40:9-23 The cupbearer's dream had a vine with three branches filled with grapes. He squeezed the grapes into Pharaoh's cup and gave the cup to him. Joseph said the dream meant that in three days the cupbearer would be released from prison and go back to his old job as chief cupbearer. Joseph asked him to remember him to Pharaoh and help him get out of prison. The baker's dream was that he had three baskets of bread on his head and birds were eating the bread out of the top basket. Joseph said it meant that in three days Pharaoh would have him executed and hung on a tree where the birds would eat his flesh. The third day was Pharaoh's birthday and he gave a great feast for his officials. He restored the cupbearer to his position and executed the baker just as Joseph had said. But the cupbearer forgot about Joseph and didn't help him get out of prison.
41:1-13 Two more years passed and Pharaoh had a dream. There were seven fat cows that were eaten by seven thin, ugly cows. He woke up but fell asleep and had a second dream in which seven healthy heads of grain were eaten by seven thin heads of grain. Pharaoh was very troubled by his dreams and none of his wise men or magicians could interpret them for him. Suddenly the cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh that there was a young man in the prison who interpreted a dream for him.
v. 14-44 Pharaoh sent for him and Joseph stated very clearly that it is God who interprets dreams, not him. Pharaoh told him his two dreams and Joseph said the two dreams are really one message. There would be seven years of plentiful crops followed by seven years of severe famine. The dream was given in two forms to show that "the matter has been firmly decided by God and God will do it soon." Joseph advised Pharaoh to find a discerning man and appoint commissioners to take 20% of the harvest during the seven good years and store it up for the seven years of famine. The plan seemed good to Pharaoh so he appointed Joseph to be in charge of it. Pharaoh gave Joseph his signet ring, dressed him in fine robes, gave him a gold chain, and had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command. Only with respect to the throne was Pharaoh greater.
v. 45-57 Joseph's name was changed to Zaphenath-Paneah and he was given Asenath, daughter of the priest of On, to be his wife. Joseph was 30 years old. He traveled throughout Egypt collecting a huge amount of grain and storing it in the cities. His two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were born during the years of plenty. After the seven years of plenty came the famine. All the lands around Egypt suffered in the famine but there was food in Egypt. When the famine spread to Egypt the people cried out to Pharaoh for food and he told them, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you." He opened the storehouses and sold grain to the people of Egypt. Soon the people of other countries came to buy grain from Joseph "because the famine was severe in all the world."
42:1-20 Meanwhile, Joseph's father Jacob was still living in Canaan with Joseph's eleven brothers. When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt he sent all his sons except Benjamin to go buy food. Benjamin was Rachel's youngest son and Jacob did not want to lose him as he had lost Joseph. When the brothers arrived in Egypt they went to the governor (Joseph) and bowed before him. They did not recognize Joseph but he recognized them and spoke harshly with them through an interpreter. He remembered the dream he had many years ago that they would bow down before him. He accused them of being spies and put all of them in custody for three days. Joseph told them to send one brother home and bring back Benjamin to prove that they were telling the truth. But after they'd been in custody he changed his mind and kept only one man behind while the rest took food to their families. That one would not be released until Benjamin was brought to Egypt.
v. 21-28 The brothers thought God was punishing them for what they did to Joseph. Reuben reminded them that he told them not to harm the boy. They didn't realize Joseph could understand what they were saying. He turned away from them and began to weep. He had Simeon taken from them and bound. Joseph ordered that their bags be filled with grain and their silver put back in the sacks. The brothers left to return home. When they stopped for the night one of them realized his silver had been returned. They were all afraid and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"
v. 29-38 When they got home they told Jacob why Simeon hadn't returned with them and how the governor wanted to see Benjamin. As they emptied their sacks each man saw that his silver had been returned to him. They were all very frightened. Jacob said, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!" Reuben, the oldest, said that Jacob could put his own two sons to death if he did not bring Benjamin home safely. But Jacob refused to let him go.
43:1-14 The famine continued and Jacob told his sons to go back to Egypt to buy more food. Judah refused to go unless Benjamin was going with them and reminded Jacob what the governor had said. Jacob blamed them for telling the man that they had another brother but the brothers defended themselves saying they had no way of knowing that he would insist on seeing him. Judah offered to take full responsibility for Benjamin. Finally Jacob agreed to let him go. They brought a gift for the governor; honey, balm, spices, myrrh and nuts. They took twice as much silver so they could make up for the silver that had been returned to them.
v. 15-25 They hurried to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. When he saw Benjamin was with them he told his servant to slaughter an animal and make a meal for all of them to eat at his house at noon. The brothers were frightened when they were taken to Joseph's house because they thought he was going to attack them, take their donkeys and keep them as slaves. They went to Joseph's servant and tried to explain about the silver but the servant told them it was alright. The God of their father had given them the silver. Then the servant brought Simeon to them. They washed their feet and fed their donkeys. Then they prepared their gifts for Joseph.
v. 26-34 When Joseph arrived they presented their gifts and bowed before him. He asked about their father. When he saw Benjamin, his own mother's son, he was moved to tears. Joseph quickly went into his private room and wept. After washing his face he came out and said, "Serve the meal." He was served by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were with him by themselves. Egyptians did not eat with Hebrews because that was detestable to them. The brothers were seated before Joseph in the order of their ages, firstborn to youngest. When they were given their food Benjamin received five times as much as the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph, still not knowing that he was the brother they had sold to the traders many years ago.
Much more next time.
--Sandy Blank
No class on April 5th
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