Genesis 42:25-38

b.      Genesis 42:25- Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

·        Acts 8:20 - But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

o       By returning their money, Joseph’s actions demonstrate that the gifts of God cannot be purchased with money.  Salvation is a gift, the corn represents salvation for Israel and it is a gift from Jesus, whom Joseph represents.

o       Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

§        What Joseph’s brothers did to him was worthy of death, but instead he chose to forgive them and thereby save all Israel

§        Similarly, what we did to Jesus with our sin was worthy of death, yet He chooses to forgive us.

o       Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:

§        We cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we work, how much money we have or who we know, it is a gift of God

o       Psalm 3:8 - Salvation [belongeth] unto the LORD: thy blessing [is] upon thy people. Selah.

·        Acts 4:12 - … there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

·        Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

II.               The brother’s return to Jacob (Genesis 42:26-38)

a.      Genesis 42:26- And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

·        No indication of how many asses or how many bags of corn

·        Could have been a 1 ass per brother and 1 sack per ass or more.

b.      Genesis 42:27- And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it [was] in his sack's mouth.

·        Alludes to the fact that salvation cannot be purchased, it is a gift

c.      Genesis 42:28- And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, [it is] even in my sack: and their heart failed [them], and they were afraid, saying one to another, What [is] this [that] God hath done unto us?

·        Why were they afraid? A guilty conscience results in fear.

·        Fear is not of God, fear is of the adversary and uses our imagination against us to conjure fear within ourselves.

·        Something good happens and they tremble in fear, no faith, no trust in their God.

d.      Genesis 42:29- And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,

e.      Genesis 42:30- The man, [who is] the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

·        Joseph was lord of the land representative of Jesus being Lord of all.

·        Isaiah 66:1 - Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest?

f.       Genesis 42:31- And we said unto him, We [are] true [men]; we are no spies:

g.      Genesis 42:32- We [be] twelve brethren, sons of our father; one [is] not, and the youngest [is] this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

h.      Genesis 42:33- And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye [are] true [men]; leave one of your brethren [here] with me, and take [food for] the famine of your households, and be gone:

i.       Genesis 42:34- And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye [are] no spies, but [that] ye [are] true [men: so] will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

j.       Genesis 42:35- And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money [was] in his sack: and when [both] they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

·        Even Jacob was fearful of the blessing

k.      Genesis 42:36- And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved [of my children]: Joseph [is] not, and Simeon [is] not, and ye will take Benjamin [away]: all these things are against me.

·        Through our ignorance and mistake, and the weakness of our faith, we often apprehend that to be against us which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and relations; and we think all these things are against us, whereas these are really working for us the weight of glory.  Matthew Henry’s Commentary

l.       Genesis 42:37- And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.

·        What an offer, “Dad, if I don’t bring your son back, kill your 2 grandsons”  I’m sure that was not a very tempting offer for Jacob.

·        Its obvious Reuben has the best intentions in mind, but his offer indicates his zeal is greater than his intelligence

m.    Genesis 42:38- And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

·        Sometimes fear is paralyzing…does it make sense to not send Benjamin and guarantee that everyone dies, or send him with the possibility that the lord of the land is truthful?

·        Sometimes we irrationally hold onto people or things that we don’t wish to part with, rather than give them up to the Lord.  Examples could include:

o       Parents and children

o       Boyfriends and girlfriends

o       Spouses

o       Siblings

o       Friends

o       2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

o       1 Timothy 2:3-4 - For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

§        God’s desire is for all of his people to be saved, we sometimes need to let go and trust God.  Trust Him and He will amaze you.

Genesis 42:1-24

I.                 Fulfillment of Joseph’s Dreams (Genesis 42:1-6)

a.      Genesis 42:1- Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

·        How would Jacob have seen that there was corn in Egypt?

o       Likely saw that his neighbors with provision and inquired as to where they were able to obtain it

·        “Why are you standing there looking at each other?”  Seems like a common saying that parents tell their children today

o       What are you standing around for…get to it!

o       No time for moping and feeling sorry for yourself, that’s not what we are supposed to be doing

o       2 Timothy 1:7 - For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

§        No time to feel sorry for yourself, God has given you power and the mind to overcome it

b.      Genesis 42:2- And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

·        v. 1 he saw there was corn in Egypt, v. 2 he has heard there was corn in Egypt

o       Matthew 13:16 - But blessed [are] your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

o       Jacob was tuned in to the will of God, he knew that God had made a promise to him and would make provision for his family.

