Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Week 9
Joseph in Egypt
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Joseph the dreamer

• Joseph was Israel’s favourite: ‘…the son of his

old age.’ (Genesis 37:3)
• Envied and resented by his brothers:
– The ‘tunic of many colours’
– Dreams foretelling that one day Joseph would
have authority over them:
• Their sheaves bow down to his sheaf (Genesis 37:6-8)
• The sun moon and eleven stars bow down to him
(Genesis 37:9-11)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Sold into slavery

• Joseph sent to find his brothers

• The brothers conspire to kill ‘this dreamer’
• Reuben intervenes to save Joseph’s life
• Judah and the others sell Joseph to the Midianites
• Sold into slavery in Egypt
‘Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and
mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and
daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted,
and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in
mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.’ (Genesis 37:34-35)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Betrayed

• Joseph works diligently and loyally in Potiphar’s

household:
‘…Joseph found favour in his sight, and served him. Then he
made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put in
his hand.’ (Genesis 39:4)
• Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned
• God was with him and blessed him:
‘But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and
He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.’
(Genesis 39:21)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

More dreams

• The chief butler’s dream – restoration to

favour (Genesis 40:9-15)
• The chief baker’s dream – execution
(Genesis 40:16-19)
• Joseph remains in prison two more years
• Pharaoh’s dream – years of plenty followed
by years of famine (Genesis 41:1-32)
• Joseph, second only to Pharaoh, prepares for
the years of famine (Genesis 41:33-57)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Dreams and visions

• Dreams are used to reveal God’s plans

– Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15)
– Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2 and 4)
– Daniel (Daniel 7)
• The test of truth:
“How shall we know the word which the LORD has
not spoken?” – when a prophet speaks in the name
of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to
pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not
spoken…’ (Deuteronomy 18:21-21)
Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Week 10
Saved
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

A prophecy fulfilled

• Years of plenty as Joseph prepares for

famine:
‘So he gathered up all the food of the seven years
which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food
in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the
fields which surrounded them. Joseph gathered very
much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped
counting, for it was without number.’
(Genesis 41:48-49)
• Famine ‘…over all the face of the earth’
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt

• Jacob sends ten sons to Egypt to buy grain

• Joseph longs to see Benjamin again
• Accusation of spying
• Simeon held hostage
• The brothers return with grain and discover
their money restored
‘…Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid,
saying to one another, “What is this that God has
done to us”’ (Genesis 42:28)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis

The family re-united

• A second visit to Egypt, with Benjamin

• Joseph makes himself known:
‘And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in
the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance…’
(Genesis 45:7)
• God encourages Jacob to go to Egypt and renews
the promises:
‘And He said, “ I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to
go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I
will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you
up again…”’ (Genesis 46:3-4)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis
Joseph and Jesus (1)
JOSEPH
Beloved of his father (Genesis 37:3)
A good shepherd compared with his
brethren (Genesis 37:14)
A ruler over his brethren (Genesis 37:7-10)
Rejected by his brethren and sold for
twenty pieces of silver (Genesis 37:28)
Consigned to a pit…(Genesis 37:24)
…later found empty (Genesis 37:29)
Goes into a far country (Genesis 37:28)
37 v 29) in power to his brethren
Revealed
(Genesis 45:4-6)
JESUS
‘You are my beloved son’ (Luke 3:22)
‘I am the good shepherd’ (John 10:14)
The Messiah, the ‘king of the Jews’ (John
18:37)
‘He came to his own and his own did not
receive him’ (John 1:11)
Laid in the tomb… (John 19:41-42)
‘He is not here, but is risen!’ (Luke 24:6)
Taken up into heaven (Acts 1:9-11)
‘…they will look on me whom they have
pierced; they will mourn…’ (Zech. 12:10)
 Learn to Read the Bible Effectively: Genesis
Joseph and Jesus (2)
JOSEPH IN EGYPT
A faithful servant (to Potiphar)
Resisted the advances of Potiphar’s wife.
Wrongly imprisoned, with two others, one
of whom is saved
Exalted to glory and power, second only to
Pharaoh in Egypt
Appointed by Pharaoh to ‘save’ the world
from starvation and death
Provided grain for bread to preserve life
Salvation for those of all nations who came
to him for food
Married a Gentile, Asenath daughter of an
Egyptian priest, who joined God’s people
JESUS
‘…made himself of no reputation, taking
the form of a servant’ (Philippians 2:7)
‘…in all points tempted as we are, yet
without sin.’ (Hebrews 4:15)
‘…numbered with the transgressors.’
(Isaiah 53:12)
‘All authority has been given to me in
heaven and on earth.’ (Matthew 28:18)
‘God so loved the world that he gave his
only begotten son.’ (John 3:16)
‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:48)
‘There is neither Jew nor Greek…for you
are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Galatians
3:28)
‘…his wife has made herself ready.’
(Revelation 19:7)