Joseph had reached the age of seventeen and helped his half-brothers with the sheep, Genesis 37:2. The location is probably in the vicinity of Hebron. Jacob’s love for Joseph was a very open manifestation of affection that irritated his brothers, Genesis 37:3-4.
He was given a colourful coat, Genesis 37:3, which no doubt was looked upon with suspicion that Joseph would receive the birthright. So great was the jealousy that they continually quarrelled with him, Genesis 37:11. Joseph was not without blame. Why would he tell his two dreams so openly? Genesis 37:1-11.
It was very obvious that the dreams inferred that Joseph would be over them, and also his father and mother. This inflamed their resentment. His father understood the meaning and rebuked him for it, Genesis 37:10.
Jacob knew God often spoke to people by dreams, Genesis 28:12-15; he must have realised there was something unusual about Joseph that he would have such dreams.
The brothers had gone to graze the flocks, Genesis 37:12, something like fifty miles away. Jacob is anxious about being with them. Joseph was sent to report on how things were going and where they were, Genesis 37:13-17.
Today, we do not realise how difficult nomadic life was in those days. With his coat of many colours, he could be spotted a mile away. They conspired to kill their brother, Genesis 37:18. This shows the low morals of this family.
One wonders if their polygamous background contributed much to their hate and jealousy. However, Reuben was determined to prevent his death by rescuing Joseph, Genesis 37:21-22.
This may have been because he did not want to see his father hurt, rather than any feelings he had for Joseph. He employs a delaying tactic, planning to release him. It seems Judah is the leader in the second decision to sell him into slavery, Genesis 37:26-27. He is sold for twenty pieces of silver, Genesis 37:28.
Reuben is greatly frustrated when he returns to find Joseph gone, Genesis 37:29-30. What they did with the coat was cruel deceit, Genesis 37:31, again showing their low morals. Jacob naturally thought Joseph had been killed by a wild beast, Genesis 37:33.
His sorrow was almost more than he could bear. He went into deep mourning and refused to be comforted, Genesis 37:34-35. Were the brothers now satisfied? Was it really worth it? Or were they past feeling anything for Jacob?
Joseph’s master, Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, soon found out that everything Joseph did prospered, Genesis 39:3, and he seems to recognise that God was blessing his house for Joseph’s sake, Genesis 39:5.
Joseph is placed in complete charge of his entire house, Genesis 39:4-6. Genesis 39:6 implies Joseph was a handsome young man. Potiphar’s wife puts Joseph to a severe test of his moral integrity and faithfulness, Genesis 39:7-12.
Joseph gives two reasons for not giving in to her wishes: 1. His gratitude for his master, Genesis 39:8-9, and 2. His respect for God, whom he loved and served, Genesis 39:9.
Adultery is a very old sin, but it is still wrong today. Time does not change basic morals. It is even more evident what kind of woman she was. She did not give up but consistently tried to seduce Joseph, Genesis 39:10.
Finally, in rage, she falsely accuses him. She tells the entire household a fabricated lie and seeks to blame her husband, whom she had tried to dishonour, Genesis 39:16-19.
It is likely Potiphar did not believe his wife and was angry more by the embarrassing situation his wife had put him in than he was with Joseph. But God does not desert Joseph. He cared for Joseph and blessed his work in the prison, Genesis 39:21-23. Everything Joseph did prospered, Genesis 39:3.
The “butler” was literally the “cupbearer,” and the baker was a “cook.” They had displeased Pharaoh and were placed in the same prison where Joseph was, Genesis 40:1-3. This was the providence of God, although it took a long time for it to work out in Joseph’s favour. Joseph notices that they were perplexed, Genesis 40:6-7.
They knew their dreams must have some special meaning, but there was no one to interpret them for them, Genesis 40:8. Dreams were always assumed to contain some special message. There were professional dream interpreters, but these men did not have access to the interpreters.
