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- Who protected Jacob and brought him safely back from the land of Haran to the land of Canaan?
-God.
- What was the name of the son that Jacob loved more than any of his other sons?
-Joseph.
- Because Jacob loved his son Joseph more than the other brothers, what did the other brothers think of Joseph?
-They were jealous of Joseph, and hated him.
- What was the first dream God gave to Joseph?
-The sheaves of grain of the brothers bowed down to the sheaf of grain of Joseph.
- What was the second dream God gave Joseph?
-The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to Joseph.
- What did both of the dreams mean?
-One day, God would make Joseph chief, and Joseph’s family would bow down to him.
- Who knew Joseph’s future, and showed him the future through his dreams?
-God.
- When Joseph came to visit his brothers in the field, what did his brothers do?
-First, they took off his robe, and threw him into a dry well.
-Later, they sold Joseph as a slave to slave traders.
- Where did the slave traders take Joseph?
-To Egypt.
- To whom did the slave traders sell Joseph as a slave?
-To Potiphar.
- What happened while Joseph was Potiphar’s slave?
-Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph, and Potiphar put Joseph in prison.
-Did God forget about Joseph?
-No. God does not forget about anyone.
-Joseph is in prison in the land of Egypt.
-The name of the king of Egypt was Pharaoh.
-One day, God gave Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, a dream.
Let’s read Genesis 41:1-4
1-When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile,
2-when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.
3-After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.
4-And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.
-Who gave the dream to Pharaoh?
-God.
-What was the dream God gave to Pharaoh?
-Seven thin cows ate up seven fat cows.
-That same night, God gave Pharaoh a second dream.
Let’s read Genesis 41:5-8
5-Pharaoh fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.
6-After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted–thin, and scorched by the east wind.
7-The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream.
8-In the morning, his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
-What was the second dream God gave Pharaoh?
-Seven thin heads of grain ate up seven fat heads of grain.
-Pharaoh was the king of Egypt, but Pharaoh did not believe in God.
-Pharaoh and his people worshipped the sun, moon, and stars.
-Pharaoh and his people worshipped frogs, animals, and the river which was in their land.
-Even though Pharaoh did not believe in God, was God able to direct Pharaoh to do what God wanted?
-Yes.
-Is God able to direct people who do not believe in Him?
-Yes.
-God is the only God, and He is able to direct people to do what He wants.
-Because God is perfect, however, everything that God does with people is perfect.
-All of the wise men of Egypt did not know the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams.
-But someone told Pharaoh that Joseph would know the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams.
-Therefore, Pharaoh sent for Joseph to come to him from prison.
Let’s read Genesis 41:14-16
14-So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15-Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16-“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
-Joseph knew that he was not able to know the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams.
-But Joseph also knew that God was able to know the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams.
-Because Joseph believed in God, God revealed to Joseph the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams.
Let’s read Genesis 41:25-32
25-Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.
26-The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.
27-The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28-It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.
29-Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt,
30-but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.
31-The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.
32-The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.”
-Who gave to Joseph the understanding of Pharaoh’s dreams?
-God.
-What did both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean?
-Seven years of good harvest would be eaten up by seven years of famine.
-With the seven years of good harvest and seven years of famine coming, Joseph suggested a plan to Pharaoh.
Let’s read Genesis 41:33-36
33-Joseph said, “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34-Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.
35-They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.
36-This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
-Joseph suggested that Pharaoh find someone to store up the surplus of the good harvest years so that the people would have enough to eat during the famine years.
-What did Pharaoh think of Joseph’s idea?
Let’s read Genesis 41:37-40
37-The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials.
38-So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
39-Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.
40-You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.”
-Pharaoh made Joseph king of Egypt.
-Only Pharaoh was greater than Joseph in Egypt.
-Even though Joseph was sold by his brothers as a slave, God did not abandon Joseph.
-Even though Joseph was put into prison, God did not abandon Joseph.
-How did God fulfill the dreams that He gave to Joseph when Joseph was still a boy?
-God made Joseph king over all of Egypt.
-God always does what He plans.
-No one can stop the plans of God.
-After Pharaoh made Joseph king of Egypt, Joseph started to store up the surplus of the good harvest years.
Let’s read Genesis 41:46-49
46-Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.
47-During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.
48-Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.
49-Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
-During the seven years of good harvest, Joseph stored up more grain than could be counted.
-When the seven years of good harvest were over, the seven years of famine began.
-Where were Joseph’s father and brothers?
-Living in Canaan.
-In Canaan, the famine also began, and Joseph’s father and his brothers had no more food.
-Here is what Joseph’s father Jacob said:
Let’s read Genesis 42:1-5
1-When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”
2-He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
3-Then ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4-But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.
5-So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan also.
-Joseph’s father Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain.
-What happened when Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt?
Let’s read Genesis 42:6b-17
6-So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
7-As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.”
8-Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
9-Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
10-“No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.
11-We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”
12-“No!” Joseph said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
13-But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
14-Joseph said to them “It is just as I told you: You are spies!
15-And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16-Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth. If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
17-And he put them all in custody for three days.
-Joseph recognized his brothers, but his brothers did not recognize Joseph.
-Why did Joseph treat his brothers harshly and put them in prison?
-Joseph wanted his brothers to think about what they had done to him when he was still young.
-After three days, Joseph let all of his brothers out of prison except for one.
-Here is what Joseph said to his brothers:
Let’s read Genesis 42:18-20
18-On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:
19-If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.
20-But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.
-Joseph gave grain to his brothers, and sent all of his brothers back to Canaan except for one.
-After a time, the grain that Joseph’s brothers had taken to the land of Canaan was finished.
-Therefore, Joseph’s father told his sons to return to Egypt to buy more grain.
Let’s read Genesis 43:1-5 & 11-14
1-Now the famine was still severe in the land.
2-So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”
3-But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’
4-If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
5-But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
11-Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift–a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds.
12-Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.
13-Take your brother also and go back to the man at once.
14-And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
15-So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph.
-Joseph’s brothers returned to Egypt.
-When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph invited all of his brothers to his house.
Let’s read Genesis 43:16-17
16-When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon.”
17-The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house.
-While Joseph and his brothers were together, Joseph revealed to his brothers that it was he.
Let’s read Genesis 45:3-8
3-Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at this presence.
4-Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!
5-And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.
6-For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.
7-But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8-So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.”
-What did Joseph say to his brothers?
-Joseph said that God Himself sent Joseph to Egypt.
-Because there was still a famine, Joseph asked his brothers to return to Canaan, and bring his father and his family to Egypt.
Let’s read Genesis 45:9-11
9-Joseph said, “Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.
10-You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me–you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.
11-I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’”
-Joseph’s brothers returned to Canaan.
-Listen to what the brothers told their father Jacob:
Let’s read Genesis 45:25-28
25-So Joseph’s brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
26-They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.
27-But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.
28-And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
-So Joseph’s father and brothers went to Egypt to live with Joseph.
Let’s read Genesis 46:5
5-Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him.
-Why did Jacob take all of his family to Egypt?
-Because Joseph was living in Egypt.
-Because there was much food in Egypt.