Summary

Eventually, Potiphar's wife tried to seduce on Joseph. When he refused her, she became very upset and accused him of attacking her. Potiphar put Joseph in the prison with the king's (Pharaoh) prisoners. Again, Joseph gained favor with his overseer, the prison keeper, who put in charge of all the prisoners. When Pharaoh's cupbearer and baker end up in prison, the captain of the guard placed Joseph over them as well.

One day, the two prisoners looked upset. When Joseph asked what was wrong, they said they had had dreams the night before but there was no one to interpret. Joseph told them interpretations belong to the Lord and asked them to tell him their dreams. Joseph told the cupbearer his dream meant Pharaoh would give him back his position in three day. He told the baker Pharaoh would have him put to death in three days. Both dreams came true, and Joseph asked the cupbearer to tell the pharaoh about him and get him out of prison.

The cupbearer forgot all about Joseph until Pharaoh had dream no one could interpret two years later. Joseph was able to tell the pharaoh God was going to send seven years of plenty then seven years of famine. When Pharaoh asked what should be done, Joseph told him to put someone in charge of gathering the extra during the years of plenty to provide during the years of famine. The pharaoh made Joseph that man becasue the Spirit of God was in him. Joseph managed the collection and storage of the extra grain during the seven years of plenty and the distibution of the grain during the seven years of famine.

When the famine hit, it was so severe and widespread, Jacob, Joseph's father, sent all Joseph's brothers except the youngest Benjamin, now Jacob's favorite, to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized his brothers and tested them to see if they had changed. He even accused them of being spies and locked up one of the brothers until they could return with Benjamin. When they returned, Joseph threatened to keep Benjamin, but Judah offered to stay in his place. When Joseph heard this, he told his brothers who he was, asked about his father, and sent for all of their families to come live in Egypt where Joseph could provide for them. Pharaoh even gave Joseph's family the area of Goshen, "the best of the land".

Before Jacob died, he blessed each of his sons and Joseph's two sons, whom he claimed as his own. He told him sons to be sure to bury him back in his homeland. Ater he died, they took his body and buried him in the cave with Abraham, Sarah, Issac, Rebekah, and Leah.

After Jacob's death, the brothers admitted they were worried Joseph had only pretended to forgive them for his father's sake. This broke Joseph heart because he really loved and forgave his brothers. He told them God had used their evil actions to save them instead, and he would always provide for them and their families. He also asked his family to take his bones back to the Promised Land when they returned after he died because he believed the Covenant established with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would happen, and they would eventually return to the land God promised his father and grandfathers.

Joseph's family eventually became Egyptian slaves and the next couple of books in the Bible tell how God rescued them and led them to the Promised Land... 400 years later just as He had promised Abraham the night He walked between the animal halves to ratify the Covenant (Set C.)

The Facts

Important People

Joseph, Potiphar and his wife, the baker and the cup bearer (fellow prisoners with Joseph), Pharaoh, Joseph's family

Major Events/Accounts

Potiphar's wife accused Joseph of attacking her and he ends up in prison, Joseph interprets two dreams while in prison, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream, Pharaoh makes Joseph second in command in Egypt, Joseph's brother come to by grain in Egypt during the famine, Joseph tests his brothers, Joseph brings his family to Egypt

Key Words/Repeated Phrases

The Lord was with Joseph/him
God has revealed/shown

Hide the Word in Your Heart

Verses from the Account

Genesis 39:3

And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

Genesis 50:20

But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Verses to Share the Truths Taught through the Account

Ephesians 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted , forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Verses to Share the Truths Taught through the Account

Luke 6:31

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

Jesus in the Account

God was with Joseph through every situation.

The Holy Spirit is with us through every situation.

Judah promised his life if Benjamin was harmed and said "I will bear the blame" (Genesis 44:32).

Jesus said, "Greater love have no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Judah, an ancestor of Jesus, was willing to give his life and take the blame if anything happened to his youngest brother just as Jesus gave His life and took the blame for all people. (Judah is also the one who had the idea to sell Joseph rather than kill him.)

Jacob's blessings to Judah in Genesis 49:8-10 come true in Jesus.

Jesus is praised. He was triumphant over His enemies when He rose from the dead. Jesus is like a lion and will rule forever. All nations will submit to Jesus.

Did You Know?

Jacob considered Joseph's first two sons as his own and gave them an equal inheritance with their uncles.

That is why they are often referred to has the half-tribe of Ephraim or Manasseh.

Some of Jacob's blessings to his sons were fulfilled in the section of land they received in the Promised Land.

For example, Jacob says Levi's family will be scattered which is exactly what happen in the Promised Land when the Levites lived among each of the tribes as priest. The land of the tribe of Simon was located completely within Judah's allotment.

Proof of the Hebrews in Egypt can be found when one looks in the right time period.

Check out Patterns of Evidence for some interesting archaeological finds.

Discuss It

1. What is the most interesting thing or something new you learned from reading and studying this account?
2. Summarize the account and its message in your own words.
3. What did you learn about God from reading and studying this account?
4. How does this account point to God's plan to redeem this world through the sacrifice and obedience of Jesus?
5. How can you apply the truth of what you learned from reading and studying this account in your own life?

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