Life Preserver

Life Preserver

Genesis 45: Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ² And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.

 

³ Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. ⁴ And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. ⁷ And God sent me before you to preserve a ^[a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸ So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

 

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After Judah’s appeal to take the place of Benjamin, Joseph could no longer restrain himself. Joseph had his house steward place his cup in Benjamin’s sack along with the food that he purchased. When all of his brothers were told to return to Egypt, they were terrified. But Joseph had a big reveal for them.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph could no longer pretend to be an Egyptian to his brothers.
• Joseph was so overcome with emotions, that he wept aloud and sent the Egyptians away.
• Joseph explained to his brothers that what they meant for evil, GOD meant for good.

 

Hatred was the motive behind the brother’s actions. They hated Joseph so much, that they wanted to kill him but settled for selling him into slavery. When Joseph revealed he was alive and in charge of Egypt, the brothers got scared.

 

Joseph assured the brothers by explaining that GOD put him in the situations he had gone through. Being thrown in a pit by his brothers, and being accused of attempted rape by Potiphar’s wife and being thrown in prison were all part of GOD’s mysterious plan. Joseph was placed in the highest position because GOD wanted him there. GOD sent Joseph to Egypt to be a life preserver.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s big reveal to his brothers?
• What difficulties are you facing?
• Could GOD be using the difficulties in your life as a way to help many other people in the future?

Remembered Dreams

 

Remembered Dreams

Genesis 42: ⁶ Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. ⁷ Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?”

And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”

 

⁸ So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. ⁹ Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!”

 

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Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt to buy food. They were sent to Joseph who they had not seen in thirteen years or so. He was dressed as an Egyptian so they did not recognize him. They bowed down to him. When Joseph saw his brother and saw them bowing down to him, he remembered the dream GOD gave him.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph did not know how the dream would play out when GOD gave it to him.
• Joseph treated his brothers harshly, knowing the answer to the questions he asked.
• Joseph may have had many mixed feelings about seeing the brothers who sold him into slavery versus GOD being with him, teaching him grace.

 

Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. This gave Joseph an advantage that he never would have dreamt of. The brothers were forced to bow down to Joseph. They never would have done this on their own because of the hatred they harbored in their heart. BUT GOD knew this when HE gave Joseph the dream.

 

GOD gave Joseph a prophetic dream that came to fruition after HE created a famine that would make the brothers do anything to survive. This sometimes happens to you and me. Things, people and places are taken away from us, forcing us to rid ourselves of pride, fear and self-doubt. Joseph’s faith increased exponentially when seeing the dream come true/.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s “rough” handling of his brothers during their reunion?
• Has GOD caused a famine around you that is so great, that you have to change?
• Is GOD guiding you to let go of something you are holding onto by placing you in an uncomfortable circumstance?

Dream Actually Happening!

Dream Actually Happening!

Genesis 41: ³⁷ So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. ³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”

 

³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

 

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After Joseph laid out a plan to align with the impending crisis that GOD was going to do, Pharaoh consulted his servants. They all agreed with Joseph’s plan. Pharaoh placed Joseph over all of Egypt. Only Pharaoh was above Joseph. No one else.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph’s dream given by GOD was now coming to fruition.
• Joseph was being placed over an unlikely territory by GOD, that could care less about GOD.
• Joseph did not ask to be thrown in a pit or thrown in prison, but as a result, he was placed over the entire providence.

 

Joseph may have been ready for this appointment by Pharaoh. He had been placed over Potiphar’s house and ended up in prison. This wrongful imprisonment may have added caution to Joseph, knowing that fame is fleeting. He may have see the fickle Pharaoh making a huge decision that could one day be take back.

 

Joseph did not celebrate. When Pharaoh said “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt,”” Joseph did not respond. Joseph may have known that while Pharaoh was giving orders, GOD was the catalyst for the change. GOD is so powerful that even the mention of what HE is about to do , strikes fear in human hearts. GOD’s prophetic dream that HE gave Joseph was coming true.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses what Pharaoh said and did?
• When it’s your time, do you think it will be different than you thought?
• When GOD reveals something to you, do you think it should happen right away or in HIS time?

Where Help Comes From

Where Help Comes From

Genesis 40: ⁵ Then the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ And Joseph came in to them in the morning and looked at them, and saw that they were sad. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in the custody of his lord’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

 

⁸ And they said to him, “We each have had a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.”

 

So Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, please.”

 

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After days, weeks or even months, the butler and the baker had dreams on the same night. Joseph saw they were sad, so he asked both of them “Why?” The both said they had dreams but no one to interpret them. Joseph told them that interpretations of dreams come from GOD.

 

My Observations:

• Both men had significant dreams versus something they could make sense of.
• GOD provided both men their dreams on the same night and HE disturbed them.
• Joseph saw something was wrong with both of them, which shows his character.

 

Seeing the sadness on their face and asking “What’s wrong?’ was probably rare in the Egyptian society. Joseph had walked with the LORD so long that he was concerned about people he barely knew. When they said they had disturbing dreams, Joseph knew that GOD could provide the interpretation.

