From Famine to Favor: God's Sovereign Plan in Egypt

Bible Passage: Genesis 41:1-44:17

Summary: This passage narrates the rise of Joseph in Egypt, his interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams, and ultimately, how these events lead to the salvation of Jacob's family during a severe famine, showcasing God's sovereignty in using human actions for His divine purposes.

Teaching: God's sovereignty is at work even amidst human sin and evil actions. He uses Joseph's trials and subsequent rise to power not only as a means of personal redemption but as a collective salvation for the people of Israel, reaffirming that He orchestrates history according to His will.

Big Idea: God's providential hand turns our adversity into opportunity for His sovereign salvation, illustrating that even in our evil actions, His grace prevails.

1. Dreams Designed by Deity

Genesis 41:1-13

2. Divine Disclosure and Wisdom

Genesis 41:14-36

3. Faithfulness Yields Favor

Genesis 41:37-57

4. Forgiving Foes in Faith

Genesis 42:1-38

5. Testing Transforms Hearts

Genesis 43:1-44:17

The story begins with Joseph in prison, where he had been unjustly confined after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife for thirteen years. Despite his circumstances, Joseph continued to trust in God. Two years after interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker, Pharaoh himself had disturbing dreams about seven fat and thin cows and seven full and thin heads of grain. These dreams troubled him, and none of Egypt’s wise men could interpret them.

It was then that the cupbearer remembered Joseph. He was summoned to Pharaoh, and Joseph, acknowledging that interpretations belong to God, explained the dreams. He revealed that Egypt would experience seven years of great abundance followed by seven years of severe famine. Joseph not only interpreted the dreams but also proposed a solution: appoint a wise man to oversee the collection and storage of food during the abundant years to prepare for the famine.

Pharaoh recognized Joseph’s wisdom and discerned that God’s Spirit was with him. He elevated Joseph to the position of second-in-command over Egypt, giving him authority over all the land. In one day, Joseph went from a prisoner to the most powerful man in Egypt after Pharaoh. This dramatic rise was not merely for Joseph’s benefit but was part of God’s greater plan.

As Joseph had predicted, the famine struck, and it was severe not only in Egypt but also in surrounding regions, including Canaan, where Jacob and his family lived. Hearing that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob sent ten of his sons to buy food, keeping Benjamin, the youngest, at home.

When Joseph’s brothers arrived in Egypt, they bowed before him, fulfilling the dreams Joseph had shared with them years earlier. Though they did not recognize him, Joseph immediately recognized them. Instead of revealing his identity, Joseph spoke harshly to them, accusing them of being spies. This wasn’t out of revenge but a deliberate test to examine their hearts.

Joseph demanded that they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, as proof of their honesty. To ensure their return, he held Simeon as a prisoner. The brothers returned to Canaan with the grain but were distressed to find their money returned in their sacks, a gesture orchestrated by Joseph to further test them.

Eventually, the famine forced Jacob to send his sons back to Egypt, this time with Benjamin. Judah took responsibility for Benjamin’s safety, demonstrating a change in his character. When they returned to Egypt, Joseph prepared a feast for them, continuing to conceal his identity while observing their interactions.

To further test his brothers, Joseph devised one final challenge. He ordered his steward to fill their sacks with grain and return their money, but he also had his silver cup placed in Benjamin’s sack. As they departed, Joseph’s men pursued them, accusing them of theft. When the cup was discovered in Benjamin’s sack, the brothers were devastated. They returned to Joseph, falling before him and pleading for mercy.

Judah, in a remarkable act of selflessness, offered to take Benjamin’s place as a slave, showing his willingness to sacrifice himself for his father’s sake. This act of repentance and transformation demonstrated that the brothers were no longer the same men who had sold Joseph into slavery out of jealousy.

Joseph’s brothers had intended evil when they sold him into slavery, but God used their actions to position Joseph to save not only Egypt but also his family. This story also juxtaposes Tamar and Asenath, two foreign women, that proved a blessing to Israel. Esau and Ishmael married foreign women. Their actions against the desire of their fathers. God, had turned things on its head.

This point stands strong. Had Joseph not been betrayed by his brothers and sold, he would never have been in Egypt to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Without his interpretation, Egypt would have been unprepared for the famine, and Jacob’s family might have perished. God’s plan was unfolding all along, even through suffering, betrayal, and injustice. The God of Abraham was willing to bless Egypt for blessing His anointed one and He did in such a way that saved the nation from death and brought great prosperity to Pharaoh on behalf of Joseph’s blessing.