Roaring River

Genesis 42

Joseph's Brothers Bow Before Him

Jacob learned that Egypt was selling grain so he sent his sons (except Benjamin, his youngest and only remaining son of his beloved Rachel) to Egypt.

Upon arrival, Jacob recognized his brothers but they did not recognize him -- he spoke through an interpreter so as not to reveal that he spoke Hebrew. The brothers bowed to Jacob, thus completing Jospeph's previous dream that his brothers would all bow to him.

Joseph spoke harshly to them, as the Master of Egypt, and clearly put his brothers on the defensive. He accused them of being spies and put them all in prison for three days until they agreed to send one of them back to retrieve Benjamin so as to confirm the truth of their story -- that they ten were brothers of one family, one of their brothers was back at home in Cannan and the other brother "was no more."

Joseph then called them from prison and told them he would give them enough grain to take home but he would keep one brother in Egypt as a hostage to assure that the other brothers would return with Benjamin. Simeon was bound and put back in prison while the rest of the brothers were given sacks of grain to take back home.

When they arrived back home, they discovered that the sacks contained both the grain and the money (which Joseph had returned). This made the brothers fear that they would be accused of being thieves as well as spies. They told Jacob of the Egyptian Master's demand to return with Benjamin. Jacob balked at this, not wanting to lose his youngest son on such a dangerous mission.

 

Genesis 41

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams; Saves Land from Famine

Joseph is in his second year in prison -- long forgotten by the butler for whom he interpreted a dream and who was now out of prison. Then the cupbearer was called in with other wise men to help interpret a series of the Pharaoh's recent dreams. None of them could interpret the dreams and the cupbearer then suddenly remembered Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph and told Joseph of his dreams.

Joseph said that only God was able to interpret these dreams. He then said that God was telling Pharoah that there would be seven great years followed by seven years of famine.

Pharoah asked if there was a man who had the Spirit of God who could save the kingdom. To God's plan, Pharoah put Joseph in charge of his palace and gve him a wife -- Aseneth and they had two children. Diring the seven years of abundance, Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain. Then the famine began, just as God had planned. Joseph began releasing the stored grain to feed the people and he sold the grain to other countries who were also in famine.

God was working through Joseph to save the people from disaster -- even his own family that had turned on him. Through it all, Joseph had to endure many similar events to those that Jesus would later have to experience.