January 18, 2025
Joseph had proven an excellent interpreter of dreams – the Chief Cupbearer had, indeed, been restored to his former position.
I can imagine that Joseph experienced a moment of excitement as he anticipated his release from prison, but alas, no word came from the palace and the gates of the prison remained decidedly shut. The Chief Cupbearer had completely forgotten about Joseph.
2 full years went by…..
One night Pharaoh had a dream (Genesis 41:1b-7):
• He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river came 7 sleek and fat cows. After them, 7 ugly and gaunt cows came up out of the Nile and stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. Suddenly, the gaunt cows ate the fat cows --- with a start, Pharaoh woke up.
• He fell asleep again and had a second dream: 7 healthy heads of grain were growing on a single stalk. After them, 7 thin and scorched heads of grain sprouted. Suddenly, the thin heads of grain ate the healthy heads of grain --- Again Pharaoh woke with a start. Whew!! Only a dream.
In that culture, dreams were very important – especially if you were Pharaoh. It was a way for the “gods to communicate” an important message – Well, Pharaoh was clueless and it troubled him. The dreams were important, he was sure of it, but he just didn’t understand, so he did what all good kings do – he sent for all the magicians and wisemen in the land. They were of no help – and as they struggled to give Pharaoh an interpretation, the Chief Cupbearer had a Homer Simpson moment ---- “Doh!” He said as he smacked his forehead with the palm of his hand.
Casually he approached Pharaoh and dropped a bombshell: “Your majesty, I am reminded of a promise I failed to keep. Remember, a couple of years back, when you threw me and the Chief Baker into prison? While we were there, each of us had a dream. A young Hebrew inmate interpreted our dreams - correctly! Things turned out exactly as he said they would – how about that!”
Alarms sounded! Buzzers buzzed! Gongs gonged! “Send for him immediately!” ordered Pharaoh.
After a quick shave and change of clothes Joseph was ushered into the presence of the most powerful man in his world. Pharaoh jumped right in:
"I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. I have been told that you can interpret dreams."
"I cannot interpret your dream, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
Pharaoh wasted no time telling Joseph his dream. Joseph wasted no time telling Pharaoh what it meant: 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine – famine so bad the good years would be forgotten.
“I would suggest” Joseph concluded “that you look for a discerning and wise man to put in charge of Egypt. Appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest during the 7 years of plenty. All the grain should be stored under the authority of Pharaoh. This food should be held in reserve to be used during the 7 years of famine, so that the country may not be brought to ruin."
Pharaoh looked around at his advisors…… “Good plan,” he said. “I don’t think we will be able to find anyone like this man – clearly he has the spirit of God.”
Turning to Joseph: "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you…. I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
Pharaoh put his signet ring on Joseph’s finger, dressed him in fine linen, put a gold chain around his neck, took him around the city in a chariot, changed his name – and deep breath – gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife.
Joseph was 30 years old.
For the next 7 years the grain in Egypt flowed like the sand of the sea and Joseph stored as much as he could. So much grain came into the storehouses, that the scribes stopped keeping records.
Meanwhile, Joseph and Asenath had 2 sons: Manasseh and Ephraim.
Then came the 8th year……….
There was no food. As the famine intensified, Pharaoh sent the people to Joseph and he opened the storehouses and sold the people grain.
The famine was not confined to Egypt – the surrounding countries began to come to buy food – including Canaan.
When Jacob learned there was grain available in Egypt, he called for his sons. When they heard the news, they looked at each other uncertainly. “Why are you just staring at each other?” Jacob asked. “Go to Egypt and buy grain so that we don’t die!”
Reluctantly, Joseph’s 10 brothers headed for Egypt. Benjamin stayed home because Jacob was afraid harm would come to him.
The brothers were anxious – they had to be – what if they saw, you know, “him?” The roughly 300 miles journey ended all too quickly and they found themselves in the que to purchase grain.
Any foreigner, who wanted to buy grain, had to be interviewed by Joseph first. It wasn’t long before the brothers were brought into the presence of the Governor of Egypt. Nervously they bowed before him.
They did not recognize him – but he recognized them. Can you imagine the emotions that he experienced?
“Where do you come from?”
“We are from Canaan and we’ve come to buy grain.”
Suddenly, in a flash, Joseph remembered his dreams…..
“You are spies! You have come to see if our land is unprotected!”
“No, my lord! Your servants have come to buy food! We are all sons of one man. We are honest men, not spies.”
“I don’t believe you. You are spies!”
“Your servants were 12 brothers of one man, who lives in Canaan. The youngest brother is at home with our father and the other brother is no more.”
