Joseph was the son of Jacob who was the son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham, the friend of God. Jacob had 12 sons from 4 women in the land of Haran where he sojourned for 20 years:
Leah (1st wife) Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulin.
Zilpah (handmaid to Leah) Gad and Asher.
Bilhah (handmaid to Rachel) Dan and Naphtali.
Rachel (2nd wife) Joseph and Benjamin.
Rachel was greatly loved by Jacob and Joseph was the 11th son of Jacob and he was greatly loved as well. Rachel died giving birth to Jacob's 12th son, Benjamin on their way back to Canaan and was buried in Bethlehem.
Jacob meeting his brother Esau going to Canaan with his family.
Jacob had a Divine encounter with the pre-incarnate Jesus in a wrestling match where his name was changed to Israel. His 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel.
Joseph was born circa 1904 BC or 2205 years after Adam (AA).
Gn 37
Now Israel knew that his son Joseph was special and this was confirmed by dreams that Joseph had told his family about. They were shepherds, and farmers in the land. Israel knew in his heart that Joseph was to inherit what he had built. So, Israel made him a coat that had many different colors representing the possessions of livestock and land that he owned and that Joseph would inherit.
When Joseph's brothers saw this they were jealous and hated him. They thought Joseph was 17 years old and too young to receive this inheritance and the greatest love of their father.
Joseph told his brothers that he had dreamed that they were all binding sheaves in the field and his bundle rose upright and all of his brother's sheaves bowed to it. His brothers were angry at this and said, "Do you think that you will reign over us?"
Joseph told his family about another dream where the sun and the moon and 11 stars made obeisance to him.
Joseph's Brothers treachery
In scripture when Joseph's father is acting according to prophecy and what is God's will he is referred to as Israel. When he is not, he is called Jacob. Well, Jacob questioned the dream as well and said, "Shall I and your mother (probably Leah who was the mother of the house) and all your brethren all bow down to you?" But Jacob took note of what Joseph said.
Even though young, Joseph took heed of what God had shown him. He was a natural leader and a dependable son as well as a good shepherd. He had integrity and was honest.
Israel called his son Joseph in one day to go check on his brothers who were watching flocks North of Hebron which is West of the Dead sea. He traveled some distance and tracked them down by Dothan which is Southwest of the Sea of Galilee about 50 miles from his home.
When his brothers saw him coming they said, "The master of dreams is coming." They conspired to kill him and throw him in a pit and say a wild animal killed him. Ruben would not have it and told them they should throw him in a pit, but not shed his blood. Ruben wanted to take him back to his father and planned to come back and rescue the lad. When they agreed, Ruben went back to his flock.
When Joseph got to them, they stripped him of his coat and threw him down a dry pit.
When they sat down to eat supper, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with their camels loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. So Judah said, Let don't kill our brother and have to try and hide his blood. Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites. So they took Joseph out of the pit and sold him for 20 pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites were their relatives as Ismael was born of Abram and Hagar an Egyptian maid of Sarai. But Israelis are born of Abraham and Sarah and the child of promise of God.
So the traders took Joseph away as a slave, bound and captive to Egypt. Joseph and his life are a picture of the life of Jesus in many ways. This is called a Type of scripture. Jesus was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver and was also thrown into a dry pit under the house of Caiaphas the High Priest.
Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was gone. In sorrow he tore his clothes and went to his brothers and said, "The child is not, where shall I go?"
So the brothers took a kid and killed it and dipped Joseph's coat in the blood. They traveled back home and gave the coat to Israel and said, "We found this coat; we don't know if it your son's or not."
Israel knew the coat and said, "It is my son's coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Without doubt he is torn to pieces." So Jacob rent his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into mourning.
All of his family tried to comfort him, but he would not and said, "I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning." And his father wept for Joseph.
Joseph Sold
Joseph was delivered by the Ishmaelites to Egypt where he was sold at auction as a slave. The slave was usually stripped so they could be examined by the buyers a very humbling experience. But Joseph knew that the Lord was with him.
Jesus was also betrayed by His disciples, even Peter (the strongest) denied Him 3 times the night He was arrested. Jesus was also stripped and humiliated when He was scourged and crucified.
Potiphar, an officer of the Pharaoh and Captain of the guard was the high bidder and bought Joseph. It was not long until he saw that the Lord was with Joseph and that all he did prospered.
