56-57

When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

"All peoples on earth will be blessed." Genesis 12:3

Genesis 42

Back in Canaan, Jacob looks at his sons and asks, "Why are looking at each other? There's a famine going on." He sends the brothers to Egypt to buy grain.

Genesis 42:6

Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the one who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

There's the dream coming true. They bowed down to him.

Genesis 42:7-8

As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. "Where do you come from?" he asked. "From the land of Canaan," they replied, "to buy food." Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

This continues for a while. That's a story that you can read. I'm going to summarize a bit.

They go back and forth. Joseph is going to test his brothers. He's going to see if they've changed any. It's been 20 years now. Have they changed any? "Are you still as selfish and evil and far from God?" He gets Benjamin involved. They tell him about Benjamin. He throws Simeon in prison and says, "I'm going to keep this one until you bring the other one and prove that you're truthful." Of course, they go back and tell Jacob. What does Jacob say? "No way. I've already lost Joseph. Why should I lose Benjamin? I don't care about the rest of you, but I care about Benjamin." That's part of the dysfunctional relationship.

Genesis 43:23-28

"It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them. The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. They prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there. When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. He asked them how they were, and then he said, "How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?" They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to pay him honor.

Here they are, bowing down again. Here's the dream, coming true again.

Genesis 43:29-30

As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food."

Don't miss that. We talk about David having a heart after God. Joseph, in my opinion, is a type of Christ. Look at the Parallels between Joseph and Jesus. It will just astound you. That's the kind of life we're supposed to live today, as Joseph lived back then.

Genesis 44:9-10

If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." "Very well, then," he said, "let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame."

They're looking for the silver because they hid it in one of the sacks.

Genesis 44:11-12

Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

Joseph is testing his brothers.

Genesis 44:13-14

At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

They're bowing down again and again and again!

Genesis 44:15

Joseph said to them, "What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?"

They're still looking at him as "Egyptian." They don't see him as their brother.

Genesis 44:16

"What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves--we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup."

Ahhh! Here's Judah! The one who said, "Let's sell him."

Genesis 44:17

But Joseph said, "Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace."

It's a test. Here's the test.

Genesis 44:18-20

Then Judah went up to him and said: "Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. My lord asked his servants, `Do you have a father or a brother?' And we answered, `We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.'

What do the brothers consider Joseph? Dead. He died in slavery. He's gone.

Genesis 44:21-29

"Then you said to your servants, `Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.' And we said to my lord, `The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' But you told your servants, `Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. "Then our father said, `Go back and buy a little more food.' But we said, `We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.' "Your servant my father said to us, `You know that my wife bore me two sons. One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.'

How is Jacob, by the way, in terms of spiritual maturity? He hasn't grown very much, has he?

Genesis 44:30-34

"So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, `If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father."

How's Judah's spiritual maturity? Good. He didn't think a thing about selling Joseph into slavery, but now he's willing to take Benjamin's place in slavery.

This will send chills up your spine. This is the "Old Yeller" moment. This is where you'll see grace in men--that's what they call it when men weep over something like this. It's grace coming out.

Genesis 45:1-3

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Wouldn't you be terrified, too? What's the first thing that crossed their minds? "We're in trouble!"

Genesis 45:4-8

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

What a fantastic way of looking at this!!?! How many of you could forgive your brothers and say, "You know. It wasn't you that did this, but God."

There are two reasons why God allowed things to happen to Joseph and then Joseph's response to it.

1. The famine -- The nation of Israel is moved to Egypt and are supposed to move back to Canaan but don't.

2. What if Judah and all the others had stayed in Canaan? -- They would have died, not just physically, but spiritually. They were inter-marrying with Canaanites. They were all over the place. God removed them from Canaan and brought them down to Egypt.