WEEK 8

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WEEK 8: JOSEPH IN EGYPT GENESIS 37 Envy grew into hatred, and Joseph, the dreamer and favored son, became an Egyptian slave. Verses 1-4 *Joseph was a young man of 17 years and his father Jacob favored him as the son of his beloved Rachel, born when he was older. *He gave him a robe (“of many colors” or “with long sleeves”) which was designed for an overseer, one with authority. *This favoritism caused his brothers to fiercely hate him. (vs. 4,5,8) Verses 5-11 *Joseph dreamed 2 dreams which interpreted would have the rest of the family bowing down to him, submitting to his authority.. *While this only fanned the flames of passion against him by his brothers, his father Jacob---who understood God giving dreams---took it to heart Verses 12-36 *Jacob/Israel sent Joseph to check on his brothers in Shechem, and he finally found them in Dothan. Don’t miss the sovereign work of God to place them on the caravan route to Egypt. *Hate has now become murderous in the hearts of the brothers, but Reuben (first-born son) reasoned with them so that he could rescue them. (Matthew 5:21-22) *Note the leadership of Judah who suggested they sell him to slave traders (descended from Ishmael), which they did for 20 shekels of silver. *Then, the sons of the deceiver Jacob decided to deceive their own father into thinking his son Joseph had been killed by wild animals. Be aware: your children will imitate what they see you practice.

GENESIS 38 As Judah moved into the leadership position of the family, we see God at work in a woman named Tamar. Verses 1-11 *Judah married a Canaanite woman and had 3 sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. *Judah secured a wife for his son Er, a woman named Tamar. But God put him to death because he was wicked. *In the practice of Levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5-10), the next son should have children with her for the sake of his brother’s line being continued. Instead, he wickedly took her for pleasure but made sure there were no children conceived. God took up her cause and put him to death. *Judah sent Tamar to her home to await the third son growing up, but he really feared he would die, too. This was a disgrace to this woman. Verses 12-23 *Tamar soon realized that Judah had no intention of sending for her, and she came up with a desperate plan to force his hand. *Knowing the character of her now widowed father-in-law, she disguised herself as a prostitute (serving a pagan deity) and had sexual relations with him. *She kept his signet ring, his cord, and his staff as signs of identification and returned to her home and her status as a rejected widow. Verses 24-30 *In 3 months, Judah was told Tamar was pregnant through immoral behavior. He called for her with the intention of putting her to death. *When Tamar produced the identifying items to Judah that pinned him as the father, he repented and came to an awareness of true righteousness and justice, for she was willing to sustain the line of her husband when he was not. This will change him. *Tamar gave birth to twin sons, Zerah (whose hand came out first) and his brother Perez. We will later find Jacob, Judah, and Perez in the lineage of Christ in Matthew 1:2-3. Take special note that Tamar is listed there as well—one of the few women listed in the line of Christ.

GENESIS 39 Joseph was blessed in all he did as a slave in Egypt, And he maintained his integrity and faithfulness to God. Verses 1-6a *Joseph became a slave in the household of Potipher, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. *The LORD was with him! The LORD caused him to succeed and to receive favor from his master so that he entrusted all he had to Joseph. Verses 6b-18 *Just like his mother, Joseph was indeed good-looking Potipher’s wife lusted for him and tried to seduce him into having sexual relations with her. *Joseph refused because he recognized several things: …he could not betray the trust of his master, …he saw this act as being true wickedness, …most of all, he saw this a sin against holy God! *She repeatedly and persistently pursued him, even pulling on his clothes when she found him alone. But, Joseph would not listen to her and even fled from her presence. (1 Corinthians 6:18; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy 2:22) *Now, to save face and to get revenge for his rejection, Potipher’s wife used his jacket she had grabbed to accuse Joseph falsely of trying to rape her. Verses 19-23 *Potipher was indeed angry, but probably against his wife, for he knew her character. Also instead of putting him to death, he put him in the political prison of Pharaoh. *Again, we learn this about Joseph: …that the LORD was with him. …that He loved him steadfastly and showed him mercy. …that He caused him to have favor with the guards, and …that He gave him success in all he did. *He was again put in charge, this time of the other prisoners, because even they recognized that God was at work in his life.