Gn 38 is the story how Judah left his brothers (probably from remorse) and went and married a Canaanite woman who bore him 3 sons. When the oldest was ready for a wife, he found a woman who was from the daughters of Shem, Tamar. Semitic means from Shem. But the elder son displeased God and died, then the 2nd born was bound by law to marry Tamar and father children for his dead brother. But he did evil before God and died. The last son was too young so Judah told Tamar to live in her father's house and wait for the 3rd son. Tamar waited until the youngest child was 18 and still she was not given a husband. Meanwhile, Judah's wife died. So Tamar fooled Judah who thought she was a harlot near where he was shearing sheep and he promised her a kid for her favors.
She agreed but needed something for a pledge until she was paid, so Judah gave her his signet ring, bracelets, and staff. She conceived by Judah, who never knew it was Tamar, who left the area while Judah was gone and went back to his house and put on her widow's clothes. When later she began to show she was pregnant Judah was going to have her burnt for playing the harlot. But she brought forth his signet ring, staff, and bracelets and said, "These belong to the man by whom I am with child." Judah let her live and said, "She is more righteous than I for I should have gave her my youngest son." She had twins, Pharaez and Zarah; and Pharez was the one who the genealogy of the line of Seth to Jesus followed. You see it was not God's will that the daughters of Canaan would continue the line of His "promised seed." Jesus would be the "Lion from the tribe of Judah."
Joseph Favored
Gn 39
Potiphar soon learned to trust Joseph and put him in charge of all of his household business. God blessed the Egyptian for Joseph's sake. Joseph was a handsome young man and Potiphar's wife was setting her eyes upon him.
It was not too long before she went after Joseph when her husband was away. She said to Joseph, "Come and lie with me."
Joseph said, "No, my master does not worry about anything that is his with me; he has made me in charge of everything he has. He has made me great in his house and has not held back anything from me except you. I cannot do this great wickedness and sin against God." Joseph knew that adultery was wrong even though the commandments were still over 400 years from being written.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted in all ways, but without sin. Joseph knew right from wrong from the Spirit of God that was with him.
But she continued to hound Joseph day by day and would not leave him alone. One day while he was going about his job in the house, the two of them were alone. And when Joseph passed by her she grabbed his robe and said, "Come lie with me."
Joseph ran from her but she had his robe in her hand. She called the servants of the house and lied to them and said that Joseph tried to lie with her and when she cried out, he ran away leaving his robe.
When her lord came home she told him the same lie, "This Hebrew you brought into the house has mocked me and tried to force me, but I cried and he ran away but left his robe next to me."
Joseph Imprisoned
So the master of the house was angry and even though he thought highly of Joseph, he could not have him after his wife, so he had Joseph put into prison.
But the favor and Grace of God was on Joseph and He showed him mercy so that the keeper of the prison committed all the prison business to Joseph. Whatever went on there was under Joseph's hand because God caused all he did to prosper.
In Ps 1 we read that the man who delights in the law of the LORD and meditates in it will be like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in season and what ever they do will prosper. Joseph knew the Word of the LORD from his father and ancestors.
Gn 40
It was not too long before the chief cup bearer and chief baker got crosswise with the Pharaoh and offended him and were thrown into prison.
Joseph as the one in charge of the prison ward and was told by the Captain to serve these men. So, he became acquainted with both of these men.
Each one had a dream concerning their positions. Joseph took note that they were both sad and approached them and asked them about their sadness. They both said that they had dreamed a dream and no one could interpret it. Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me about your dreams."
Joseph always was helpful and loving to those around him; just like Jesus who went around doing good and helping all who were oppressed by the devil.
The Cupbearer's dream
So the chief cupbearer went first: "In my dream a vine was there before me that had 3 branches. And it budded and the blossoms came out and brought forth ripe grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand so I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cub and gave the cup to Pharaoh."
Joseph said to him, "Here is the interpretation of your dream: The 3 branches are 3 days. Within 3 days shall Pharaoh lift you up and restore you to your place; and you shall deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand as it was when you were his butler. When this happens, remember me and show me kindness and make mention of me to the Pharaoh so I may come out of this prison. For I was stolen from the land of the Hebrews and I have done nothing that I should be in this dungeon."
