My Reflections

Week 6 Joseph Bible Study

Week 6 Joseph Bible Study

> 1 Genesis 41:33-46 - Joseph is made Ruler in Egypt
> 2 Genesis 41:47-53 - Seven years of plenty
> 3 Genesis 41:54-57 - Seven years of dearth
> 4 Genesis 42:1-5 - Joseph's bothers go to Egypt for food
> 5 Genesis 42:6-14 - Joseph sees his brothers
> 6 Genesis 42:15-20 - Joseph Tests his brothers
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> Daily Study Plan - Week Six
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> Day one:
> Scripture - Genesis 41:33-46
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> Observations -
> What observations did you make while reading this passage?
> Are there any word definitions you needed to look up?
> Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you?

Joseph not only gave Pharoah the interpretation of the dream but also gave him advice on how to handle the situation predicted in the dream. He advised him to set up someone in authority over the land of Egypt to put back a fifth of the produce during the seven years of plenty. This way they could prepare for and survive the seven years of famine. His advice pleased Pharoah. Pharoah considered him wise and dependable because of his interpretation of the dream and his advice on how to handle it. Pharoah even asked his servants if they knew of a man that had the Spirit of God like Joseph did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaphnath-Paaneah
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asenath
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potipherah

Pharoah changes Joseph's name to Zaphnath-Paaneah. In general, it means revealer of secrets. He is given Asanath, daughter of Potipherah priest of On. On was a city in Egypt. Potipherah was a priest of Ra, the Egyptian sun god. Asanath's name meant daughter of Nieth, another Egyptian goddess.

The Bible tells us that Joseph was 30 years old when this occurred. So, he was in slavery and prison for a total of 13 years because he was 17 years old when his brothers had sold him into slavery. During this time he had been placed in leadership positions by those in authority over him which I am sure helped him gain experience before he was made second in command over all of Egypt.

I can't help but wonder how Potipher and his wife reacted to all of this, because now he was in a position even above them. Some people believe Potiphar and Potipherah are the same person. However, Potiphar was captain of the King's guard while Potipherah was a priest of Ra in the city of On. I believe they are two different people. Besides, I don't think Joseph would consider it a reward to have the woman who got him thrown in prison as a mother-in-law.
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> Application -
> How does this apply to my life?
> What can I learn from this?
> What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here?
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> Prayer - Say a prayer.
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> Day two:
> Scripture - Genesis 41:47-53
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> Observations -
> What observations did you make while reading this passage?
> Are there any word definitions you needed to look up?
> Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you?
>
Joseph gathered up as much food as he could during the 7 good years and stored it in the cities. He gathered so much corn during this time that they stopped counting it.

During these good years, Joseph and his wife welcomed two sons into the world. His firstborn, he named Manasseh and the second was named Ephraim. Manasseh was named because God made him forget all his toil and all his father's house. Ephraim got his name because God had made Joseph fruitful in the land of his affliction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephraim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manasseh_(tribal_patriarch)

> Application -
> How does this apply to my life?
> What can I learn from this?
> What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here?
>
> Prayer - Say a prayer.
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> Day three:
> Scripture - Genesis 41:54-57
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> Observations -
> What observations did you make while reading this passage?
> Are there any word definitions you needed to look up?
> Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you?

https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/evidence-seven-year-famine-joseph/
This article is about evidence regarding a multi-regional draught leading to a large famine. This is one of several like it when I did a Google search on "evidence of worldwide famine in Egypt". I enjoy seeing archeological evidence of Biblical events as it can be very interesting.

The Bible says that all the known countries of the world at this time came to Joseph in Egypt to buy corn because the famine was so bad.


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> Application -
> How does this apply to my life?
> What can I learn from this?
> What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here?
>
> Prayer - Say a prayer.
>
> Day four:
> Scripture - Genesis 42:1-5
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> Observations -
> What observations did you make while reading this passage?
> Are there any word definitions you needed to look up?
> Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you?

I imagine Jacob's family were having a family discussion about the famine and what they were going to do to survive it. Jacob says he has heard that they could get food from Egypt. He tells his sons to go buy food from there so they can live. However, now Benjamin was apparently the new favorite son, and he wasn't let him go nowhere so something didn't happen to him like it did Joseph. Getting rid of Joseph didn't exactly solve Joseph's brothers' issues they apparently found out. I am sure they experienced a lot of feelings of regret and guilt as a result of their actions.
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> Application -
> How does this apply to my life?
> What can I learn from this?
> What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here?
>
> Prayer - Say a prayer.
>
> Day five:
> Scripture - Genesis 42:6-14
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> Observations -
> What observations did you make while reading this passage?
> Are there any word definitions you needed to look up?
> Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you?

When Joseph's brothers arrived in Egypt to buy food, Joseph recognized them. Hower, they did not recognize him. Joseph kept himself disguised and spoke roughly to them, accusing them of being spies. They argued about it for a moment.
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> Application -
> How does this apply to my life?
> What can I learn from this?
> What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here?
>
> Prayer - Say a prayer.
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> Day six:
> Scripture - Genesis 42:15-20
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> Observations -
> What observations did you make while reading this passage?
> Are there any word definitions you needed to look up?
> Are there any words, phrases, verses, themes, etc... that stand out to you?

Joseph puts his brothers in prison for 3 days, they got a small taste of what they had put him through. However, after 3 days, he lets them take provisions home but requires them to return with their youngest brother that was left home to prove they were telling the truth because he feared God.
>
> Application -
> How does this apply to my life?
> What can I learn from this?
> What virtues, principles, or ideas are represented here?
>
> Prayer - Say a prayer.