Lesson 85; The Dream Plan from Joseph Gensis 41: 28-36

The All Consuming Famine 41:28-33

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt

We are backing the Bible bus to verse 28 from last week to get the picture of Joseph we need for today and to give a little context from last week’s dilemma. That would be “what can we do in spite of the dire warnings from Joseph”? And, do not let the last line of scripture pass you by. If you do not have a resume and want the job, you may have to speak up for yourself. Yes, Joseph really did give out his resume quickly because his plan was hatched in front of Pharaoh and he starts specifically with a detailed plan and how to go about it in verse 33:

 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ge 41:33.

Let’s see “why don’t we hire the man that has heard from God? “ yep, that’s what Pharaoh has done. The cows and the grain forecast is seven good years followed by seven years of famine. The famine will be so bad that none of the plenty will be remembered. That verse that says “the famine will consume the land” means that the famine will take us to the end of an event. The good years will be completely gone when famine has arrived. How many today are ready for seven years of famine? Get ready and get the right man/men to look over the operation.

The plan is Enhanced by Joseph 41:34- 36

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

The plan is a percentage of saving 20%. It’s not a bad plan to have. It means spending/consuming only 80% of what God gives you. It may be that 10% is your tithe and 10% is your savings, but it is a plan for weathering the times when life sends storms or famine. The grain silos of Egypt were mostly underground, protected from the heat and wetness of the Nile. Grain towers are not abundant in Egypt as we would imagine, as the remnants are wasted away. The absence of above ground storage has led many scholars to dismiss the Joseph story as legend only. But this is God’s Word. We believe it to be true. 100%

God’s hand in all of this was a really big picture of preservation of Israel:

The Teacher’s Commentary (8: Gen. 37–50—Joseph in Egypt)

God had told Abraham, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated 400 years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions” (Gen. 15:13–14). The story of Joseph relates how Israel came to Egypt, where the little family multiplied to the millions needed to establish a nation.

Still staying with this narrative is some helpful information on Egyptian life:

The Teacher’s Commentary (8: Gen. 37–50—Joseph in Egypt)

During the Middle Kingdom Age when Joseph went to Egypt, it was a powerful and unified land; a land of peace, effective government, and general prosperity. Massive mud forts guarded frontiers and Egypt’s trade and gold mining interests. Documents of the day reveal trade with western Asia, and that Canaan was divided into tribal areas and city states, just as the Bible describes. This classical age of the Egyptian language produced exciting short stories, and even a treatise on the Pleasures of Fishing and Fowling. It was a confident, powerful people who welcomed the little Hebrew family to Egypt, their haven of safety.

Joseph fit right in because he was helpful and honest. I’m thinking those two things are lacking in many workers today. The reserve of what grain will be stored needed to be under the firm hand of someone not connected to crime and graft of the day in Egypt. We can even remember the lies and trickery involved in Joseph, his family and his descendants. But here he is, unconnected to Egyptian culture, and shielded from any corruption in society. But believe me, he is about to get immersed in a very powerful culture after emerging from the pits. Culture is a very powerful tool, even today. A Christian in today’s culture is called a culture war. It is awesome to behold from Egypt and Pharaoh to Washington:

Genesis—Beginning and Blessing (Joseph Hears Pharaoh’s Dreams (vv. 15–24))

Charles Colson in his Kingdoms in Conflict describes how during his political career he used the aura of the White House to moderate and pacify visitors. He would begin by hosting his guests in the executive dining room of the West Wing. Colson would escort his guests past saluting guards and down a long corridor lined with dramatic photographs of the President in action. And then at the door of the dining room he would pause and point to the door at the right and say in hushed tones, “That’s the situation room”—conjuring up visions of map-filled walls, computer screens, and busy generals when, in reality, those functions were at the Pentagon.

Joseph speaks with authority and clarity. His plan is so impressive and so much so that Pharoah is moved the most with the Spirit of the Living God that has filled Joseph. Amen. Here is a man so filled with the presence of God that the leader of the Egyptian world says, ”that’s my man!”

English Standard Version (Chapter 41)

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards 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.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

Here is a man rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, and cast into prison. Now he will be second in command behind Pharaoh. He gets the stuff the office demands: The signet ring with Pharaoh’s okee dokee, New linen clothes, and some bling! Add to that, pharaoh’s second limo, and scores of people calling out his presence “bow the knee.”

Joseph gets confirmation of his 2nd place status, which is not so second place- verse 44) . His name is changed to something more Egyptian and more un-pronounceable. Next up is a quick wedding to The lady Asenath, the daughter of a priest. From here, Joseph goes out and cases out the joint. He can go about freely instead of hanging around in a cell. Freedom, it has a good ring to it, doesn’t it? friends, that is where we are in Jesus. He makes all of life look better once we have been released from the chains of sin.