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| 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 > > > Daily Study Plan - Week Six > > Day one: > Scripture - Genesis 41:33-46 > > 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. > > 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 two: > Scripture - Genesis 41:47-53 > > 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. > > Day three: > Scripture - Genesis 41:54-57 > > 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. > > 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 > > 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. > > 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 > > 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. > > 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 six: > Scripture - Genesis 42:15-20 > > 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. |
| The chief baker and butler offended Pharoah. I kind of wonder what they did that got them thrown into prison, but the Bible doesn't say. https://biblehub.com/study/genesis/40-2.htm This website has some good information on this chapter. The ruler of Egypt was viewed as a god or son of their sun god. This gave him absolute authority over life and death. The chief butler position was like the personal server to the Pharoah. In verse 8, Joseph gives God the credit for interpreting dreams. In verses 14 and 15, Joseph's focus turns back to himself. While Joseph was learning humility, he seemed to have a bit of a pride issue too. Think back to his childhood. This is only part of why his brothers had hated him. He was his father's favorite and wasn't afraid to use this to his advantage. Butler's Dream: Three branches of grapes grew bountifully from a vine. The butler squeezed the grapes into the Pharoah's cup to make wine and handed it to the Pharoah as he had done before he went into prison. Interpretation: Three branches of grapes represented three days. In three days, the butler would be taken out of prison and his position would be restored. I find Genesis 40:4 interesting because it mentions Joseph being put in charge of the chief butler and baker, yet it also says he served them. This is a good example of a leader serving others, leading by example and humility. Joseph was a good leader because he cared about the people he served/lead. He noticed a change in their appearance. They were sad. Then he helped them by interpreting their dreams as God gave him the revelation of their meanings. When the baker observed that Joseph had given a good interpretation to the butler's dream, he told Joseph his own dream. Baker's Dream: Three white baskets were on the baker's head. The top basket was full of all kinds of baked goods. The birds came and were eating these baked goods right out of the baskets on his head. Interpretation: The three baskets were three days. The baker would be hanged in three days and die, and the birds would eat the flesh off of his dead body. In three days, it was Pharoah's birthday, and he had a big celebration. The butler's position was restored, and the baker was hanged where he died as Joseph had interpreted their dreams. Yet, after the butler had his position restored, he forgot all about Joseph. After the Pharoah had restored the butler's position, Joseph remained in prison for two more years until Paroah dreamed a dream that disturbed him. Pharoah's First Dream: Pharoah was standing by the river, probably the Nile River I'm assuming. Seven well-fattened cows came out of the river and began to graze in the meadow. Then seven more cows came out of the river that looked sick, thin, and overall unhealthy and they stood by the fat cows by the river. Then the unhealthy-looking cows ate up the fat cows. Pharoah woke up. Pharoah's Second Dream: Pharoah went back to sleep and dreamed again. This time, seven very good ears of corn came up on one stalk. After that, seven not-so-good ears of corn came up on a stalk and devoured the good ears. Both these dreams together disturbed Pharoah. Cows and corn were very important to the Egyptians. Cattle were sacred to the Egyptians. They were considered a symbol of power, fertility, and the divine. Corn was considered their most important crop and was a gift of the gods. It represented the cycles of life and death. None of Pharoah's wise men could give him the interpretation of the dream. Then the butler suddenly remembered Joseph who he had forgotten all about for the past two years. He tells Pharoah how Joseph, this Hebrew servant to the guard, who he had been in prison with had interpreted dreams for him and the baker and things had happened just as he told them they would. Pharoah called for Joseph upon hearing he could interpret dreams. They hastily went and got him from the prison. He shaved and changed clothes and was brought before Pharoah. It was customary in those days that Egyptian men were clean shaven, but Hebrew men had beards. I am imagining that grooming practices inside the prison weren't the greatest either, but of course that is speculation on my part. When Pharoah asked Joseph to interpret his dreams, Joseph replied, "It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." (Gen 41:16) Joseph gave God the credit for the interpretation of dreams. Then Pharoah told Joseph about his dreams. Interpretation of Pharoah's Dreams: God had shown Pharoah what he was about to do. Both dreams meant the same thing. The seven fat cows and good ears of corn represented seven years. The unhealthy cows and not-so-good ears of corn also represented seven years. There would be seven years of great plenty and abundance. Then seven years of harsh famine would follow the seven years of abundance. The famine would be so great that people would forget the seven years of plenty. The dream had been doubled by God because he had established it and would bring it to pass shortly. We can learn several truths from this story. We can trust in God and his sovereignty even in difficult circumstances. It is important for Christians to be trustworthy and faithful in their responsibilities. God's purpose often unfolds in some of the most unexpected ways. We must seek divine wisdom to guide the course and understanding of our lives. It is important to respect and submit to authority as long as it is within God's will. Finally, Pride comes before the fall. It is important to practice humility before God and man. |
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