The Baker's dream
When the chief baker saw that the interpretation that Joseph gave from God was good, he revealed his dream to Joseph as well; "In my dream, I had 3 white baskets on my head. The top basket there were all manner of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head."
Joseph answered the baker; "This is the meaning of the dream: The 3 baskets are 3 days. Within 3 days shall Pharaoh take away your office and hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off of you."
Joseph's Words Proved
On the 3rd day from their dreams, Pharaoh celebrated his birthday and made a feast for all his servants. He brought out the chief cupbearer and chief baker from prison. He restored the butlership to the cupbearer and executed the baker, just as Joseph had told them. But the chief cupbearer did not tell the Pharaoh about Joseph.
Dreams can be very important or not. It is only by God that one would know; such was the gift of God to Joseph. It was a dream that convinced the future Joseph to take Mary as his wife when she was pregnant with Jesus. It was a dream that told the Magi to go another way home and not see Herod for the danger to the baby Jesus.
Pharaoh has Dreams
Gn 41
It was 2 years later that the Pharaoh had some troubling dreams.
First he dreamed that he was by the Nile River and saw 7 fat and healthy cows come up out of the river and they went and grazed in a meadow. Then out of the river came 7 thin and weak cows and they went and devoured the healthy cows.
This dream woke up the Pharaoh and he knew that it was important. Not long after he dreamed a second time and their were 7 ears of grain that came out on one stalk. They were all plump and healthy. Then another stalk came up and sprouted 7 thin and withered ears of grain that were blasted with the East wind. While he watched, the 7 withered ears devoured the 7 plump ears; again he woke up and was troubled.
When the morning had come, Pharaoh called for all of the magicians of Egypt and all of the wise men and told them his dreams. But none of them could reveal to him the meaning of them.
When the chief butler and cupbearer heard of the dreams, he remembered Joseph and how he had rightly interpreted the dreams of the chief baker and himself. So he told the Pharaoh about Joseph the Hebrew and how while in prison, he had told him accurately the dreams of the chief baker and himself.
So the Pharaoh sent for Joseph to come before him. Joseph cleaned up, shaved, and put on clean clothes and stood before Pharaoh.
Pharaoh then told Joseph his dreams in all the detail. He said to him, "Even when the thin cows ate the fat ones they were still thin, and the thin ears of grain did not change when they ate up the fat ones."
Joseph knew the dream by the powers given to him by God and answered Pharaoh, "The two dreams that Pharaoh had are one and the same. God has showed Pharaoh what He is about to do. The 7 fat cows and the 7 fat ears are 7 good years that will come upon the land bringing great harvest and plenty. After this are the 7 thin cows and 7 withered ears which are 7 years of famine that will be so bad that no one will remember the good years for the famine will consume the land of Egypt. This is why God showed this to you twice, because He will surely bring this to pass.
Now let Pharaoh seek out a man who is discreet and wise; set this man over the land of Egypt to set up officers to collect and store a fifth part of the harvest in the 7 good years in select places. Then when the famine comes there will be food to stand against it for the 7 bad years."
This all was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his counselors and servants. God's hand was on the situation.
7 is a Divine number. Think about this: 7 colors of rainbow, 7 musical notes, 7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls of God's wrath, 70 times 7 to forgive, and 7 times the army and Ark marched around Jericho. I am sure there is more, but it is and represents perfection.
Pharaoh said to his court, "Can we find such a man as this who has the Spirit of God in him?" So he turned to Joseph and said, "As God has showed you all of this, there is none as discreet and wise as you are. I will make you over my house and according to your word shall my people be ruled; only in my throne shall be greater than you."
God here is Elohiym, the plural God that is also in Gn 1:1. This is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost to us; the Trinity and the same image that God put in man, body, soul, and spirit. That is why we can be reborn in Jesus Christ and have His Spirit in us, and be baptized in the Holy Spirit and have God's Spirit in us as well....powerful.
So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have set you over all the land of Egypt." Then he took off his ring and put it upon Joseph's hand and dressed him in fine clothes and put a gold chain upon his neck.
The Pharaoh made Joseph to ride in a 2nd chariot and had the people of the land to bow before him for he was now the ruler over all the land of Egypt. He told Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent shall no man do anything in the land."
Joseph now had the power of the king and was sent to do his bidding to save the ancient world.