GENESIS 40 Joseph interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s officials and while they forgot him, God did not! Verses 1-8 *Pharaoh was angry with his chief cupbearer and his chief baker and threw them into jail. These were important positions and required his trust. *Joseph was assigned to care for them and be with them for some time. *One night they both had vivid dreams but were depressed because they did not know the meaning of them. *Joseph invited them to share them with him, for he (who also understood dreams given by God) knew that the interpretations of the dreams would come from God. Verses 9-15 *The chief cupbearer told his dream first. Joseph assured him that in 3 days, Pharaoh would set him free and restore him to his position. *Joseph asked him to remember him when he came back to his position, because he was stolen from his Hebrew family and was unjustly imprisoned. Verses 16-23 *Now, Joseph interpreted the dream of the chief baker, but his end would not be so good. Joseph predicted his death by hanging at Pharaoh’s order in 3 days. *In honor of his birthday (which occurred in 3 days), Pharaoh had a feast for his servants and called for the two servants—the cupbearer and baker—to be brought to him. *Just as Joseph had predicted, he restored the cupbearer to his position, but he hanged the baker. *However, the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, as he had asked him.

GENESIS 41 Dreams given to Pharaoh by God led to Joseph’s ascension from the prison to the palace, from being locked up and forgotten to being in charge of the nation. Verses 1-8 *God gave Pharaoh two very troubling dreams. One was about 7 ugly and thin cows and 7 attractive and plump cows. Another was about 7 thin and blighted ears of corn and 7 plump and full ears of corn. *None of Pharaoh’s magicians or “wise men” could interpret these dreams to him. Verses 9-36 *When Pharaoh got upset, the chief cupbearer remembered his promise to the Hebrew servant of the captain of the guard. He told Pharaoh how Joseph had given him and the chief baker accurate interpretations of the dreams they each had. *Joseph was brought to Pharaoh and told him, as he had before, that he was not capable of interpretations, but God would give him the answers. He always pointed to the true and living God. *Joseph told Pharaoh: “God has sown you what He is about to do.” (v. 28) and because he ‘doubled’ the dream, Joseph told him it would surely happen, and it would happen soon! (v 332) *Then, he encouraged Pharaoh to select someone who was wise and discerning to prepare the nation for the 7 years of plenty and the 7 years of famine that were coming. Verses 37-57 *Pharaoh asked: “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Pharaoh knew immediately who it should be, and he placed Joseph second in charge over the nation, to gather food while it was plentiful and store it, and then disperse it for those who were hungry when famine came. *Pharoah gave Joseph specific signs of high position: A signet ring…. Authority Garments of fine linen… Dignity Gold chain necklace… Honor

*Joseph was also given a new name---Zaphenath-paneah—meaning “Revealer of Secrets” and a wife of high standing. All of this occurred at the age of 30---13 years after he was sold into slavery. *Everything happened as Joseph predicted, and he stored up all the food from the years of plenty in storehouses. In that time, God also gave him two sons he named “Manasseh,” (“making me forget”) and Ephraim (“making me fruitful”). *The days of famine came as God had said, and Joseph opened the storehouses to feed the people. “All the earth” came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, for the famine was worldwide. Again, God sovereign and providential hand is setting the stage for an amazing reunion and restoration.

Remember! 1. Celebrate the announcement of Christ in the story of Joseph. Trace the picture of Christ in Joseph (Arthur Pink: Gleanings in Genesis, Vol. 2) *They were both beloved Sons. *They were both clothed with honor. *They predicted their coming exaltation. *Their words were hated and not believed. *The were stripped and sold for a pittance. *They were tried by Gentiles. *They suffered between 2—one to life, and one to death. *They were delivered alive from imprisonment. *They are “Revealer of Secrets” (Luke 10:22) *They are both given names of reverence and authority. *They were given visible glory to mark their positions. *They became the source of bread for life! (John 6: 32-35) 2. Follow Joseph’s example and trust God in your circumstances, wait patiently for Him, and remember His faithfulness. 3. Share the Bread of Life in a world of famine for the truth. Offer Him to those who are indeed perishing eternally.

4. Cling always to what is true, be firm in your righteous convictions, and resist the temptations incessantly placed before you.