Genesis 41
Genesis • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 389 viewsNotes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Recap of Story
Recap of Story
11th of the 12 sons of Jacob
Was despised by his brothers, who plotted to kill him, but instead sold him to midianite traders for 20 shekels of silver, then lied to their father by dipping his coat into goats blood and saying that they found it. back in chapter 37.
He arrives at Potiphar’s house and he is made overseer of Potiphars house because the Lord caused everything that he did to succeed
But as he refuses to lay with Potiphars wife she falsely accuses him and he finds himself thrown in prison for something he didn’t do.
Last time we looked at chapter 40 where the kings baker and cupbearer wind up in prison with Joseph, where he is able through the power of God to interpret their dreams correctly, and asks of the cup bearer to remember him when he gets out, to bring his predicament to the attention of the king.
yet, chapter 40 ends with the statement
23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Chapter 41
Chapter 41
The patience of Joseph, the Humility of Joseph, the Appreciation of Joseph
Patience
Patience
1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. 10 When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, 11 we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. 12 A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. 13 And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.”
Genesis 41:1-
Well what do you know! That cup bearer finally got around to remembering Joseph a whole two years after the fact. Which means for more than 2 years Joseph was imprisoned for something he didn’t do.
Now we can figure out from v. 46, that Joseph was 30 when he began working for Pharoah, and we know from that Joseph was around 17 years old when he was sold into slavery.
Which means by that from at least the age of 28 -30, Joseph was in prison. Yet when you look at the end of chapter 39, we are told that the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners, and I think that would require some amount of time to pass for that level of trust to there, so it wouldn’t at all surprise me if Joseph spent anywhere from 3 to 5 years or more in prison, for not only for something he didn’t do, but for DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT!
We talked about last time how amazing it is that Joseph at the age of 17 had such a great grasp on his faith in God. Isn’t that what we are training our sons and daughters to do? To go out into the world and to live Godly lives when we aren’t around because they have their own faith and can stand on their own two feet? Joseph had that!
But when we are honest, isn’t it a whole lot easier to have faith in God when things are going well for us? Wasn’t that the exact point that Satan tried to make when God pointed to Job as a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil?
What was it that the devil said? Does Job fear God for no reason? You’ve protected him, you’ve blessed his work, you’ve increased his possessions, Of course he is faithful to you! Take it all away and he will curse you to your face!”
And of course we hear much about the patience of Job, how he underwent trial after trial and yet never cursed God.
But there is another character here in Joseph that I think we should also turn to as a model for patience and how to endure less than ideal circumstances.
Joseph spent a total of 13 years as nothing more than a slave, an owned piece of property, and he spent 2,3,5, maybe even 10 years of that time locked up in a pit for doing what was right.
How many of us would keep a patient head on our shoulders and not have a complete meltdown about how unfairly we were being treated? I mean, if God is with you and you’re spending years in prison, how can it be that his enemies run free? We would likely have all kinds of questions, doubts, fears, and we might even lose hope.
But Joseph persists in his patience.
Humility
Humility
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
Genesis 41:14-
Joseph has been humbled during his time in prison, Remember this is the same guy who when he was seventeen 13 years ago, had some dreams of his own.
Sheaves bowed down to my sheaf
Sun moon and stars bowed down to me
Now while these dreams are going to indeed be proven true in the chapters to come, we are told that Joseph revealing this dreams to his brothers added to the already existing tension in the house. A more humble person may have kept the dream to himself, but Joseph seems to have wanted the world to know what God had shown him and it was this in part that sets the entire events of him being sold into slavery in motion.
In fact, when his brothers see him coming to check on them, they refer to him as “The dreamer” Oh Look, here comes that dreamer!
But here Joseph states humbly that he can’t interpret the dream, He says, it is not in me.
Now a younger Joseph, might have approached this very differently. I mean I probably would have tried to bargain with Pharoah. Sure I’ll interpret your dream, but first you need to promise me that you’re going to take care of Potiphar’s wife for me for lying, then I need some back pay for the time I’ve been in prison, then I’m going to need a private camel so I can go back to my family. Then and only then will I interpret this dream of yours!
But Joseph doesn’t say anything like that, He merely says, I can’t interpret it, but God can.
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
Genesis 41:17-
So he interprets
7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine
v33 Doesn’t request that Joseph himself should do it.
Appreciation
Appreciation
Gen 41:37-
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. 50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” 53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
Joseph is renamed - v. 45 Zaphanath-paneah - Savior of the world
In many ways of course that’s exactly what he turned out to be. Without God giving him the ability to interpret the dream and prepare for it, how many would have perished?
And of course you can’t hardly read that name and understand it’s translation without thinking of the parallels with Christ. There are many, but we will wait to look at that until later.
v51. Manasseh - the hebrew word for forget
v. 52. Ephraim - being fruitful or Double fruits.
How many times do we see men and women who after they strike it rich, or make it big, forget where they came from and who they really are?
We often times call that getting the big head don’t we? Once we reach a level of wealth or power we tend to start thinking we did it ourselves.
This principle is well known throughout human history and spoken about in
7 Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
Prov 30:
Yet we don’t see that happening with Joseph!
