A Dream and a Promise

Genesis 50:22–26 NKJV

So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees. And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50:

Genesis begins “in the beginning, God” and ends “in a coffin in Egypt.”

It begins with God and ends with man

It begins with perfection and ends with corruption

It begins with the eternal and ends with the temporal

It begins with life and ends with death

But in that coffin was the body of a man of faith who made his people promise they would carry his bones to the promised land, for “God will surely visit you.”

I love the story of Joseph

It is the life of a man with great faith

It is the life we all could learn from

All throughout Josephs life we see trials and temptation, yet he always seems to make the right decision

That is a life I would love to pattern myself after.

Josephs life starts with a dream

It is a dream that he probably should of kept to himself, but we know Joseph just has to tell his brothers about it.

Genesis 37:5–11 NKJV

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Genesis 37:5-

After the dream we find that his brothers sell him to some Midianite traders for twenty shekels of silver.

Then we see that the Midianite traders sell him to Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh.

But the Lord was with Joseph and he became very successful.

And people took notice to the fact that the Lord was with Joseph

Genesis 39:3–5 NKJV

3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Genesis 39:3–4 KJV 1900

3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

Genesis 39:

We must understand that we were never created to live on a mountain top forever

It is in the valleys that we truly know how strong we are

It is in the valleys that we know how much we have grown

So we find that Potiphar’s wife begins to take notice of Joseph

She on multiple attempts tries to seduce Joseph with no success

I love what Joseph has to say

Genesis 39:9 NKJV

9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

Genesis 39:

How is it that Joseph understood that it would be a sin against God to do this thing?

We must understand that the 10 commandments were not yet given

Yet Joseph had such an amazing walk with the Lord that he understood that this would be a sin against God

Since Potiphar’s wife could not get Joseph to sin she lies on him and gets him thrown in prison.

While in prison Joseph is still holding onto a dream and a promise

And it is in prison that he hears of the baker and the cupbearer having dreams that could not be interpreteted

Joseph interprets the dreams and he is correct

Joseph tells the cup bearer please remember me when you get out of here and let Pharaoh know that I am still down here in prison because of a lie

Two years pass and Pharaoh has a dream that needs interpreted

And its then that the cupbearer remembers Joseph in prison

Pharaoh brings Joseph out of prison to interpret the dream and Joseph does it

The dream is a warning of what was to come

There would be 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine

Joseph began to set the plan in place to store up as much as possible so that in the 7 years of famine they could servive

Genesis 41:39 NKJV

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

Genesis 41:39–44 NKJV

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”

Genesis 41:9 KJV 1900

9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:

Genesis 41 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. 9 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker: 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. 13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: 18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: 19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: 20 And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: 21 And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: 23 And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me. 25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. 28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. 37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. 51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. 53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.

Gensesi

:39-44

Genesis 41:39–41 KJV 1900

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

:39

Genesis 412:39

Genesis 41:

What I love about this part of the story is that somewhere in the crowd was Potiphar’s wife and when Joseph came she had to bow her knee to him

The one who lied on him

The one who had him thrown in prison

She is now bowing to him

I would of loved seeing her face as she begins to recognize who it was she had to bow to

I love it that the Lord has such a great since of humor

It is through the famine that Josephs dream finally becomes a reality

It is when the famine has taken its toll on all the land that his brothers have to make a trip to Egypt to buy grain because Joseph had stored up in the 7 years of plenty

I could not even begin to imagine what it must of felt like for Joseph

When his brothers come in and bow to him

It is

I must wonder did the dream begin to flood his mind

Did he get lost in the memory of what the dream was

I have to imagine that it was in that very moment that somewhere in his mind he screamed see I told you so

It did happen just like I told you when I was 17

But the one thing that Joseph did remember was in his dream there was one more brother that was supposed to bow down

At the time of the dream Benjamin was not even born but God was prophesying the future

You better believe Joseph remember every detail of the dream

In the dream there were 11 stars at this time there were only ten brothers there

So Joseph makes somethings happen and what he really wants is for his brother and father to come to Egypt to live out their years

And for the sake of time I will fast forward the story

We know that Jacob in his old age moves to Egypt with all he has and lives out his years there

The dream of Joseph did come to pass and Joseph did live a very successful life in Egypt

The whole life of Joseph was filled with trials and hard times

But all through out his life he was living with a dream and a promise

We know the dream but do we understand the promise

You see the promise was passed down from generation to generation

It has been the one thing that never died

We understand that over time many Israelites began to live in Egypt

And after Joseph died there were new Pharaoh’s that did not know Joseph and how good he was to Egypt

And over time Egyptians began to rule over the Israelites

Years go by and we read that God raises up a man named Moses to lead the Israelites out of the bondage of Egypt through a series of plagues

And its in Exodus that I want to draw your attention

Exodus 13:17–19 NKJV

Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, “Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt. And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”

Exodus 13:

Even though the dream was fulfilled there was still a promise that was not yet obtained

You see Moses understood the promise and he was not going to leave Joseph in Egypt when the Lord promised the children of Israel a land that flowed with milk and honey

So Moses took the bones of Joseph with him

Closing