"Joseph leads the Egyptians in storing grain in preparation for a coming famine." https://www.goodsalt.com/details/lfwas1702.html
"Dreaming of a drought" https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-41/
Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"The Pharaoh of Egypt has two dreams that trouble him. He summons all the wise men and magicians of the land but no one is able to interpret his dreams. The cupbearer tells Pharaoh about Joseph's ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh brings Joseph out of the dungeon and gets him to interpret his dreams. Joseph gives God the glory for his ability to interpret dreams. Joseph tells Pharaoh that both of the dreams mean the same thing. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. After them, seven years of famine will devastate the land. After Joseph gives his interpretation, he offers advice to Pharaoh. The Pharaoh should appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. Let them gather all the excess food in the good years, store it, and preserve it for the seven years of famine. This will save the people of Egypt from certain death. Pharaoh not only takes Joseph out of prison, but he appoints him as ruler over his household and all the people of the land of Egypt. Joseph becomes second in command in Egypt overruled only by Pharaoh himself. Pharaoh then gives Joseph a new name, Zaphenath-paneah, and he gives Joseph a wife, Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest at On. Joseph gains authority over the land of Egypt. Joseph is 30 years old at this time, and he travels throughout the land of Egypt. He helps gather excess grain during the seven good years and stores it in the various cities throughout Egypt. Two sons are born to Joseph by his wife Asenath before the famine arrives: Manasseh (the 1st born) and Ephraim. Manasseh means "God has made me forget all my hardship in my father's house." Ephraim means "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." The famine arrived after seven years of abundance, and the famine is sever over all of the known world. The whole world comes to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain in order to survive."
Some key verses from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "Now there was with us [in the prison] a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us, to each man according to the significance of his own dream. And just as he interpreted [the dreams] for us, so it happened; I was restored to my office [as chief cupbearer], and the baker was hanged.” v.12-13
- "Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me [to interpret the dream]; God [not I] will give Pharaoh a favorable answer [through me].” v.16
- "This is the message just as I have told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Listen very carefully: seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but afterward seven years of famine and hunger will come, and [there will be such desperate need that] all the great abundance [of the previous years] will be forgotten in the land of Egypt [as if it never happened], and famine and destitution will ravage and destroy the land." v.28-30
- "That the dream was repeated twice to Pharaoh [and in two different ways] indicates that this matter is fully determined and established by God, and God will bring it to pass very quickly." v.32
- "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since [your] God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and clear-headed and wise as you are. You shall have charge over my house, and all my people shall be governed according to your word and pay respect [to you with reverence, submission, and obedience]; only in [matters of] the throne will I be greater than you [in Egypt].” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you [in charge] over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and dressed him in [official] vestments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in his second chariot; and runners proclaimed before him, “[Attention,] bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt." v.39-43
- "Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (causing to forget), for he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and hardship and all [the sorrow of the loss of] my father’s household.” He named the second [son] Ephraim (fruitfulness), for “God has caused me to be fruitful and very successful in the land of my suffering.” v.51-52
My personal observations and reflections...
- NUMBER SEVEN. Including this, because I really find it interesting.❤️😮 The number 'seven' was mentioned 28 times in this chapter alone! (29 times in NKJV and KJV version)
- TWO DREAMS. After 2 years, and after Joseph interpreted the dreams of the 2 prisoners (Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker)-- it is the Pharaoh himself who received (2) dreams from God. Though the Pharaoh did not believe and worship the God of Israel, Elohim-- it happened because God was in the works of rescuing/delivering/saving His people (Jacob's and Joseph, and the rest of the lineage of the Messiah). Indeed, there were no accidents with God! Everything happened for a reason, for a purpose. I think, of all the countries/kingdom that time, God purposely chose the progressive land of Egypt to fulfill His great plans-- through Joseph, and for all the people of the world. ("In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:18 / Abrahamic Covenant)
- JOSEPH REMEMBERED. It didn't took long and the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph's ability (gift) of interpreting dreams, and told it to Pharaoh. It seems the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph's name, just his position and what he did ("a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard" v.12)
i. During the times we think God isn’t doing anything, He is doing the work most important to Him: developing our character and transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ." -David Guzik
- IT IS GOD, NOT I. Again, we read about the great character and faith of Joseph. He brings all the glory and honor to God before the Pharaoh.
- 7 YEARS OF GREAT ABUNDANCE, 7 YEARS OF FAMINE AND HUNGER. This was God's message, and there was a sense of urgency as these revelations and interpretations unfolded. Not only did Joseph helped Pharaoh in interpreting the dream that mattered to the world (that time), Joseph also gave such clear, step-by-step and wise counsel to Pharaoh regarding appointment of a 'governor' who will be in-charge of all the land, overseers and officials, setting aside one-fifth [of the produce] of the [entire] land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance, fortified granaries, storage and reserve to prepare for the famine (v. 33-36).
* "Joseph saw the confirming hand of God in the repetition of the dream. He knew the principle of by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established (Deuteronomy 19:15), even if he didn’t have it written in Scripture yet. The repetition also gave Joseph a sense of urgency: God will shortly bring it to pass."