o       God wants us to be watchful and be in tune with His Spirit

§        Matthew 26:41 - Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.

c.      Genesis 42:3- And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

·        All but Benjamin

·        Consider the volume of corn that they would require:

o       Enough for 70 people for some unknown period of time

o       Enough for all the flocks that Jacob owned

o       Enough for all of the servants

o       The amount of corn required would have been a massive amount and possibly the reason that attention was drawn to them in Egypt.

d.      Genesis 42:4- But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

·        Jacob shows the same favoritism toward Benjamin as he did toward Joseph

e.      Genesis 42:5- And the sons of Israel came to buy [corn] among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

·        Israel was not the only family to come to Egypt to buy corn

f.       Genesis 42:6- And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.

·        Genesis 37:7 - For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

·        Genesis 37:9 - And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

o       Here we see Joseph’s brothers bowing down before him thus fulfilling the dreams that he had over 20 years prior.

o       Joseph is now ~37 years old, he was younger than all of his brothers except Benjamin.  They are all in their late 30s and 40s.

o       When we think about the difference in our thinking processes in our teens and 20s compared to 40s there is a huge difference in terms of maturity.

·        The famine has begun, meaning 7 years have passed since Joseph was appointed 2^nd in command.  In those 7 years Joseph made no attempt to visit his family, why not?

·        Joseph traveled throughout all Egypt, yet did not find the time to visit Canaan.

o       Genesis 41:45b – And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

·        Joseph trusted the Lord, sometimes that is hard to do and Joseph seems to do everything perfectly, the way God would want him to do it.  Its hard to imagine making the right decision every time, but Joseph was blessed by God and led by His Spirit.

II.               Joseph tests his brothers (Genesis 42:7-20)

a.      Genesis 42:7- And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

·        Likely dressed in royal apparel and virtually unrecognizable to his brothers.

·        Luke 24:13-16 - And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem [about] threescore furlongs.  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.  And it came to pass, that, while they communed [together] and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.  And he said unto them, What manner of communications [are] these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

b.      Genesis 42:8- And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

·        John 1:10 - He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

·        1 John 3:1 - Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

·        Zechariah 12:10 - And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

c.      Genesis 42:9- And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

·        God allows Joseph to call to remembrance that all of these things were shown to him in his dreams and that they are all part of His plan.  This may serve to quell any of the resentful feelings that Joseph is harboring from the past.

·        Do we harbor resentment for offenses that may have been God’s plan all along? Letting go of resentment and forgiving others of their offenses is what God wants us to do

d.      Genesis 42:10- And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

e.      Genesis 42:11- We [are] all one man's sons; we [are] true [men], thy servants are no spies.

f.       Genesis 42:12- And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

g.      Genesis 42:13- And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.

·        They speak of Joseph as if they know he is dead by saying he “is not”, how ironic that they are standing right before him.

h.      Genesis 42:14- And Joseph said unto them, That [is it] that I spake unto you, saying, Ye [are] spies:

i.       Genesis 42:15- Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

j.       Genesis 42:16- Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye [are] spies.

·        Joseph initially was going to keep all of the brothers in prison and send one back to get Benjamin

k.      Genesis 42:17- And he put them all together into ward three days.

·        Joseph gives them a small sampling of the many years he spent in prison

·        He gave them 3 days to decide which brother was going to travel back to Canaan to get Benjamin, there is no indication that a decision was ever reached.

l.       Genesis 42:18- And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; [for] I fear God:

·        God - אלהים 'elohiym, Joseph uses the generic name for God rather than the covenant name יהוה Yĕhovah, for that would have surely alerted his brothers of his identity.  This does convey the message that Joseph is not a worship the Egyptian gods.

·        Nonetheless, these words should be very comforting to his brothers, for they know that he submits himself to the higher authority, and its not Ra.

m.    Genesis 42:19- If ye [be] true [men], let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

·        After 3 days Joseph changes his mind and decides to allow all of them to go, but kept one behind, why did he change his mind?

·        Could it be that he came to realize how much grain he had to send back to Canaan and one man could not do it by himself?

n.      Genesis 42:20- But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

·        What a strange request, how would this prove they were not spies?  This should have seemed like a very strange demand

·        Bringing Benjamin back would prove that they were telling the truth about having a brother, but how does that vindicate them against the charge of espionage?

·        Joseph is not even questioned, likely because they were afraid to speak to him.

·        We know the reason Joseph wanted to see the younger brother, but they did not know his reason and should have seemed like a strange request.

