INTRODUCTION: The time that Joseph had sought for so long finally came. He is exalted in this chapter as second ruler of Egypt. “He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.” (Ps 105:17-22).
I. PHARAOH’S DREAMS (41:1-8)
A. The Dream of the Cattle (v.1-4)
NOTE: The “two full years” (v.1) are how long the butler forgot Joseph. Theses must have been very disappointing years. NOTE: The dreams in Joseph’s life always come in two’s. Joseph dreams the two dreams about his future glory (Gen.37:5-10). In prison, he interprets the dreams of the butler and the baker (Gen.40). Here, Pharaoh has two dreams – one of the cattle and the other of the corn.
B. The Dream of the Corn (v.5-7)
C. The Search for an Interpretation (v.8)
II. JOSEPH’S INTERPRETATION (41:9-32)
A. The Butler Remembers Joseph (v.9-13)
B. Joseph is Called Before Pharaoh (v.14-16)
NOTE: Joseph gives all glory to God as the source of all interpretation. He does not take credit for what God does.
C. Pharaoh Recites His Dreams (v.17-24)
D. Joseph Interprets the Dreams (v.25-32)
III. JOSEPH’S EXALTATION (41:33-44)
A. Joseph Advises Preparation (v.33-36)
B. Pharaoh Exalts Joseph (v.37-44)
IV. JOSEPH’S LIFE AND WORK (41:45-57)
A. The Seven Good Years (v.45-52)
1. The gathering of grain (v.45-49)
2. Sons born to Joseph (v.50-52)
B. The First Years of Famine (v.53-57)
CONCLUSION: Joseph shows us how important it is to be faithful to God. He will always be faithful to us. We may not understand His ways but we must always rest assured that He is working in our lives for good (Rom.8:28).
1. Joseph, as Jesus, warned of coming danger (v.32; Lu.13:3)
2. Joseph, as Jesus, was filled with the Spirit (v.38; Jn.3:34)
3. Joseph, as Jesus, received his wisdom from God (v.39; Jn.5:20)
4. Joseph, as Jesus, was wise beyond all others (v.39; 1Cor.1:22,30)
5. Joseph, as Jesus, was placed over a house (v.40; Heb.3:3)
6. Joseph, as Jesus, ruled according to his word (v.40; 1Thes.2:13)
7. Joseph, as Jesus, ruled as second in the kingdom (v.40). He rode in the second chariot. This pictures Jesus as the second person of the godhead. Daniel is made third ruler in Babylon (Dan.5:14-15) and is a picture of the Holy Ghost.
8. Joseph, as Jesus, is made ruler of the earth (v.41; Mt.28:19-20)
9. Joseph, as Jesus, is arrayed in the fine linen (v.44) which is a picture of righteousness (Rev.19:8).
10. Joseph, as Jesus, was thirty years old when he began his ministry (v.46; Lk.3:23).
A. Corn or Grain
1. Biblical corn (Gen.41:5; Lev.2:14; Num.18:27; Deut.16:9; Jn.12:24) refers to grains common in the Middle East; not the maize of America
2. Biblical corns were usually barley or wheat. Rye is mentioned in a couple of places (Ex.9:32; Isa.28:25)
a. Barley was cheaper and used more by the poor (Lev.27:16; Judg.7:13; 2Kgs.7:16; Jn.6:9; Rev.6:6)
b. Wheat was a sign of moving up in society (1Kgs.5:11; Ps.81:16; Jer.31:12
3. Was sometimes eaten raw
a. Standing corn (Deut.23:25)
b. Green ears (Lev.23:14)
c. Corn in the husk (2Kgs.4:42)
d. Ears of corn (Mt.12:1; Mk.2:23; Lk.6:1)
4. Parched corn was grain that had been roasted in a pan or on an iron plate (1Sam.17:17; 25:18; 2Sam.17:28)
B. Bread
1. Made from flour that had been ground from the common grains; especially wheat or barley
2. By far, the main food of Bible times
a. The Bible phrase, to eat bread, is equivalent to our phrase, to eat a meal (Gen.37:25; 43:31-32; Ex.2:20; 1Sam.28:22-25)
b. Provision of food was spoken of as “daily bread” (Mt.6:11)
c. Christ is the “bread of life” (Jn.6:35)
d. The “breaking of bread” means to take a meal (Lam.4:4; Mt.26:26; Acts 20:7). Pieces of bread would be broken off a large loaf; the Arabs thought it wrong to cut the bread with a knife
MEMORY VERSES:
1. Genesis 41:16
2. Genesis 41:38
3. Psalm 105:19
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