Genesis Part 3 Week 4

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 41:37-40 

³⁷ Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. ³⁸ So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 

Joseph had not only interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, but he also told Pharaoh what needed to be done. Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph’s suggestions he did not think anyone wiser could be found to be put in charge. All of Pharaoh’s subordinates would be under Joseph’s authority. No one would rank higher than Joseph except Pharaoh himself. 

REFLECT 

Have you sometimes asked for wisdom based on your understanding of James 1:5-8?  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 41:37-44. The significance of Pharaoh’s signet ring was for the custom of impressing its image on a decree that would be like signing a check. This custom was also followed in Esther 8:1-2 that sealed a decree to help the Jews. The people in Egypt were forced to kneel before Joseph as he rode in the chariot reserved for the second-in-command.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 41:45-46 

⁴⁵ Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. ⁴⁶ He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt. 

The Egyptians could not have a Hebrew among them whose name reflected Jehovah so they gave Joseph an Egyptian name. He was also given a wife, the daughter of a priest. As the story of Joseph began in Genesis 37 he was only 17 years old. Now he is 30. As a good supervisor he “inspected the entire land of Egypt.” 

REFLECT 

Think of all Joseph had been through in 13 years. His confidence was in God no matter what happened to him. 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 41:45-52. During the years of prosperity the grain was so abundant there was no need to keep more records. Two children were born to Joseph who later had land divided to them and their ancestors when the land of Canaan was divided among the 12 tribes of Israel.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 41:53-54 

⁵³ At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. ⁵⁴ Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. 

The good times were now over and the bad times began. All the surrounding countries experienced famine but Egypt was the land of plenty. Surely the other countries would realize they were at the mercy of Egypt and needed to come to it for help.  

REFLECT 

How have you reacted when good times suddenly turned to bad times? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 41:53-57. When the people in other lands suffering famine cried out to the Pharaoh, he told them “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” The teenager who had dreams about his family is now in charge of seeing other countries could survive the famine.  

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 42:1-2 

¹ When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? ² I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.” 

The famine had reached Jacob and his family in Canaan. The news about there being food in Egypt had reached Canaan where Jacob and his family lived. He ordered his sons to go down to Egypt to buy grain to keep their family alive. He knew the consequences if they did not; “Otherwise we’ll die.” 

REFLECT 

Have you or others you know ever been in a situation that you depended on others for your survival? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 42:1-16. Jacob would not let his sons take their brother Benjamin who was the only son remaining of his favorite wife. When Jacob’s sons reached Egypt, Joseph immediately recognized them as his brothers. He said that one of them should be sent back to get their youngest brother and the others would be kept in prison. 

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 42:17-20 

¹⁷ So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. ¹⁸ On the third day Joseph said to them, “I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live. ¹⁹ If you really are honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families. ²⁰ But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. This will prove that you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” To this they agreed. 

All the brothers were kept in prison for three days. Then Joseph changed his mind and ordered that only one be kept in prison and the others should take food back to Canaan and then bring their youngest brother to him. If they did not, they would all die. In this life or death situation the brothers agreed.  

REFLECT 

Think of the serious consequences the brothers faced. What if their father would not let them take Benjamin to Egypt? He had refused before.  

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 42:17-26. This passage reveals a tender moment when the brothers were talking in Hebrew and did not realize Joseph understood them because he was using an interpreter. Their comments caused Joseph to weep, but then he regained his composure. Simeon was ordered to be kept while the others could leave for Canaan. Joseph also gave secret instructions to put their payment for grain back in their sacks.