“I don’t believe you. You are spies, but am willing to test you to see if you are telling the truth. You will not be allowed to leave Egypt unless your younger brother comes here.”
And with that, Joseph threw his brothers in jail. On the 3rd day, they were brought before him again:
"I’ve changed my mind: If you really are honest men, I’m going to allow you to go home and take food to your starving household – however… one of your brothers (Simeon) will remain here in prison. When you come back, you must bring your youngest brother, so that your words may be verified and you won’t die."
With great speed 9 brothers prepared to leave and they began to discuss the situation: "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come upon us."
Reuben piped up: "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood."
They didn’t know that Joseph understood every word. He rushed out of the room and began to weep.
After gaining control of himself, Joseph ordered that the brother’s sacks should be filled with grain and each man’s silver should be put in his sack as well.
The brother’s loaded up and headed back to Canaan. When they stopped for the night, one of the brothers opened a sack of grain and discovered the silver. Every heart sank and they were greatly afraid, “What is this that God has done to us?”
When they got home, they told Jacob the whole story and as they opened their sacks, they discovered that all their silver had been returned – In fear Jacob turned on his sons: "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"
Reuben piped up: "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back."
Nice!!! Not willing to sacrifice himself, but all too willing to sacrifice his children……..
But Jacob was having none of it: “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him, I will die of grief."
The famine was still raging and finally Jacob had no choice - his sons would have to go back to Egypt for food.
Judah reminded him that the Governor of the land would not see them unless Benjamin was with them.
“Why did you bring trouble on me by telling the man you had a brother?” Jacob asked.
“The Governor questioned us about our family. He asked if our father lived and if we had another brother. We just answered his questions. How were we to know he would tell us to bring Benjamin?”
Lying was just second nature….. They had actually volunteered the information – but no sense telling the truth now.
It is in this moment that we see a bit of the transformational process Judah has gone through. Remember that Reuben had volunteered the lives of his son’s as surety for Benjamin? Now Judah speaks up and he gives himself: "Send the lad with me… I will be surety for him; you may hold me responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame before you forever.”
Jacob relented. The brothers took double the silver as well as gifts for the Governor and headed for Egypt.
Unexpectantly, the brothers were taken to Joseph’s estate – they ought they were about to become slaves. Instead, Simeon was restored to them and they were invited to share the noon meal with Joseph – whom they still did not recognize.
When Joseph saw Benjamin, he was overwhelmed with emotion. He hurried out of the room and wept. After getting control of himself he ordered the food to be served.
The brothers were arranged according to their ages – weird! When the portions were served, Benjamin’s portion was 5 times that of the others – never mind – they ate and drank freely.
Once again, Joseph ordered that their silver be returned along with the sacks of grain. He went a step further and ordered that his favorite silver cup be placed in Benjamin’s sack of grain.
The brother’s headed for home, but just outside the city, Egyptian soldiers surrounded them. Joseph’s steward accused them of stealing Joseph’s favorite silver cup.
The brothers protested their innocents. So certain were they that they said, “If one us did steal the cup he should die and the rest of us will become your slaves.”
One by one the sacks were searched. So far so good – until they reached Benjamin’s sack. There the cup sat, pretty- as-you please. In unison the brother’s tore their robes in sorrow, loaded the donkeys and returned to the city.
They threw themselves at Joseph’s feet.
“How could you do this? Don’t you know that I can find things out through divination?”
Judah had declared that he would to be surety for Benjamin – but I’m pretty sure he didn’t expect this! What would Judah do? Speak up and doom himself or remain silent and doom Benjamin?
“Please my lord, let your servant speak. The last time we were here, you ordered us to bring our younger brother. Our father was loath to let him come for the boy is very dear to him. If the boy is not with us when we return home, our father will surely die. I guaranteed the boy’s safety. Please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy and let him return to his father. I cannot return to my father without him...”
And with that Joseph was undone. He ordered the room cleared and then began to weep – loudly: "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?"
In mute terror the brothers remained silent.
"Please come closer to me. I am Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. Do not be angry with yourselves, because you sold me - God sent me before you to preserve life. The famine has been in the land for 2 years, and there are still 5 years to go. God sent me before you to preserve you and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. It was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Now hurry home and say to my father, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. You will live in the region of Goshen and be near me -- you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds - all you have’…. You can see that it really is me. Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."
Then Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept and then he kissed all his brothers and wept over them.
After much hoop-lah the brothers were ready to go home ---- and what a story they had to tell!
Until Next Time………..
