Joseph: From Prisoner to Prince in Just One Chapter

• “How highly God has favored some of you!”
• “Joseph has risen from the dungeon to the throne; David has gone up from the sheepfold to a palace. Look back to what you were, and give the Lord His due. “He raiseth the poor from the dust...to set them among princes” (1 Samuel 2:8). You were unknown and insignificant, and now His mercy has placed you in prominence and esteem. Is this nothing? Do you despise the bounty of heaven? Will you not praise the Lord more and more for this? Surely, you should and must do so, or else feel the withering curse which blasts ingratitude wherever it dwells.”
• -C. Spurgeon

2Some Homework on “Prisons”

• Joseph is stuck in prison… “and ” by all
• Describe Joseph’s prison:

  • What could have been the penalty that Joseph suffered for his “alleged” crime?

3Background on Pharaoh and the Chronology of Events

• First: the dates of this incident are HIGHLY debated
• Joseph probably arrived in Egypt somewhere around the beginning of the 17th century
• The Hyksos were in power at this time
• Hyksos = “ ”
• Some scholars (not many) hold the view that these could be Joseph’s descendants
• This is a probably a mistake from some earliest writings by Josephus
• These people were said to rise up, destroy cities and false temples, and then rule over Egypt

4More Dreams…go figure…

• full years had passed (41:1) with Joseph in prison – forgotten
• Pharaoh has a dream 41:2-4
  • Pharaoh is standing by the river Nile (symbol for & )
  • The number is a significant number in the ANE – sometimes symbolizing fate
  • Seven cows rose up out of the Nile
  • Seven “ in appearance and thin of flesh” cows rose up and ate the fattened cows
• Pharaoh has a second dream 41:5-7
  • Egypt was the “breadbasket” of the Roman Empire (to come) – it was known for its grain as well as its cattle
  • Again…seven is the fateful number
  • Seven fat ears of grain rise up
  • Seven sickly ears of grain eat up the fat ones (they had been scorched by the “east wind”)

5Pharaoh’s Dreams Interpreted

• The royal dream interpreters were stumped 41:8-13
  • Note: “No one to interpret” probably meant that they were , but Pharaoh was simply not satisfied with them
  • Pharaoh himself probably perceived that these dreams were one and the
  • The cupbearer remembers Joseph – calls it remembering “his sin”
• Once Pharaoh knows about Joseph, there is a sense of urgency to get him an audience with the Pharaoh 41:14
• Joseph’s response to the Pharaoh’s request is interesting 41:15-16
  • Shows on the part of Joseph in his attitude toward God as the giver of dreams
  • Takes the bar for the of the upcoming interpretation up a notch
• Joseph interprets the dreams as one 41:25
• Joseph recalls the dream and then interprets 41:28-32
• Joseph not only warns of the coming famine, but for combat the coming problem 41:33-36

6Pharaoh’s Grateful Response

• Joseph is promoted to second in Egypt 41:37-41

  • This was probably indicating a typical job of an Egyptian Vizier – what did this person do?

• Some suggest that this simply meant that Joseph was now second only to Pharaoh in Pharaoh’s 41:40
  • “All my people shall adhere to your instruction” = “ the earth”
• Pharaoh gives Joseph gifts 41:42-45
  • Pharaoh gives Joseph a ring (grant of )
  • Pharaoh gives Joseph linen garments (what high officials would wear)
  • Pharaoh gives Joseph a gold chain (sign of a )
  • Pharaoh gives Joseph the chariot (reserved for in command)
  • Pharaoh gives him a new wife (marriage into a Egyptian family)
  • Pharaoh gives Joseph a new name
• Some meanings suggested:
  • “One of the most striking parallels (of Joseph’s exaltation) from the time of Akhenaten is that of Tutu, who, among other offices, was appointed “highest mouth in the whole country (Joseph’s title).”
  • “The wall paintings on the tomb at Tell el-Amarna show Tutu’s appointment by the Pharaoh, who is putting the golden necklace of office around his neck. They also show him leaving the palace, getting into his chariot and riding off as the people prostrate themselves before him in acclamation. This is altogether an excellent illustration of what must have taken place when Joseph was appointed chancellor in Egypt, in charge of the Pharaoh’s household.”

7-G. Wenham, Genesis WBC p.396

• Joseph was years old now and the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt
• “Our faith is not really tested until God asks us to bear what seems unbearable, do what seems unreasonable, and expect what seems impossible.”
• “Whether you look at Joseph in prison, Moses and Israel at the Red Sea, David in the cave, or Jesus at Calvary, the lesson is the same: We live by promises, not by explanations.”

8-W. Wiersbe – Be Obedient

9Joseph Starts His New Life & A New Family

• Joseph goes through with his plan for the famine to come and stores up food as much as the sand of the sea – he had to stop counting there was so much 41:49
  • Joseph has two sons by an Egyptian wife
  • Manasseh – “God ”
  • Ephraim – “God ”
  • Joseph confirms his blessed position before God with the names of his sons

10Seems Like a Happy Ending; but More to Come…

• The famine affects the surrounding countries and Egypt is poised to make a huge profit with its stored food to sell 41:53-57
  • Joseph has emerged with an astonishingly transformed character
  • “The vale of tears has proved to be the valley of soul making.”
  • –G.Wenham
  • “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.”
• 1 Pet.5:6