Joseph tells them that the interpretation of dreams belonged to God, Genesis 40:8. Joseph gives them the interpretation of their dreams, Genesis 40:9-19. Within three days, their dreams were fulfilled, Genesis 40:12-13 / Genesis 40:18-19 / Genesis 40:20-22.
Joseph asked the baker to remember him and his being falsely imprisoned, but the cupbearer forgot all about him, Genesis 40:23. Pharaoh now has two dreams. In his first dream, he is standing by the Nile River, Genesis 41:17.
Some think that the “kine” were hippopotamus, which inhabited the Nile River and, frequently at night, would come up out of the river to feed in the fields. Others say they were cows. The well-favoured kine were devoured by the lean kine, indicating the severity of an approaching famine.
Pharaoh had a second dream. He sees ears of corn, which were good but were being devoured by seven thin or poor ears of corn, Genesis 41:5-7. Both dreams point out the same truth.
There would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of a severe famine, Genesis 41:29-30. The magicians were the professional interpreters of dreams. They had been unable to tell the meaning, Genesis 41:8.
It is now two years after Joseph’s imprisonment that the butler remembers Joseph, Genesis 41:9. Joseph is cleaned up and brought before Pharaoh, Genesis 41:14.
No doubt he thought Joseph was a professional interpreter of dreams. Joseph corrected him by saying that his ability came only from God, Genesis 41:16. God is the one who interprets dreams.
Pharaoh rehearsed his two dreams to Joseph, Genesis 41:17-24. Joseph shows plainly the meaning of the dreams, Genesis 41:25-32. Again, it is emphasised that God showed Pharaoh what the meaning was, Genesis 41:28.
Joseph gives Pharaoh wise advice as to what should be done, Genesis 41:33-36. It is doubtful that he had any idea or aspirations of being appointed as the Prime Minister of Egypt to accomplish this task.
Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph and his wise counsel that he immediately appointed him to take charge of this tremendous food storage program, Genesis 41:39-41 / Genesis 41:46-49.
The signet ring, Genesis 41:42-43, would identify Joseph as the official representative of the king to issue royal decrees about storing the grain. He is given royal garments to wear, Genesis 41:42.
A gold chain, Genesis 41:42, would be a symbol of authority in ancient Egypt. He was given the second chariot, Genesis 41:43, which usually followed the king in public ceremonies. The rider was considered second to the king.
Pharaoh makes it clear he has decreed this urgent matter, and thus no one would dare go against his decree. Joseph is given an Egyptian name, Zaphnathpaaneah, Genesis 41:45. He is also given the daughter of the High Priest for a wife, Genesis 41:45. Joseph immediately goes over the land for the purpose of surveying the situation.
By now he is thirty years old, Genesis 41:46, very young for such a high office. He proves to be a very diligent, trustworthy official with great ability to organise.
He has two sons, Manasseh, Genesis 41:51 / Genesis 46:20, meaning “forgetfulness”; God had enabled him to forget his troubles. The second son was named Ephraim, Genesis 41:52, meaning “fruitfulness”, thus the idea that God had made him prosperous and fruitful.
When the seven years of plenty ended, the famine arrived just as Pharaoh had been told, Genesis 41:54. They had gathered so much that it was impossible to keep accurate records, Genesis 41:49. There was plenty for the lean years.
However, the famine had extended beyond Egypt, causing many from surrounding countries to come searching for grain that they could buy, Genesis 41:57.
Back in Canaan, Jacob learned there was food in Egypt, so he sent ten of his sons to buy grain, Genesis 42:1-3. On the way, did the thought ever cross their minds that they might run into Joseph?
Providence brings them into the very presence of Joseph. They bowed before him, unconsciously fulfilling the dream that Joseph had told them about years before, Genesis 42:6. His speech, manners and dress were different.
He immediately knows them, but they do not know him, Genesis 42:8. He speaks roughly to them to avoid recognition and to test them, no doubt to see if they have changed. He accuses them of being spies, Genesis 42:9.