III.             Joseph’s brothers confess their guilt (Genesis 42:21-23)

a.      Genesis 42:21- And they said one to another, We [are] verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

·        Psalm 25:7 - Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.

·        20 years later their guilt is finally confessed in response to their current dilemma, why would they connect their current situation to their sin 20 years removed.

·        How often does God allow some calamity to happen in our lives so that we recognize our need for repentance.

·        2 Corinthians 7:10a - For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of…

b.      Genesis 42:22- And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

·        Reuben makes this statement with the full knowledge that Joseph was sold, not killed yet his blood is on their hands.

·        Matthew 27:25 - Then answered all the people, and said, His blood [be] on us, and on our children.

o       Unknowingly the Jews shout the same thing to Pilate

c.      Genesis 42:23- And they knew not that Joseph understood [them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

·        If there was an interpreter available that spoke the same language as Israel, it seems that their language must have been a common language.

IV.            Joseph weeps and blesses his brothers (Genesis 42:24-25)

a.      Genesis 42:24- And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

·        Isaiah 45:15-17 - Verily thou [art] a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour.  They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together [that are] makers of idols.  [But] Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

·        2 Thessalonians 2:13 - But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

o      Simeon - שמעון Shim`own, “hearing with acceptance”

o       Those who hear the gospel with acceptance are bound to Him

o       We also see the removal of Simeon from the other brothers which removed their “hearing with acceptance” they are sent out to their family to “testify without understanding”

§        Isaiah 6:9 - And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

§        Romans 10:17 - So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

§        The taking of Simeon could be representative of removing their “hearing” and lack of faith

§        This continues through the present with modern day Judah ho do not have a “hearing ear”

Genesis 41:1-41

I.               Pharoah’s dreams (Genesis 41:1-8)

a.      Genesis 41:1 - And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

§        Two years after the successful interpretation of the cup-bearer’s dream, more character building for Joseph, demonstrates the patience required when waiting upon the Lord.

o       Luke 21:19 – In your patience posses ye your souls.

o       Lamentations 3:26 – It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.

o       Psalm 105:19 - Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

o       Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

b.      Genesis 41:2 – And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.

c.      Genesis 41:3 – And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the [other] kine upon the brink of the river.

d.      Genesis 41:4 – And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.

§        The end of dream one

§        Obviously unnatural, cows do not eat cows

e.      Genesis 41:5 – And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.

f.       Genesis 41:6 – And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.

g.      Genesis 41:7 – And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream.

§        Again, obviously unnatural, cornstalks do not devour other cornstalks

§        Isaiah 55:9 – For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

o       We do not understand the ways of God

o       Was this entre scenario devised by God to elevate Joseph? Or

o       Was it to save Israel?

o       God could have saved Israel through a variety of ways including avoiding the famine.  Why this particular method? refer back to Isaiah 55:9...

h.      Genesis 41:8 – And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

§        Proverbs 21:1 – The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

§        1 Corinthians 2:13-14 – Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

§        Daniel 2:27 – Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

§        Daniel 4:7 – Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

§        Daniel 5:8 – Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

§        Proverbs 25:2 - [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.

II.            The cup-bearer remembers and recommends (Genesis 41:9-13) 

a.      Genesis 41:9 – Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

§        The butler recommended Joseph to Pharaoh to gain the favor of Pharaoh, not to honor his promise to Joseph.

§        God’s timing is perfect, had he been released earlier there would have been no purpose for him to serve and would have possibly been sent back to his father.

b.      Genesis 41:10 – Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, [both] me and the chief baker:

c.      Genesis 41:11 – And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

d.      Genesis 41:12 – And [there was] there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret.

III.             Joseph interprets dreams and counsels Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14-36)

a.      Genesis 41:13 – And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.

b.      Genesis 41:14 – Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved [himself], and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

§        Third time his raiment is removed, this time it is restored with new raiment.  The others, he was stripped (his brothers and Potiphar’s wife)

§        Could have been an intimidating experience

c.      Genesis 41:15 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and [there is] none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, [that] thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.

§        When we are serving the Lord others take note.  God blesses those who serve Him.

