Section 9 - Part 5:

Order of Service:

Announcements

Martyrs and Missionaries

Communion

Worship

Teaching

Fellowship / Discussion

Prayer time as a group

Current Sermon Position:

Gen 1:1-2:4 The generations of the heavens and the earth

Gen 2:4-5:1 The book of the generations of Adam

Gen 5:1-6:9 The generations of Noah

Gen 6:9-10:1 The generations of the sons of Noah

Gen 10:1-11:10 The generations of Shem

Gen 11:10-11:27 The generations of Terah

Gen 11:27-25:19 The generations of Isaac

Gen 25:19-37:2 The generations of Jacob

Gen 37:2-Ex 1:1 The generations of the Sons of Jacob

Hermeneutic Notes:

Rhetorical or Narrative Changes:

The narrative shifts from Jacob to his sons

Topical Concerns:

Humility

Wise management of property

Godly leadership is from the Lord

Management with integrity is godly

Peace from God in places of affliction

Rising from painful struggles and finding peace from the Lord

God raising the faithful out of the ashes of struggles

God fulfilling the dreams of his youth

Context:

Text

Genesis 41:1–8 “Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the marsh grass. Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. He fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.”

How long between when the chief cupbearer was released and Pharaoh had his dreams?

Two years

How many dreams did Pharaoh have?

Two dreams

What were the dreams?

7 fat cows then 7 gaunt cows

7 ears of plump grain then 7 ears of grain scorched

What was Pharaoh’s response to these dreams?

His spirit was troubled.

What did Pharaoh understand about the dreams?

They signified something troubling

What actions did Pharaoh take in response to the dreams?

He sent and called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt

Pharaoh told them his dreams

Could they interpret the dreams?

Genesis 41:9–13 “Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, “I would make mention today of my own offenses. “Pharaoh was furious with his servants, and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. “We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. “Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. “And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him.””

How did the chief cupbearer respond to Pharaoh’s dream?

He made known his “own offenses.”

He was humble enough to communicate the circumstances of what he went through with Pharaoh when providing a solution to the problem of requiring an interpreter.

Who was he speaking to?

Pharaoh

Who was Pharaoh? What role did he have in Egypt?

He was the ruler

Why would this matter concerning what the cupbearer said?

If someone he knew had said something about what happened to him, and he hadn’t, he would be in trouble.

He didn’t wait to be told to, he stepped up provided the context of how he could trust this unknown Hebrew

Genesis 41:14–36 “Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, “In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile; and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. “Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt; and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. “Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had devoured them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke. “I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk; and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them; and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams are one and the same; God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. “The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same. “The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. “It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. “Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; and after them seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land. “So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. “Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. “Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. “Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. “Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh’s authority, and let them guard it. “Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine.””

What was Pharaoh’s response?

He trusted the chief baker

He sent for Joseph

What did Joseph say about the dreams?

They are one and the same

The duel nature of the two dreams means God is acting quickly

What did Joseph add about what God was doing?

He offered wisdom in how to protect Egypt from what is to come (Both the abundance and the severe famine)

What has God done with Joseph?

He fulfilled his promise from the dreams he gave him when he was younger

He used Pharaoh’s dream to fulfill Joseph’s dream

Genesis 41:38–45 “Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, “Bow the knee!” And he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh named Joseph Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt.”

What was Pharaoh’s response the interpretation and the wisdom?

There is no one like Joseph

Joseph was promoted to a role far above Potiphar’s slave

Joseph gained prestige, respect, title, responsibility, and a wife

Does anyone know what this my mean?

Zaphenath-paneah:

Various interpretations

God speaks; He lives

The savior of the world

Food of the living

Genesis 41:46–49 “Now Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly. So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure.”

How old was Joseph at this time?

30

How long was he a slave?

13 years

What did Joseph do with the wisdom he had?

He followed through and provided salvation for the people of the land through the preservation of food during the time of abundance

He took advantage of the abundance when he had it.

How much food had he saved up?

Too much to count.

Did he stop saving when he couldn’t count it?

No. He was prepared for what was to come.

Genesis 41:50–52 “Now before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” He named the second Ephraim, “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.””

What blessings came to Joseph at this point of time?

He had two sons

What did he name them and why?

The First Born - Manasseh: God has made him forget all his trouble and all his father’s house

Making to forget

The Second - Ephraim: God has made him fruitful in the land of his affliction

Fruitfulness

What was Joseph beginning to feel considering his circumstances?

Peace and joy

Genesis 41:53–57 “When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.” When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.”

What happened when the 7 years of plenty ended and the famine began?

Joseph began to sell the grain to the Egyptians

Application:

Humility:

We need to be willing to put ourselves in vulnerable positions for the benefit of others.

1 Peter 5:5–6 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,”

Managing your life with wisdom:

Luke 16:10–12 ““He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? “And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”

Proverbs 10:9 “He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.”

God Organizes who Leads:

Proverbs 8:15–16 ““By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. “By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.”

Peace within Affliction:

Psalm 30:5 “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”

Psalm 126:5–6 “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Job 42:10–12 “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold. Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.”

