Genesis 41-45

Notes compiled from my BSF group and Bible study with Pastor Damian Kyle


JOSEPH DECIPHERS PHARAOH'S DREAMS (Genesis 41)

God gives Pharaoh a dream that only Joseph could decipher (Genesis 41:1-8)
No one could interpret the dream because it was not given by dark magic but through God. Pharaoh's magicians knew only dark magic, and they had not the powers to understand God's message. Also, God intended the dream to be interpreted by Joseph only, as a way to bring Joseph up.

The chief cupbearer remembers Joseph (finally!) (Genesis 41:8-13)
Finally, the time had come for Joseph to be brought up. And just when everyone thought no one could decipher Pharaoh's dream, the chief cupbearer remembers Joseph who had once correctly interpreted his dream.

Inspiration: God puts people in our paths and is simply an amazing chess player. Who gave the chief cupbearer a dream so that Joseph could decipher? God. Who gave Pharaoh a dream that only Joseph could decipher? God. And the chief cupbearer just happened to serve Pharaoh? The way the events all pan out clearly shows God's hand in all of it.

Joseph reveals God's message to Pharaoh (Genesis 41:14-32)

As Joseph readily gave the glory to God, it was God who revealed to Joseph the meaning behind both of Pharaoh's dreams (Genesis 41:25).


1. Both dreams had the same message
2. Both dreams were from God
3. 7 good years of abundance were ahead
4. 7 years of famine would follow the 7 years of abundance

Joseph tells Pharaoh how to prepare for the coming years (Genesis 41:33-40) 
1. Put a discerning and wise man in charge of the land of Egypt
2. Appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance
3. Store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food
4. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt

Pharaoh places Joseph in charge to lead Egypt through the famine (Genesis 41:41-57)

Many may think Joseph wasted all that time under Potiphar and while sitting in Jail. However, if Joseph had not been with Potiphar or conquered through jail, where would he have gained the practical wisdom needed to now guide Egypt--an entire nation!--through a severe famine?

Through those past years, Joseph also developed a deep relationship with God. Joseph learned that God was always with him and could completely lean on God through any difficulty. Now, faced with the coming severe famine, Joseph could lead fearlessly because he knew he was backed by God!



JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 42-43)

Jacob sends his sons to Egypt for food (Genesis 42:1-5)
The famine years had come just as God had revealed, and the famine had spread to Jacob's family. Jacob thus sent all his sons--except Benjamin--to Egypt for food.

Joseph meets his brothers (Genesis 42:6-25)


Genesis 42:6
And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.

God's prophecy to Joseph (Genesis 37) came true.


When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them immediately. His brothers didn't recognize Joseph probably because Joseph would have appeared Egyptian, with a shaved head and Egyptian makeup. Further, the brothers thought he was dead (Genesis Genesis 42:22).


Genesis 42:23
But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter.

Joseph showed extreme discipline and restraint here. Despite the difficulty of taking his brothers through all of the tests for Joseph (Genesis 42:24), Joseph maintained his composure while in the presence of his brothers, even speaking through an interpreter.

Joseph truly showed great leadership and maturity in God in dealing with his brothers. He would not reveal himself until he had two questions answered:
1. What were their intentions for their youngest brother, Benjamin?
2. What were their attitudes toward their father?

Joseph wanted to test his brothers to see if they had truly changed, catching them not just on a good day but also on a bad day and heavily pressured.


Throughout the rest of his interaction with his brothers, Joseph would put his brothers through a series of tests to determine if they had changed from their evil ways.

Joseph gives his brothers a taste of their own medicine (Genesis 42:9-26)


Genesis 42:7
Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them.

Joseph begins his test of his brothers' character.


1. Joseph accused his brothers of being spies and put them in jail (Genesis 42:17)
Just as his brothers trapped Joseph down in a pit and sold him as a slave

2. Joseph retained Simeon in prison in exchange for Benjamin (Genesis 42:19-20)


Genesis 42:24
He took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes

Joseph kept Simeon because the eldest, Reuben, had made it clear that he had nothing to do with the evil plot to get rid of Joseph. The next oldest would then take his place as "hostage" for responsibility.


Joseph learned from his conversation with his brothers that Benjamin, his brother from the same father and mother, was still alive. He wanted to see Benjamin and to test if his brothers were jealous of Benjamin as they were of him and if they mistreated Benjamin just as they mistreated him.

3. Joseph returns his brothers silver (Genesis 42:28)
Joseph knew the famine would last 7 years, but his brothers didn't. They certainly wouldn't know to ask for enough food to last at least 7 years. Joseph gave them just enough that they would have to return within 7 years, just in case they were okay with leaving Simeon in jail for good. Even if no one came back for Simeno, Joseph could always ask Simeon to take him to Jacob. Joseph didn't know whether they had the money for the return trip, so he left them some silver.

