Day 11 Reading Schedule: Genesis 40-44

Genesis 40: Pharaoh's officials and Joseph's interpretation of dreams 

[Summary]

God now begins to prepare the path of glory for Joseph, who kept his faith even in hardship. This chapter shows that Joseph, who suffered because of his dreams, is faced with a new situation where he can approach Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, through his dreams. Joseph, who was imprisoned, serves two former officials who were also imprisoned (verses 1-4). One day, they have dreams at the same time, and Joseph interprets their dreams for them, who are troubled by not knowing what they mean (verses 5-19). In the end, Joseph's interpretation of the dream is realized (verses 20-23), and it becomes an opportunity for Joseph to go before Pharaoh later. The fact that the beginning and the end of work are consistently within God's plan can also be seen in this chapter where the officials' dreams and Joseph's interpretation of the dream are introduced.

Joseph, who was imprisoned due to the false accusation of Potiphar's wife, served two of Pharaoh's imprisoned officials. They were the king's cupbearer and baker. After a while, when the two officials each had dreams and were troubled, Joseph interpreted their dreams, thereby establishing a close relationship with Pharaoh's officials. And this event laid the foundation for Joseph to go before Pharaoh in the future.

Genesis 41： Joseph Becomes Prime Minister of Egypt 

[Summary]

Now, after a long period of suffering, Joseph takes the place of glory that God has prepared for him. This chapter records the event in which Joseph finally gains glory through God’s providence. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, has a dream, but no one can interpret it, and the cupbearer happens to remember Joseph (verses 1-13). Joseph is called before Pharaoh and, with the wisdom God has given him, informs Pharaoh that the dream foretells seven years of plenty and seven years of famine that will come upon the whole land (verses 14-36). In order to resolve this situation, Pharaoh appoints Joseph as prime minister (verses 37-45), and Joseph, who becomes prime minister, uses wise methods to save the people of the land from the seven years of famine (verses 46-57). God, who wanted to save many people from a great famine, brought about the providence of putting Joseph right in front of him and also set in motion part of a long-term plan to save Jacob, who would later become Israel, who would be ruined by the famine in Canaan.

Chapter 41 of Genesis is what happened two years after the cupbearer was released from prison and reinstated in chapter 40. This chapter shows that after a long period of trials and adversity, God had finally completely accomplished the plan He had for Joseph.

Genesis 42： Joseph and His Brothers 

[Summary]

The events that had been centered around Joseph began to unfold in earnest around Jacob’s family. When the whole world was suffering from famine, Jacob’s family in Canaan also went to Egypt to buy grain to solve the famine (verses 1-5). Joseph and his brothers who came to buy food met again after about twenty years, but his brothers did not recognize them, and only Joseph recognized them and tested his brothers (verses 6-25). After returning to Canaan, the brothers reported to Jacob about the events in Egypt and were afraid when they saw a bundle of money in their grain sacks (verses 26-38). In this way, this chapter shows that Jacob’s family’s plan to move to Egypt was gradually being realized.

Genesis 42 deals with the event where Joseph, who suddenly became the prime minister of Egypt in the midst of a long ordeal, reunites with his brothers after a full twenty years. As Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine in Egypt and its surrounding areas. This famine also hit the land of Canaan where Joseph’s family lived. So Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. The events of this chapter strongly suggest that Jacob’s family’s plan to migrate to Egypt was gradually being realized.

Genesis 43： Joseph's Brothers' Return to Egypt 

[Summary]

The famine worsened and the food they had brought from Egypt ran out, so the brothers earnestly pleaded with Jacob, and Judah offered to take responsibility for it with his life, so they barely managed to take Benjamin and go back to Egypt to buy food (verses 1-13). Joseph was delighted to see his brothers again, welcomed them, and asked about Jacob's well-being. Then, when he saw his younger brother Benjamin, he was so moved that he wept alone (verses 14-30). This was because Benjamin was the only blood relative of his mother Rachel and the youngest. When Joseph calmed down again and appeared before his brothers, he had them sit down in order of age, and the brothers began to wonder at each other. However, they still did not know Joseph (verses 31-34).

When the famine continued in the land of Canaan and the food they had bought earlier ran out, Jacob's family had to go back to Egypt to buy food. However, this time, they could not go down to Egypt without Benjamin, as suggested by Prime Minister Joseph. At this time, Jacob hesitated, but Judah persuaded his father to take Benjamin with him to Egypt to buy food. Thanks to Joseph's kindness, Jacob's sons were treated as guests of the state.

Genesis 44：Joseph's Silver Cup Test and Judah's Sacrificial Heart 

[Summary]

Joseph's final test is underway to resolve all the grudges that have built up with his brothers over the past twenty years. Joseph wanted to confirm the brotherhood among his brothers through this final test. After putting money in the bags of his brothers who were returning, and especially putting a silver cup in Benjamin's bag, Joseph tried to detain Benjamin, who was accused of being a thief (verses 1-17). At this time, Judah steps forward and offers to be his servant in place of Benjamin and his father's sorrow after losing Benjamin (verses 18-34). The brotherhood of the brothers surrounding Benjamin finally moves Joseph.

After treating his brothers with the utmost hospitality, Joseph conducted the final test to confirm their brotherhood. Joseph made it seem like Benjamin had stolen his silver cup, putting Benjamin in trouble, and as a result, he saw his brother Judah's sacrificial spirit.