Joseph was sold by his brothers, sent to a foreign land, imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, and his grandfather Issac dies without knowing that Joseph is still alive. As harsh as Joseph life appears, it is always too soon to assess someone’s situation because the Lord is always at work behind the scenes. We see God working on Joseph’s behalf when He gives Joseph the ability to interpret the dreams of two prisoners, Pharaoh’s cupbearer (or butler) and baker. However, Joseph takes zero credit for the interpretations saying, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” One thing about Joseph is that he always points everyone to the Lord.
So God’s interpretations of the dreams, that the cupbearer would be restored to his previous position and that the baker would be killed, come true but the selfish cupbearer forgets about Joseph once he is released from prison. However, God has NOT forgotten Joseph! In the Lord’s perfect timing, 2 years later, He brings Joseph out of prison and gives him insight regarding Pharaoh’s dreams. Joseph says to Pharaoh, “God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land.” Then Joseph advises Pharaoh to store up food during the years of plenty and Pharaoh promotes Joseph as ruler over his house and all of Egypt.
Wow! What a drastic change we see in Joseph’s circumstances! So Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold by his brothers as a slave and now he is a 30 year old man and a ruler of Egypt. God can certainly turn things around for a person! So Joseph marries, has 2 sons (Manasseh and Ephraim), and is appointed by the Lord to carry out His plan to save the nations from a great famine. Keep reading because a family reunion is coming up next!
(Genesis 40:1-23, Genesis 35:28-29, Genesis 41:1-57)
#bibleliteracymovement #chronologicalbibleteaching
Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 