Jesus is the Son of the King of the Universe who by His power saved all of us who will come to Him in the whole world. Jesus gave us His signet ring, which is His Name. In the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, things in Heaven, things in earth, and things under the earth. We who believe have power over evil and circumstances in His mighty Name.
This Pharaoh was known as Djoser and was the ruler over all the land of Egypt. Although not named, in the Bible, this Djoser fits all of the clues alluded to in the Bible.
The archaeology of Ron Wyatt discovered may proofs that the Bible is true: Noah's Ark, Sodom and Gomorrah, Red Sea Crossing, and what is in this blog. Check it out, it is fascinating.
He called Joseph, Zaphnathpaaneah,the man in whom secrets are revealed. The historical name for Joseph is Imhotep. Who was the grand vizier, mystic, architect, adviser, and prime minister of Egypt.
Joseph was seeing the revelations that God had given him be fulfilled. He had been in Egypt for 14 years, and most of that in prison. Yet he never doubted God, and believed and stood fast that what God had shown him would come to pass. He was now 30 years old and 2nd in command of the most powerful nation on earth and would save the ancient world from starvation.
Jesus was also 30 years old when He started His ministry. When He was baptized by John, God opened Heaven and said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I AM well pleased." Jesus became the most influential man in the world, yet so many will not come to Him, yet the invitation is always open. Our calendar is based on Him, He influenced the whole world, He rose from the dead to prove His truth, He saved the world.
Pharaoh Djoser gave Joseph Asenath (gift of the sun god) the daughter of Potipherah priest of On to be his wife.
She had to overcome the stories of Joseph's past and the false charges of the assault on Potiphar's wife. But she became the mother of Manasseh (who makes me forget) and Ephraim (fruitfulness).
The Good Years Come
Joseph went out and surveyed the whole land of Egypt. He built huge grain storage silos in the cities some of which we can see at the Saqquarah complex. The wheat was so plentiful that by putting away one fifth, they filled them.
The elaborate methods of storing the grain and removing it were no doubt Divinely inspired through Joseph.
Even though all of the storage facilities that Joseph built around Egypt have not been discovered, we can surmise they were similar to those found at Saqquarah.
There are different kinds of deep pits that could have stored the grain.
Here we also find these hieroglyphs in the wall which are probably Imhotep (Joseph) and Asenath.
This statue of Imhotep is also preserved in Egypt. He was credited with the first pyramid built and the architecture of the pyramids of Giza.
Here also is a rock near the Nile that records the history of Imhotep and his saving the land.
The first pyramid built here was the Step Pyramid built for Djoser and Imhotep was the architect and invented a block mover that could raise the giant stones level to level shown in hieroglyphs by using levers.
The whole Saqquarah complex was designed by Joseph (Imhotep) for his Pharaoh Djoser.
Sadly today the pyramid is crumbling and restoration efforts have not been effective (National Geographic)
During the years of the prosperous times, Asenath bore to Joseph his sons: the first born was called Manasseh; for Joseph said, "For God has made me forget all my toil, and my father's house." The second born was called Ephraim, "For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
Then the 7 years of plenty ended, and the 7 years of famine began.The dearth was in all the surrounding lands, but in Egypt there was bread. The people of Egypt came to Pharaoh for bread and he told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and what he says to you, do."
The famine was over all the face of the earth and Joseph opened the storage silos and sold to the Egyptians for the famine was fierce in Egypt. All of the surrounding countries came to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.
Joseph's Brothers Come to Buy Grain
Gn 42
The famine had hit the land of Canaan and Jacob's family was out of food. When he saw that there was grain in Egypt he called his sons, "Why do you look at each other? I have heard that there is corn in Egypt; go down there and buy from them that we may live and not die."
So, the 10 brothers of Joseph went to buy grain in Egypt. Jacob did not let the youngest boy, Benjamin, go because he did not want mischief to befall him. Because Joseph was the governor over the land it was him that sold the grain. So his brothers came and bowed themselves before him.
Joseph saw his brethren and knew them, but made himself strange to them. He spoke roughly to them and asked them, "Where have you come from?"
They answered, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
Joseph knew them, but they did not know Joseph. He remembered the dreams of them bowing down before him. He said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land."
His brothers said, "No my lord, but to buy food are your servants come. We are all one man's sons; we are true men, your servants are no spies."