Leadership is a function God created:

Romans 13:1–7 “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”

Daniel 6:3–4 “Then this Daniel began distinguishing himself among the commissioners and satraps because he possessed an extraordinary spirit, and the king planned to appoint him over the entire kingdom. Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him.”

Daniel 2:21 ““It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.”

NOTES:

Yes, the search results contain numerous passages that align with each of your highlighted themes from Genesis 41.

Humility and Leadership connect throughout Scripture. Humbling oneself under God’s authority positions one for exaltation at the proper time (1 Pet 5:5–6), a pattern Joseph exemplifies. Wisdom accompanies humility, while pride brings dishonor (Prov 11:2–3). Walking humbly with God represents what the Lord requires (Micah 6:8).

Wise Property Management appears in multiple passages. Diligent planning leads to advantage, while hasty action produces poverty (Prov 21:5). Faithfulness in small matters demonstrates readiness for greater responsibility (Luke 16:10–12). Understanding the condition of one’s resources matters because wealth doesn’t endure forever (Prov 27:23–27). Faithful stewardship of limited resources results in expanded authority and joy (Matt 25:14–30).

Godly Leadership from the Lord is foundational. God removes and establishes leaders, granting wisdom to those who understand (Dan 2:21). The ruler’s heart flows according to God’s direction (Prov 21:1). Leaders should fear God, embody truth, and reject dishonest gain (Exod 18:21).

Integrity in Management brings security. Walking with integrity produces security, while perverting one’s ways leads to exposure (Prov 10:9). Daniel’s extraordinary spirit and faithful character made him suitable for leadership, with no corruption found in his administration (Dan 6:3–4).

Peace and Restoration emerge from affliction. Though weeping lasts through the night, joy arrives in the morning (Ps 30:5). Those who sow in tears reap with joyful shouting (Ps 126:5–6). God restores fortunes when the faithful pray for others, increasing what was lost (Job 42:10–12). Instead of shame, a double portion comes; instead of humiliation, joyful possession of the land (Isa 61:7).

Dreams Fulfilled reflect God’s sovereignty. God’s plans aim toward welfare and hope, not calamity (Jer 29:11). All things work together for good for those who love God (Rom 8:28).

Yes, the search results contain numerous passages that align with each of your highlighted themes from Genesis 41.

Humility and Leadership connect throughout Scripture. Humbling oneself under God’s authority positions one for exaltation at the proper time (1 Pet 5:5–6), a pattern Joseph exemplifies. Wisdom accompanies humility, while pride brings dishonor (Prov 11:2–3). Walking humbly with God represents what the Lord requires (Micah 6:8).

Wise Property Management appears in multiple passages. Diligent planning leads to advantage, while hasty action produces poverty (Prov 21:5). Faithfulness in small matters demonstrates readiness for greater responsibility (Luke 16:10–12). Understanding the condition of one’s resources matters because wealth doesn’t endure forever (Prov 27:23–27). Faithful stewardship of limited resources results in expanded authority and joy (Matt 25:14–30).

Leadership as a Function from God forms the theological foundation for all other themes. All authority derives from God, and those in power are established by God (Rom 13:1–7). God removes kings and establishes kings, granting wisdom to wise men and knowledge to those with understanding (Dan 2:21). The Most High rules over the realm of mankind and bestows authority on whomever He wishes (Dan 4:17). No one possesses authority unless it has been given from above (John 19:11). God is the Judge who puts down one and exalts another (Ps 75:6–7). By divine wisdom, kings reign and rulers decree justice; by it princes rule and nobles judge rightly (Prov 8:15–16). Leadership is identified as a gift from God, with grace gifts such as leadership given by God to His children[1]. Filling the role of a leader always depends on God’s delegated authority, with no authority deriving from anywhere but God’s providential appointment, and leaders should view themselves as holding their positions by God’s grace[2].

Godly Leadership from the Lord is foundational. The king’s heart flows like channels of water in the Lord’s hand, turning wherever He wishes (Prov 21:1). Leaders should fear God, embody truth, and reject dishonest gain (Exod 18:21).

Integrity in Management brings security. Walking with integrity produces security, while perverting one’s ways leads to exposure (Prov 10:9). Daniel’s extraordinary spirit and faithful character made him suitable for leadership, with no corruption found in his administration (Dan 6:3–4).

Peace and Restoration emerge from affliction. Though weeping lasts through the night, joy arrives in the morning (Ps 30:5). Those who sow in tears reap with joyful shouting (Ps 126:5–6). God restores fortunes when the faithful pray for others, increasing what was lost (Job 42:10–12). Instead of shame, a double portion comes; instead of humiliation, joyful possession of the land (Isa 61:7).

Dreams Fulfilled reflect God’s sovereignty. God’s plans aim toward welfare and hope, not calamity (Jer 29:11). All things work together for good for those who love God (Rom 8:28).

[1] Daniel L. Anderson, Biblical Slave Leadership: A Stewardship from above to Lead from Below (Arlington Heights, IL: Regular Baptist Books, 2013), 56. [2] Jack Burns, John R. Shoup, and Donald C. Simmons Jr., eds., Organizational Leadership: Foundations and Practices for Christians (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 2014), 77.