They declare there were twelve of them, but “one is not”, Genesis 42:32-33, keeping alive an old lie. Joseph demands that they bring the one (Benjamin) who remained in Canaan to prove their innocence, Genesis 42:15-20. He has them thrown into prison for three days. He will keep Simeon, but they must return home and bring Benjamin, Genesis 42:17-20.
He heard their remorseful cry, “We are paying for what we did to our brother; we saw how terrified he was when he was begging us for mercy,” Genesis 42:21. Joseph begins to see a spark of repentance rising from them.
Their sacks were also filled, and their money was restored, Genesis 42:25. Later, when they discover this, they cry out, “What is God doing to us?” Genesis 42:28.
They explain to Jacob that they must return with Benjamin if they are to get Simeon back, Genesis 43:1-14. Jacob refuses. Reuben makes a special plea, but still Jacob refuses, Genesis 42:37-38. The famine gets worse. Soon, they are out of food, Genesis 47:13-15.
Judah urges Jacob to let them take Benjamin, Genesis 43:8-10. Jacob finally gives in. With great embarrassment, they tell of the restored money to Joseph’s servant, Genesis 43:20-22.
Again, they fulfil the dream of Joseph bowing before Joseph two times, Genesis 43:26-28. Joseph is about to burst into tears, but turns away from them to weep, Genesis 42:24.
What an emotional time for Joseph. Gaining his composure, he returns. They are seated from the eldest to the youngest, but Joseph sat alone according to his high rank, Genesis 43:33.
Each was served separately, but Benjamin received far more than the others, Genesis 43:34. Their sacks are again filled, but this time Joseph’s silver cup is placed in Benjamin’s sack, Genesis 44:1-17. A steward is sent after them. They cannot believe their eyes. Judah speaks up, declaring that God is punishing them, Genesis 44:16.
Judah makes a special plea to Joseph that if they do not return with Benjamin, their father will die, Genesis 44:18-34. Joseph could no longer hold back his emotions, Genesis 45:1.
Ordering everyone else out of the room, he tells his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” Genesis 45:3. The brothers are terrified, Genesis 45:3. Joseph soothes their remorse, Genesis 45:4-5.
He tells them not to blame themselves, but God was behind it, sending Joseph ahead so he could save their lives and the lives of their families, Genesis 45:5. Can you imagine the shock, the emotions, that erupted among these twelve brothers? Probably the most amazing thing is that Joseph could forgive them.
They are urged to return and bring their father and their families down to Egypt to stay because of the famine, Genesis 45:9-11 / Genesis 45:17-20. Jacob could not believe what they were saying when they returned, Genesis 45:26. Was he now told what actually happened to Joseph, or did they continue to hide the truth about Joseph?
What a great reunion it must have been when Jacob saw his son Joseph alive, not dead, as he had believed all those years, Genesis 45:28 / Genesis 46:29-30. They would be settled in a special part of Egypt called Goshen, Genesis 47:27, where they would have sufficient food. Also, this was because the Egyptians looked down on their nomadic neighbours, avoiding as little contact as possible.
It was God’s plan that from these twelve brothers would come twelve tribes who would form a nation of people, Genesis 49:28, who would be spiritual in nature, believing in the one true God.
Joseph’s spiritual characteristics made it possible for him to rise to the second-highest position in Egypt and save his brothers and their families from starvation.
The story of Joseph is a great story of the providence of God. In spite of all the evil and wrongdoing of Joseph’s brothers, God could bring about his purposes for the redemption of mankind.
Just before his death, Jacob instructed his sons to take his body back to Canaan to be buried in the cave of Machpelah, Genesis 49:29-30. Joseph would go on to live a one hundred and ten years, Genesis 50:22 / Genesis 50:26, of which ninety-three were spent in Egypt. He is truly one of the great heroes and spiritual giants of the Old Testament.