Joseph said, "No, but to see the nakedness of the land you are come."
They said, "Your servants are 12 brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not."
Joseph said to them, "That is it, that I spake unto you, saying, you are spies. Here is how you shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go away from here unless your youngest brother comes here. Send one of you and fetch your brother, and the rest shall be kept in prison that your words may be proved as to where there be any truth in you; or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you are spies."
So Joseph put them all in one ward for 3 days.
On the third day Joseph said to them, "This do and live; for I fear God: If you be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison; you go and carry grain for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me so shall your words be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so.
The said one to another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he entreated us, and we would not listen. Therefore is this distress come upon us."
Ruben answered, "Said I not to you do not sin against the child; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, also his blood is required of us."
They did not know that Joseph understood what they said for he spoke to them in Egyptian by an interpreter.
Joseph turned and left out of their sight and wept; then returned to them again and communed with them, and took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with grain and to restore every man's money in his sack, plus give them provision for the way back. So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there.
They stopped at an inn and one went into his sack to give his donkey provender and saw his money in the sack's opening. He said to his brethren, "My money is restored and is in my sack!"
Their hearts failed them and they were afraid and said to each other, "What is this that God has done unto us?"
They came home to Jacob and told him all that had happened to them. As they were emptying their sacks each one found their money in the sacks. All of them and Jacob saw and were afraid.
Jacob said, "Me have you bereaved of my children; Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and you will take Benjamin away; all these things are against me."
Ruben said to his father, "Slay my two sons, if I bring him not back to you; deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again."
Jacob said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in which you go, then shall you bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave."
I cannot imagine the spot that Jacob was in, but we see here that his whole conversation about all that has happened involved me, I, my, etc. The whole of his concern was for himself. He was not trusting in his God, the God of his fathers.
They Return to Egypt
Gn 43
The famine was severe in the land and it was not long before Jacob's household were out of food. Jacob said to his sons, "Go again and buy a little food."
Judah said, "The man did solemnly protest unto us saying, You shall not see my face except your brother be with you. If you will then send our brother with us and we will go down and buy you food; but if you will not send him, we will not go down, for the man said, You will not see my face except your brother be with you."
Israel said, "Why do you deal so ill with me as to even tell the man you had a younger brother?"
They answered, "The man asked us straight out of our family and asked if our father was alive and if we had another brother. We told him the truth of what his asked; how could we know that he would say, Bring your brother down?"
Then Judah said unto Israel, his father, "Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live and not die, both we , and you, and also our little ones. I will be the suety for him; of my own hand shall you require him. If I do not bring him back to you then let me bear the blame forever. If we had not lingered twice about this we would already have been there and back."
We see here that Judah has now come back to his brothers and is concerned for all of their little ones as well, which for him would be the twins of Tamar, and his youngest son, Shelah.
Israel said to his sons, "If it must be so now, take the best fruits in the land with you and take the man a present; a little balm, a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds. Plus take double money with you to pay for the money you found in your sacks plus the new buy of grain; it might have been an oversight. Take your brother and arise, go again to the man; and God Almighty give you mercy before the man that he may send away your other and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." Finally we see Israel speaking in faith with hope.
So the brothers did as Israel said and went back before Joseph in Egypt to buy more food. When Joseph saw his little brother, Benjamin, he said to his chief servant, "Bring these men home and slay a kid and make it ready for these men shall dine wit me at noon."
So the brothers were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house and they said, "Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought here, that he might find occasion against us and fall upon us, and take us for slaves, and our donkeys."
So they approached the steward of Joseph's house and communed with him at the door of the house, "Sir, we came down at the first to buy grain, and when we came to the inn, we found the money in our sacks that we paid. We have brought that money back with us plus enough to buy more food. We cannot tell you how the money was put back into our sacks."
And the chief steward said, "Peace be to you. Fear not; your God, and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money."
This unnamed steward is a type of the Holy Ghost who comforts and sees to it that God's will is accomplished.
Then the steward brought out their brother Simeon to them. Then he took them to Joseph's home and gave them water to wash their feet and fed their donkeys. They got their present ready to give to the lord of Egypt for they heard they would eat with him at noon. When Joseph got home they gave him the present and bowed before him.
Joseph asked them through an interpreter, "Is your father well? the old man of whom you spoke, is he still alive?"
