Intentions

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Because of their hatred for him, they sold Joseph to some traders as a slave, because in Judah’s words:

Genesis 37:26–27 NIV

Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

Joseph was sold by the traders to Potiphar, captain of Pharoah’s guard.

It was Potiphar’s wife who propositioned him, and then falsely accused him when he refused. Potiphar threw him into the prison that was in his house for Pharoah’s prisoners.

Genesis 39:20–23 NIV

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

That is where we will pick up the story. I will relate to the account of the following chapters to you for the sake of time. I encourage you all to take time to read Genesis 40-50 on your own this week.

Genesis 40 - The Cupbearer and the Baker

Cupbearer and Baker offended Pharaoh and were thrown into prison

Joseph was in charge

After some time each had a dream and were troubled by them

Joseph said, Genesis 40:8 “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

At this time Joseph was 28; 11 years since his dreams

Joseph was still trusting God

He told the Cupbearer and the Baker the interpretations of their dreams: in 3 days the cupbearer would be restored, and the baker executed

He asked the cupbearer to remember him, and plead his case to Pharaoh

Everything happened as Joseph relayed to them

Cupbearer forgot Joseph

Genesis 41 - Pharaoh’s Dreams

Two full years passed, Joseph was 30

Pharaoh had a dream in two parts:

7 Fat cows eaten by 7 skinny cows

7 Healthy heads of grain swallowed by 7 thin, scorched heads of grain

No one could interpret the dream

Cupbearer told Pharaoh of Joseph

Joseph was brought and Genesis 41:15–16 “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.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.””

Joseph hears the dream and interprets is for Pharaoh:

7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine

Here’s the plan: collect 1/5 of the harvest during the 7 good years to use during the 7 years of famine

Pharaoh responds: Genesis 41:37–40 “The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 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.””

Joseph was put in charge: Genesis 41:41–46 “So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. 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.”

Joseph puts into action the plan, and stores up more grain than can be counted

Famine comes and Joseph starts selling the grain

Genesis 42 - Joseph’s Brothers Come

Jacob sent all his sons except Benjamin to Egypt to buy grain

Genesis 42:6 NIV

Now Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

This fulfilled the first dream God gave to Joseph back in Genesis 37.

Joseph does not let on who he is

Joseph questions them about who they are and where they are from, and accuses them of being spies

He says they must bring his brother, Benjamin with them to prove otherwise

Jail for three days, then sends them all back except Simeon, with food for their families, and the command to bring Benjamin

Genesis 42:21–23 “They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come on us.” Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood.” They did not realize that Joseph could understand them, since he was using an interpreter.”

They start on their way home and discover the money they paid for their grain was in their sacks of grain

They return to Jacob and relate everything to him

Genesis 42:38 “But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.””

Gen 43 - The Return to Egypt

Jacob tells the boys to go back for more grain, but they say they cannot without Benjamin

Judah swears to take care of Benjamin

They return with Benjamin and gifts

When they arrive, Joseph has them taken to his home for a meal

They try to return the silver from the first grain they bought, but the servant says, Genesis 43:23 ““It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.”

Joseph comes home and asks about his father, and when he sees his brother Benjamin, goes to another room where he weeps

Joseph had them seated by age, and gives Benjamin 5x as much

They return home, but this time Joseph’s cup is put into Benjamin’s sack of grain

As they are on their way, Joseph sends hs steward and apparently soldiers to search for his cup

They say if anyone has the cup, they will die

The cup is found in Benjamin’s sack

The brothers return and Judah pleads for Benjamin’s life, Genesis 44:33–34 ““Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.””

Genesis 45 - Joseph’s Reveal

Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers

Genesis 45:5–8 NIV

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. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. “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.

God sent Joseph to Egypt to Save Israel

God made a covenant with Abraham, and he was not going to allow a great famine to wipe out Abraham’s descendants. It was through Abraham that all the world would be blessed, specifically through the promised one who was coming to crush the power of Satan, sin, and death.

Joseph has his brothers bring their father and all their families to Egypt

He and Pharaoh give them the best land for raising their herds in Goshen.

Genesis 46:1–4 NIV

So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied. “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

Genesis 46-47 - Jacob Come to Egypt

There are now 70 members of Jacob’s family in Egypt now

They settle in Goshen

Joseph continues to sell the grain

All the people in Egypt sell their animals, and then their land and themselves to Pharaoh to purchase grain

Genesis 48-49 - Jacob Blesses his sons

Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt and dies at 147

Before he dies he blesses Joseph’s sons as his own, and then his other sons

Genesis 49:10 NIV

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

Genesis 50 - Jacob’s Burial and Joseph’s Brothers Conspire

Jacob is buried in Canaan

Genesis 50:15–21 NIV

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said. But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50:20 NIV

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Intentions

The intentions of people may be evil, but God will work all things for the good of those who love him according to his purposes

What does this show us about God?

God is Sovereign - this does not mean that he controls evil people making them do evil things; rather, he can use even bad things for his purpose for good

God is Faithful - he keeps his word/his promises, and always does what he says (When he says this will happen it does! When he puts a timeframe to it, the timeframe is true!)

God is Good

being with Joseph through his years of trials, blessing him in the midst of his trials

providing to keep Abraham’s descendants alive

providing for the world to be blessed through Abraham’s descendant; theirs was not the covenant, but the blessing!

God is patient in working out his plans and purposes

God is merciful and gracious - Joseph’s brothers did not deserve to be saved, but they were; God could have just used Joseph and his sons and eliminated the rest for their sin, but he did not

Where is Hope?

Certainly Hope is in God!

God changes hearts

What would Joseph’s response to his brothers have been had God not worked in his heart?

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