He knows exactly who’s been with him, who carried him through the tough times, who was with him at Potiphar’s house, who was with him in prison, and who has elevated him to where he is at the end of chapter 41.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The patience, humility, and appreciation of Joseph apparent in chapter 41 is a blessing to us all and serves
Ways in Which Joseph Prefigured Jesus Christ 1. He was loved by his father (37:3). John 3:16 2. He rebuked his brethren (37:2). Jesus rebukes his fellow Jews-John 8 3. He was a shepherd (37:2). Jesus was the Good Shepherd -John 10:14 4. He opposed evil (37:3). Jesus – John 7:7 5. His master was pleased with Him (37:4). Jesus – Matt. 17:5 6. He was hated by his brothers (37:4, 5, 8). Jesus – John 5:18; 6:41; 10:30-31 7. Future sovereignty foretold (37:5-9). Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7; Matt. 26:64; Luke 1:31-33 8. He was envied by his brothers (37:11). Jesus – Matt. 27:17-18 9. He was obedient to go where his father sent him (37:12-13). Jesus – 1 John 4:10 10. He seeks the welfare of his brothers (37:14). Jesus – John 1:11; 3:17; Matt. 15:24; Rom.15:8 11. He was humiliated (ch. 37:23-28). Jesus – Matt.27:29-41 12. He was sold into the hands of his enemies (37:26-28). Jesus – Matt. 26:14-15 13. He was sold by one close to him, Judah (37:26-28). Jesus – Mark 14:10 (The Anglican translation for Judah is Judas.) 14. He was rejected by Israel and delivered to the Gentiles (37:26-28). Jesus – John 18:2-5 15. He was sold for the price of a slave (37:26-28). Jesus – Matt. 26:14-15 16. The LORD was with him and blessed him (39:2-5, 23). Jesus - Matt. 3:16 17. He was a blessing to others (39:4). Jesus – Galatians 3:14 18. He became a servant and prospered as a servant (39:1-5). Jesus – Phil. 2:6-7; Matt. 20:28 19. He was tempted, yet sinned not (39:7-13). Jesus – Hebrews 4:15 20. He was falsely accused (39:16-18). Jesus - Matt. 16:59-60 21. He was punished though he was innocent (39:20). Jesus- John 19:4-6 22. He was quiet before his accusers. He gave no defense(39:16-20). Jesus – Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:13-14. 23. He was imprisoned at the hands of Gentiles (39:20). Jesus – Acts 4:26-27 24. He won the respect of his jailer (39:21-23). Jesus-Luke 23:47(Centurion at the cross) 25. He was numbered among the transgressors (2 in particular) (40:1-4). Jesus - Luke 23:32 26. Of the two men, one was lost and one was saved (40:20-22). Jesus – Luke 23:39-43 27. Joseph was the means of blessing to the one and judgment to the other. (40:9-19) Jesus – Luke 23:39-43 28. The butler was Pharaoh’s cupbearer (representing the wine). Jesus – Matt. 26:27-28 29. The baker represents the bread. Jesus – Matt. 26:26 30. He had a desire to be remembered. Joseph says, “Remember me,” (40:14). Jesus said, remember me with the bread and the wine. Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24-25 31. His predictions came true (40:20-23; 41:47-57; 43:28). Jesus – John 2:19-22 www.merryministries.com, mary willis, 281.491.1860, mary@merryministries.com 32. He was given special insignia & clothing (40:42). Jesus – Heb. 2:9; Rev. 1:13 33. He was humiliated (ch. 37). Jesus – Matt.27:29-41 34. They were amazed at his wisdom (41: 37-41). Jesus – Matt. 7:28-29; John 7:46 35. He was exalted (ch. 41). Jesus – Acts 2:33; 1 Peter 3:22 36. He went out on the king’s authority (41:41-43). Jesus - Matt. 28:18 37. All people were required to bow at Joseph’s appearance (41:43). Jesus - Philippians 2:10 – every knee will bow. 38. The king gave him full authority (41:44). Jesus - (Matthew 28:18) 39. Joseph was given a new name - Zaphnath-paaneah = "treasury of the glorious rest" or according to its Egyptian meaning-“the god who speaks and lives” or “savior of the world” (41:45). The Son of God, the Christ was given a new name "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). 40. Joseph was 30 when he began his service to the king (41:46). Jesus was 30 when He began His ministry (Luke 3:33). 41. When people needed help, they went to Joseph (41:41,55-57). Jesus – Matt. 7:7-8; Matt. 21:22 42. He received a Gentile bride (41:45). Jesus -The Gentile church is referred to as the bride of Christ - Rev. 21:9. 43. All nations (Jews and Gentiles) had to come to Joseph to be saved. He was dispensing bread to a perishing world (41:56-57). Joseph provided the bread of life. (Jesus was the bread of life-John 6: 35,41,48,51) 44. He had the power and the means to meet the needs of all who came to him (41:57). Jesus – John 1:12; 3:16 45. He recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him (42:8). Jesus – John 10:14 46. His brothers tried to pay for the grain, but he wouldn’t allow it (42:25). Salvation is not earned. It is a gift. (Ephesians 2:8-9) 47. He was compassionate. He weeps. Jesus was compassionate and wept – John 11:35 48. He tested his brothers (chs. 43 & 44). Jesus- Rev. 3:10 49. After his brothers’ repentance and confession (44:16), Joseph revealed himself to them (45:3). Zechariah 12:10; Jesus – Acts 3:19-20 50. His brothers did not recognize him till the second time he appeared to them (45:3; Acts 7:13). Jesus – Phil.2: 9-11; Rev. 1:7 51. Joseph is very forgiving (chs. 44-50). Jesus – 1 John 1:9 52. He made full provision for his brothers (45:10). Jesus – Philippians 4:19 53. Joseph receives the blessing of the firstborn (49:22-26). Jesus - Colossians 1:18 54. What men intended for evil, God used for good to save many people (50:20); Jesus’ death saves all who will believe (Acts 2:23-24; Romans 5:8)