They answered, "Your servant, our father is still alive and in good health." Again they bowed and made obeisance to Joseph. Joseph then saw Benjamin, "Is this your younger brother whom you spoke to me about? God be gracious to you, my son." Joseph then left the room quickly because he yearned in his innermost heart for his brother and went to another chamber and wept.
Then Joseph arose and washed his face and went back before them. He called for the food to be served. Now the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews which would be an abomination to them, so they were served separate. And the brothers were seated in order of their age and Benjamin's portion was 5 times that of his brothers. They ate and drake and were merry with Joseph.
Benjamin was the only other son of Joseph's mother and his most cherished brother. He made sure that he got 5 times what the others received. This is the number of Grace and the very picture of what Jesus wants to do for us. He said to us, "I have come that they might have life to the fullest until it overflows." Jn 10:10 amplified
Gn 44
Joseph then commanded his steward to fill their sacks and place each their money back in the sack, plus put his own silver cup in Benjamin's sack.
The system that Joseph had engineered to sell and distribute the grain was elaborate.
At the step pyramid complex we see some evidence of this system.
The orders were made here for the purchase of grain from clerks who collected money and handed out receipts or tokens for the amount to be purchased.
Then the buyers would exit from here and present the tokens for the grain they had bought which was then loaded on their pack animals.
So the brothers left with their donkeys loaded to go back to Canaan. They had not went very far before Joseph sent his servant with armed guards to overtake them. "Why have you rewarded good deeds done to you with evil against my master? You have taken the cup with which he divines the future." They answered him saying that they would not do such a thing; they had even brought the money back from what they found in their sacks the first time. So they said, "If you find the cup here kill the one who has it, and the rest of us will be your slaves."
So they took each man's stuff and went through it from the oldest on down and found the silver cup in Benjamin's sack. They all wailed and tore their clothes. Then they went back with the steward.
They came back before Joseph and fell before him. Joseph said, "What have you done? Did you not know that I can divine and make trial?"
Then Judah said, "What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also whom the cup is found."
Judah came close to Joseph, "Oh my lord, let me your servant speak to you, and do not let your anger burn toward your servant, for you are as Pharaoh. My lord asked his servants, Have you a father or a brother? And we answered, We have a father, and old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him dearly. You told your servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. We said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
You said to your servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, you shall see my face no more. When we came up unto your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. Our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. We told him we cannot go down unless our youngest brother be with us, for we may not see the man's face except our youngest brother be with us. Your servant, my father said unto us, You know that my wife bare me two sons: and the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: and if you take this one also from me, and mischief befall him, you shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. Now therefore when I come to your servant, my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life; it shall come to pass, when he sees the lad is not with us, he will die: an your servants shall bring down the gray hairs of your servant , our father with sorrow to the grave. For your servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto you , then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I humbly ask you, let your servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord: and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? Lest I see the evil that shall come upon my father."
Joseph Reveals Himself
Gn 45
Joseph could not refrain himself before all of them that stood by; he cried, "Everyone go outside the room." So none of the Egyptians were left in the room while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
Joseph wept loudly, so much that the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
He then spoke to his brothers in Hebrew and said, "I am Joseph; does my father live?"
His brothers could not answer they were troubled at his presence.
Joseph said to them, "Come near to me, I adjure you." So they came close. "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves that you sold me; for God sent me before you to preserve life."
They were still hesitant, but I believe that Joseph showed him the covenant mark, the circumcision; for no Egyptian would have that. Benjamin came and hugged his neck.
Joseph told them, "The famine has only been in the land for 2 years; there are yet 5 years in which there will be no harvest. God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So it was not you that sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
Joseph was reconciled to his brothers and showed them forgiveness; just as Jesus reconciled all who would believe to God. They hugged and wept together.
He told them that there was yet 5 years of famine and they would come to poverty unless they went home and got their father and families and came to live in Egypt. "Tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and all that you have seen and make haste to bring my father here."