§        When we serve the Lord uncompromisingly we develop a reputation of integrity and reliability that others will turn to in times of trouble

o       Here is Pharaoh, king of all Egypt, seemingly grasping at straws in desperation to find someone to assuage his torment.  On the word of his butler, he brings a lowly slave, a prisoner no less to hear his dreams.

o       God prepared Joseph to stand before Pharaoh

a.      Proverbs 22:29 - Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].

d.      Genesis 41:16 – And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

§        John 8:28 – Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

§        John 12:49- For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

§        John 17:8 – For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received [them], and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

§        Revelation 1:1 – The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:

§        Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

o       Joseph acknowledges that the power to interpret dreams is not his own, but God’s

e.      Genesis 41:17 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:

§        Refer to v.1

f.       Genesis 41:18 – And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:

g.      Genesis 41:19 - And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:

h.      Genesis 41:20 – And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:

i.       Genesis 41:21 – And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they [were] still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.

j.       Genesis 41:22 – And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:

k.      Genesis 41:23 – And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, [and] blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:

§        The “east wind”:

o       The prevailing winds in Egypt are north to south, the east wind mentioned here was considered to be evil, a westerly wind was considered good.

l.       Genesis 41:24 – And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told [this] unto the magicians; but [there was] none that could declare [it] to me.

§        Or declare it to the Pharaoh’s satisfaction; God likely had given Pharaoh discernment to know a genuine interpretation from a false interpretation so that he could recognize that Joseph’s interpretation was accurate.

m.    Genesis 41:25 – And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do.

§        Here we see the double witness, two dreams attest to the same events

o       Hebrews 6:17-18 – Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed [it] by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

§        The number two signifies either division or a double witness.

n.      Genesis 41:26 – The seven good kine [are] seven years; and the seven good ears [are] seven years: the dream [is] one.

§        Unless God reveals the meaning, symbols are useless, who would associate cattle or ears of corn with years? 

§        God doesn’t reveal his secrets to those who have attained merit, but those He has chosen to accomplish His purposes.

§        Once the meaning is revealed it often seems so simple and we ask ourselves “how did I not see that?”

§        Sometimes things happen in our own lives that we don’t understand, but when we look back we can see God’s hand involved

o.      Genesis 41:27 – And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them [are] seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.

p.      Genesis 41:28 – This [is] the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God [is] about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

§        Colossians 2:2-3 – That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

§        Isaiah 28:29 – This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, [which] is wonderful in counsel, [and] excellent in working. 

q.      Genesis 41:29 – Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:

r.       Genesis 41:30 – And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

§        Ecclesiastes 7:14 - In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him

§        How often do we hear stories where someone won the lottery and they ended up having less than they did before?  This seems illogical when we here it, but there is a certain discipline that is required to remain prosperous.  Squandering what we have been given, rather than being prudent can allow our poverty to erase the memory of our prosperity.

§        This principle can be applied both spiritually and physically.

o       God gives us a passion to study his Word, if we fail to be disciplined and honor God by diligently studying in this time of “spiritual fatness” we will lack the foundation of His Word when we encounter “spiritual famine”.

o       We need to allow the Holy Spirit to bring balance into our lives

s.      Genesis 41:31 – And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it [shall be] very grievous.

§        John 6:27 - Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

§        Egypt does not receive a lot of precipitation, but their dependence is on the Nile river.  Depending on how high the river would overflow in the springtime would determine how plentiful the year would be.

o       The Nile runs north, an east wind would be perpendicular to the Nile and may effect the flow of the tributaries into the Nile

t.       Genesis 41:32 – And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

§        We see here that Joseph confirms the principle of a double witness.

u.      Genesis 41:33 – Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.

§        Proverbs 6:6-8 - Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.

§        Notice how Joseph transitions from interpreting the dream to providing counsel to Pharaoh, without being asked and Pharaoh is listening!  Talk about seizing an opportunity, Joseph demonstrates that not only is he gifted in wisdom, but gifted in the interpretation of social settings, when he should provide opinion and when he should remain silent.

v.      Genesis 41:34 – Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.

§        Why a 5^th? If they are only going to store 1/5 that means they are using 4/5 each year.  After 7 years the stockpiles would only be enough grain for a little less than 2 years, when they need provision for 7.

w.    Genesis 41:35 – And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

§        “Let them keep food in the cities” seems to put some responsibility back onto the Egyptians.

x.      Genesis 41:36 – And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

IV.          Pharoah promotes Joseph (Genesis 41:37-45)

a.      Genesis 41:37 - And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

b.      Genesis 41:38 – And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]?

§        Matthew 7:28-29 – And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.

§        Matthew 13:54 – And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?

§        John 7:46 – The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.      

c.      Genesis 41:39 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]:

d.      Genesis 41:40 – Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

§        Psalm 37:11 – But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

§        1 Peter 3:22 – Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

e.      Genesis 41:41 – And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

§        Hebrews 2:9 – But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.