"Joseph showed both his boldness and his gift of administration. No responsible administrator would present such news without also suggesting a plan to meet the coming crisis."
"It seems it was customary for Pharaoh to take 10% of the grain in Egypt as a tax. Essentially, Joseph doubled the taxes over the next seven years (Genesis 41:34 mentions one-fifth, that is, 20%)." -David Guzik
- JOSEPH IS MADE A RULER OF EGYPT. It was obvious to Pharaoh that Joseph was the one ("Since [your] God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and clear-headed and wise as you are." v.39). From a slave in a foreign land, to being a governor and ruler of Egypt-- God has exalted Joseph. All the sufferings and hardships were to prepare him for a high and great calling. Although what was happening in Egypt was just a physical manifestation of success and honor (signet ring, vestments of fine linen, a gold chain around his neck, riding in second chariot, people bowing the knee, v. 41-43)-- Joseph's real success was the fact that he was closely abiding with God. He loved God, he listened to God, he trusted God, he did the right things before Him, he obeyed God, he worshiped God.
"And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12
- "Jesus humbled Himself before God and before man, yet He was and always will be the most exalted among us. As in all things, we should follow His example and seek to humble ourselves before others in all that we do and say." Spiritual Bridge
* "This is the first mention in the Bible of the Holy Spirit coming upon a man. Pharaoh saw that Joseph was filled with the Spirit of God." -David Guzik
"Joseph had now gone from the pit to the pinnacle, but it took some 13 years to happen. From the outside, Joseph looked like an immediate success, but it was more than 13 years in the making.
i. Joseph is a good example of a man who seemed to have all the gifts and talents for leadership, but God developed his character
and talents over many years. Gifts and talents may be impressive and
immediate, but character is what God looks for and always takes time to
develop."
-David Guzik
- NEW NAME, NEW FAMILY. Pharaoh gave Joseph an Egyptian name "Zaphenath-paneah", maybe in an attempt to make him one of them, or make him more relatable as a leader to the Egyptians. He was also given a wife (what a lucky gal!) Asenath, who gave birth to 2 sons, before the years of famine came. The names of his sons perfectly summarize or describe Joseph's life and faith journey!
Ephraim (fruitfulness), for “God has caused me to be fruitful and very successful in the land of my suffering.” v.52
The pain in Joseph's life was very real, and it was hard to forget. 13 years have passed, from being a 17 y/o boy to a 30 y/o fully matured man. Only God can heal and cause us to forget all the painful past-- it is true in Joseph's life, it is true even in our own lives. Not only God can heal us, but He can also restore us so we can be fruitful in His kingdom.
"He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:13-14
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
*Bible Footnotes: Genesis 41:45 Probably Egyptian for “God speaks; he lives.”
* "Jewish legends say each letter of Joseph’s Egyptian name means something. Linking them all together, the name is “Seer – redeemer – prophet – supporter – interpreter of dreams – clever – discreet – wise.”
i. More likely the name means, God Speaks and He Lives, referring to God’s word coming through Joseph, his own preservation, and the way he has preserved the country."
"Joseph did not forget the faith of his fathers even though he rose to great glory in Egypt and had an Egyptian wife. As a sign of this his children were given Hebrew names not Egyptian names." -David Guzik
- 14 YEARS OF HARD WORK (Abundance/Famine). I imagine the dedication, discipline and hard work it took Joseph to do this! Amazing indeed.
"To this point in the Book of Genesis, Joseph is a remarkable picture of Jesus Christ.
- Was a shepherd.
- Loved by his father.
- Sent unto his brethren.
- Hated by his brothers.
- Prophesied his coming glory.
- Rejected by his brothers.
- Endured unjust punishment from his brothers.
- Sentenced to the pit.
- Delivered to the pit, though a leader knew he should go free.
- Sold for pieces of silver.
- Handed over to the Gentiles.
- Regarded as dead, but raised out of the pit.
- Went to Egypt.
- Made a servant.
- Tempted severely, but did not sin.
- Falsely accused.
- Made no defense.
- Cast into prison, and numbered with sinners and criminals.
- Endured unjust punishment from Gentiles.
-
Associated with two other criminals; one is pardoned and one is not.
- Some associate the butler, with his wine, and the baker with the elements of communion. Along the same lines, some associate the three-day period before their case is resolved with the three days before the resurrection of Jesus.
- Showed compassion.
- Brought a message of deliverance in prison.
- Wanted to be remembered.
- Shown to have divine wisdom.
- Recognized as having the Spirit of God.
- Betrayed by friends.
- Glorified after his humility.
- Honored among Gentiles while still despised or forgotten by his brethren.
- Given a Gentile bride.
- Was 30 years old when he began his life’s work.
- Blessed the world with bread.
- Became the only source of bread for the world.
- The world was instructed to go to him and do whatever he said to do.
- Was given the name “God Speaks and He Lives.” -David Guzik
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+41&version=AMP
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