Show and Tell: Frank Turek of Cross-examined tells about the Bar Yussef (the canal of Joseph) in Egypt. The story of Joseph is not only a great story, it is history! Joseph Review: Rejected in the promised land. (Age 1-17) • Favored by his Father. • Hated by stepbrothers. • Sold to slave traders. Tested in a foreign land. (Age 17-30) • Successful in slavery. • Faithful in temptation. • Prospering in prison. Joseph has lived for 30 years and has nothing. Yet, God says he is prosperous and successful! Luke 16:10 (NLT), “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” 1 Peter 5:6 (NLT), “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.” Outline: Joseph is Exalted (Genesis 41) His Stepbrothers are Humbled (Genesis 42) Genesis 41:14 (NLT) Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. 15 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.” 16 “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” • Joseph admits he cannot interpret dreams either, but God can! Pharoah is deeply troubled for two reasons. • The Egyptians believed the gods would speak to them in dreams – but his gods/magicians weren’t speaking! • Second, Egypt depended on the Nile River. If the Nile was happy, the people were happy (the name of the god of the Nile, was Hapi). Genesis 41:25 (NLT), Joseph responded, “Both of Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God is telling Pharaoh in advance what he is about to do…. 29 The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity… 30 But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt.32 ...these events have been decreed by God, and he will soon make them happen. 33 “Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” • 7 years of prosperity are coming followed by 7 years of famine. • Joseph is bold. He tells Pharoah what do to about it. • Put someone in charge of a 7-7 plan. • Store grain for 7 years by collecting 20% of everyone’s harvest. • When 7 years of famine strikes, we can feed the people. • NOTICE: The dream and the plan seem to come from the LORD. Joseph is Exalted Genesis 41:39 (NLT), Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” • Never has a politician changed his mind so quickly. This is also of the Lord. • Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases.” • ring – robe – gold – chariot – name – wife – sons • Pharoah blesses Joseph (Israel) and Pharoah is blessed! Joseph is Exalted Genesis 41:45, So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. 46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt. • Pharoah names Joseph, Zaphenath-paneah – “God speaks/lives” • Joseph’s son Manasseh – “God made me forget” • Joseph’s son Ephraim – “God made me fruitful” Question: What will Joseph do with his newfound power? • Will Joseph use his power to for revenge and track down his brothers? Will Joseph sue Potiphar and his wife? Will Jospeh fire that forgetful cupbearer? • When someone comes to power, it is interesting to note what they do with that power! • V46 says, Joseph went to work. He has a country to save. Genesis 42:1 (NLT), When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another? 2 I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy enough grain to keep us alive. Otherwise we’ll die.” 3 So Joseph’s ten older brothers went down to Egypt to buy grain. 4 But Jacob wouldn’t let Joseph’s younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him...6 When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground. 7 Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger. • V9 - Joseph remembers his dream about his brothers bowing down. Q – How long has it been since he saw his stepbrothers? • It’s been 22 years! • Joseph is 39 years old. • Joseph is speaking in Egyptian. They don’t recognize him or understand him. What happens next? Joseph will reenact what they did to him. • They spoke harshly to him. Joseph speaks harshly to them. • They accused him of spying on them. Joseph accuses them of spying on Him/Egypt. • The brothers threw him into a pit. Joseph will throw them into prison. • They didn’t trust him. Joseph doesn’t trust them. The Stepbrothers are Humbled Genesis 42:17 (NLT), So Joseph put them all in prison for three days. 18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “I am a God-fearing man. If you do as I say, you will live. 19 If you really are honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families. 20 But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. This will prove that you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” To this they agreed. Why is Joseph doing his? He wants his family to live, not die! • V18 – “do as I say, you will live! • Joseph wants them to prove their repentance, prove Benjamin is alive. • These brothers have been living a lie for 22 years (telling their Father that Joseph was eaten by a wild animal). Will they ever admit that they have sinned? CONCLUSION Genesis 42:21, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen.” • Reuben says, “...now we have to answer for his blood!” • Joseph hears their confession, and for the first time, Joseph weeps! Why do you think he wept? • Joseph does not want to destroy his brothers. He wants them to repent and prove their repentance. • He wants his stepbrothers to humble themselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time God will lift them up too! • He wants them to listen to him and live! • He is the only one with bread to feed their families. Joseph is like Jesus when He says to us in John 5, I am the bread of life… listen to me and live!