4. Joseph gives Benjamin 5 time more food (Genesis 43:34)
Joseph was trying to provoke jealousy in his brothers. As Jacob's favorite, Joseph knew how uneasy that sat with his brothers. In fact, he was mistreated and sold as a slave because of his father's favoritism. As a continuation of his test of the brothers' character, he tried to see if his brothers still had the same murderous jealousy that they had for him. We see that his brothers did change. They ate merrily with him and Benjamin, completely okay with Benjamin being the favored son.

5. Joseph insists on keeping Benjamin (Genesis 44:1-17)
To test whether his brothers would leave Benjamin behind just as they left Joseph behind to die, Joseph planted his silver cup in Benjamin's sack and made a strong case to hold Benjamin behind.

Joseph's brothers were changed men (Genesis 44:18-34)

Judah comforts his father (Genesis 43:8-10)
Judah--the same brother that suggested selling Joseph for 20 shekels of silver, faking Joseph's death, and lying to Jacob about the whereabouts of Joseph--had really changed, becoming a different man. He showed an understanding of what Jacob was going through. And although he was well aware of Jacob's continuous favoring of Joseph and Benjamin, Judah was no longer bothered by that fact. He now stood up for his family, committed to do whatever was the best for the family, not just for himself.

The brothers tore their clothes in mourning when they discovered the silver cup in Benjamin's sack (Genesis 44:13)
Unlike what they did to Joseph, the brothers' heart broke when they understood what finding that silver cup in Benjamin's sack meant. They could have easily said, "Good luck, Benjamin. We'll see you when we see you!" But, they didn't. Instead, they were so heart broken upon hearing this news that they ripped their clothes in mourning. They loved Benjamin as their own, proving they have changed a lot since the days when they hated on Joseph!

Judah steps up (Genesis 44:16-34)

Judah made a promise to his father that if he did not return with Benjamin, he would take the full blame. We see here that Judah took full responsibility of his promise. Judah stepped up to take the blame.

All the brothers knew Benjamin was Jacob's favorite. The difference between their attitude toward Joseph and Benjamin was that they now accept their father's favoritism without jealousy. Changed men!



JOSEPH RECONCILES WITH HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 45)

Joseph saw his life through the eyes of God (Genesis 45:5)

The brothers did not know if Joseph would still be mad at them for what they had done to him. However, Joseph went on to comfort them, because he had already dealt with his horrific circumstances through God. He could have lived bitterly given his situation, but he didn't. He did not drown in sorrows, but rose with God's plan for him because he remained open to God's Word.


Genesis 41:51
For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.

At a certain point in time, we need to hand over to God our pain and toils. There is no more good that can be done by us, going over it again and again.


Joseph was a great man. Here, he reconciled with his brothers by extending grace. He basically said to his brothers, "If you want to do something great for my heart, please do not hold this against yourselves."

Where does this kind of amazing grace come from? Joseph didn't slip into bitterness because he had processed the past 22 years of living in exile between him and God, not him and his brothers! People may do what they want to do to take advantage of us, but we do have a choice in rising above it all and go with God.

Joseph knew what his brothers did was wrong. However, he also saw the grand picture that could only be seen through God's eyes: that God works all things to His will. His brothers might have sent Joseph away to be rid of him, but God sent Joseph to Egypt ahead of his brothers to prepare for the famine! (See the highlighted verses of God)

Joseph's brothers share love for each other and repent of their sins

Genesis 42:21
We are truly guilty concerning our brother

As they were being tested by Joseph, the brothers' first thought immediately went back to their mistreatment of Joseph, feeling the deep guilt even after all these years. 

Genesis 42:14-15
Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them.


LESSONS LEARNED

From Joseph, we learn that when others wrong us, God will right those wrongs. We do not need to hold a grudge over other people, because God will judge them and give us righteousness. Even if we are wronged, as long as we continue to follow God, to do God’s will, God will redeem us.

From Joseph’s brothers, we learn that it's never too late to change. When we are younger, we may do irresponsible things and make wrong decisions. However, as long as we admit our sin and turn toward God, God will embrace us and take us to new successes.

From Jacob, we learn that failures follow us when we depart from God. Unlike Joseph, who bravely followed God despite all that life had thrown at him, Jacob shrunk in his sorrows.

Genesis 42:36
Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me.

When we can't see God's perspective, we can easily be overwhelmed by our current circumstances. However, once reunited with his sons, including Joseph, perhaps he also adopted the view that Joseph never lost: God was working behind the scenes to fulfill His Will.

When we face difficulties, when we feel our situation could not get any worse, we should remember that as long as we remain faithful in God, God will deliver us--even if we can't see the bigger picture! Nothing is ever against us. God works all things toward our good!