 

Joseph showed he had a special relationship with GOD. He knew that he could ask GOD what the dreams mean and GOD would not hold back. That’s the kind of relationship I want with GOD, one that HE does not hold back anything I ask that is in alignment with HIS will. Joseph point the butcher and baker to the only solution, namely GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the sadness of the butcher and baker?
• Have you ever had significant dreams and needed GOD to tell you the meaning?
• Can you rest assured that GOD is the answer and has the answer to your problem?

Heated Plans

Heated Plans

Genesis 37: ¹⁸ Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. ¹⁹ Then they said to one another, “Look, this dreamer is coming! ²⁰ Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

 

²¹ But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” ²² And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

 

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Enraged at hearing about Joseph’s dreams, the sons of Israel left Shechem and went to Dothan. There, they could see Joseph approaching without him seeing them. The heat of their conversation led to them wanting to kill Joseph. They developed a plan to kill him and were willing to execute the plan. But Reuben suggested another way.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph’s brothers were so angry, that they thought out how to harm him and began executing the plan by going to Dothan.
• Joseph’s brothers waited for him, possibly knowing Israel would send him out to spy on them.
• Joseph’s brothers were so jealous that they would do and say anything to get rid of him.

 

Talking to one another made things worse. Complaint after complaint about them more and more angry until it reached the point where they were willing to commit murder. GOD spared us the details of who the main conspirators were.

 

Fortunately for Joseph, Reuben stepped in with another plan. He probably knew he could not calm his brothers down, so he gave them an alternative. Dothan was the wilderness and no one would find Joseph if he was thrown in a pit. Reuben would then circle back around ahd get Joseph out of the pit and bring him back to Israel.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the plans of the sons of Israel?
• Have you ever been so angry that you planned out harm to someone, even if only using harmful words?
• Can you think of an alternative to rage by putting your mind on good, pure, and lovely things the LORD has done for you?

What are you seeking?

What are you seeking?

Genesis 37: ¹² Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. ¹³ And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”

So he said to him, “Here I am.”

¹⁴ Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.

¹⁵ Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”

¹⁶ So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”

¹⁷ And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan.

 

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After telling his father and brothers his dream, Joseph was left alone with Israel. He spoke to Joseph, telling him to go see what his brothers were doing in Shechem. A “certain” man found Joseph wandering and told him where his brothers were. Joseph went to Dothan to find his brothers.

 

My Observations:

• Israel seemed to only trust Joseph.
• Joseph’s brothers left Shechem to go to Dothan, probably because they wanted to go to a place where they were less known.
• GOD knew Joseph was about to be put in danger.

 

Shechem was the place where Simeon and Levi massacred all the townsmen. It must have been several years later that Joseph was sent to Shechem by Israel. A “certain” man saw Joseph. Was this man sent by GOD? It does not say. But GOD knew Joseph would fall prey to his brothers.

 

Joseph sought his brothers and was walking into a trap. His brothers may have left Shechem on purpose, so they could carry out their evil plan. Joseph was looking to report on his brothers, but would walk directly into their trap.

 

Challenge

• Why did GOD tell Moses about the conversation between Israel and Joseph?
• Have you ever walked into a trap?
• Was the trap you fell into, the beginning of a great testimony for GOD’s rescue and protection of you?

Dream Versus Desire

Dream Versus Desire

Genesis 37: ⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

 

⁸ And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

 

⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

 

¹⁰ So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

 

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“Now Joseph had a dream” is the beginning of a turn of events that would shape the world. Joseph told his brothers the dream and they hated him even more than before. He then had another dream and told it to his brothers.

 

My Observations:

• Israel may have told Joseph about the vision he was given by GOD when he saw angels ascending and descending a ladder.
• Joseph was not in control of the dreams, rather they came from GOD.
• Israel and Joseph’s brothers misinterpreted the dreams as Joseph’s desire versus GOD’s prophecy.

 

GOD spoke to Joseph in dreams versus a vocal conversation. HE gave Joseph a prophetic view of the tribes of Israel bowing to him. This dream sounded like Joseph wanted his brothers to respect him because they would one day bow to him. Israel even questioned the dream.

 

Israel said something strange during his response to Joseph. He said “Shall your mother and I.” Wait. Rachel was Joseph’s mother and she was dead. This shows Israel’s belief in the afterlife. Israel also considered that GOD may be involved in this dream, so he “kept the matter in mind.”

 

I believe Joseph was trying to tell people that GOD gave him a vision, but since GOD chose to not disclose HIS plan, Joseph could only say what he saw. His brothers would not believe, even if GOD gave Joseph a clear vision with specific directions, because of their hatred.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about how HE spoke to Joseph through dreams?
• Has GOD given you a dream that has not come to fruition?
• Are you encouraged by the fact that GOD has a specific plan for you and HE is working it all out in HIS time?