This similar how Jesus has called us into His goodness and Grace, and even forgave and prayed for those who crucified Him, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
Pharaoh Djoser was pleased to learn of Joseph's family and commanded, "This shall you do, load your beasts and take wagons with you and get your father and your households and come unto me. I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land...Do not regard your stuff for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours."This similar how Jesus has called us into His goodness and Grace, and even forgave and prayed for those who crucified Him, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
And so, the brothers of Jacob and the children of Israel did as they were commanded by Pharaoh and Joseph. Joseph gave them wagons and provisions for the trip. To each of his brothers he gave a set of new clothes. But to Benjamin he gave 5 changes of clothes and 300 pieces of silver.
Again we see a picture of Grace (number 5) and of redemption with the 300 pieces of silver for the full brother. Jesus is the 1st born of many brethren and our Lord by His Blood.
For Israel he sent 20 donkeys all packed with the best of Egypt: wheat, bread, and meat.
When they came into Canaan and spoke to Jacob, they told him, "Joseph is yet alive, he the governor over all the land of Egypt." Jacob's heart fainted, for he did not believe them.
They told him all that Joseph had said, and then he saw the wagons coming and all the gifts and Jacob revived. Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die."
The goodness of Joseph and the Pharaoh and the gifts they sent, revived Jacob, and gave him hope and the Bible shows him being called, Israel, as he showed faith to enter into a good land in the middle of famine. And such it is with us when God's Grace blesses us through the Grace and provision of Jesus, we are to be thankful and filled with hope.
"..I will never leave you or forsake you."Heb 13:5
"My God shall supply all of your need by His riches and Glory by Christ Jesus."Phil 4:19
All Israel Returns to Egypt
Gn 46
Before he left with all he had, Israel worshiped the God of his father Isaac in Beersheba and made sacrifices to Him. God then spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, "Jacob, Jacob"
And Jacob said, "Here am I".
And God said to him, "I AM God, the God of your father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of you a great nation. I will go down with you into Egypt; and I will also surely bring you up again from there. Joseph shall put his hand upon your eyes" (be with you at your death).
So, Israel and all of his sons and their families took their families and flocks and moved to Egypt. Including Joseph's family, there were 70 souls from Israel that moved to Egypt.
When Joseph heard his father was coming, he got in his chariot and went out to meet him. They were moving into the land of Goshen where Pharaoh had directed. When Joseph and Jacob met they embraced and wept together. Jacob said, "Let me die now, for I have seen your face and you are alive."
Now shepherds were considered an abomination in Egypt, so Joseph picked out 5 of his brothers to present themselves before Pharaoh Djoser. He told them to speak of themselves as caretakers of cattle since their youth. They did so in front of him and later he told Joseph that their talents could be used to care for his cattle as well. He gave them permission for all their livestock to dwell in Goshen as well.
Gn 47
Joseph also presented all of his brothers and father to the Pharaoh.
No doubt that Jacob was proud of all that his son Joseph had accomplished and how God had exalted him to such a powerful position.
Joseph brought his father before Pharaoh and let them talk. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How old are you?"
Jacob answered, " The days of the years of my pilgrimage are 139 years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and I have not attained unto the days of the years that the lives of my fathers have attained in their pilgrimage." After this, Jacob left Pharaoh and went back to Goshen.
Israel Blesses Joseph's Sons
Gn 48
Jacob was old and dying and Joseph took his two sons to receive his blessing on them, "God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz i the land of Canaan, and blessed me. He said to me, "Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a great multitude of people. I will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession."
Jacob continued, " Now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, born to you in Egypt are mine; just as Ruben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And your issue which may born will be yours, and called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance."
So Joseph brought his children before his father and bowed before him. He placed his sons before Jacob so that Manasseh would be at his right hand and Ephraim on his left. But when the old man reached out, he crossed his hands so that his right hand was on Ephraim. Joseph tried to lift his hands off, because he thought maybe his father could not see, "Not so father", he said "This is the firstborn", and he tried to place his right hand on Manasseh. But Jacob said, "I know it, my son. He shall be a people and great, but his younger brother will be greater than he will and become a multitude of nations."
So he blessed Joseph's children, "God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
It is something how the faith of Jacob, took the inheritance of his grandsons and included it in the lineage of his own sons. From then on, the Bible speaks of Ephraim and Manasseh as being half tribes.
Jacob died that day after giving his final blessing on all of his sons. He was 147 years old.
Joseph had his father embalmed by his physicians and took him back by a Egyptian royal entourage and buried him in the land of Canaan with Abraham and Isaac.
Jacob's tomb in Israel.
Israel Prospers
In the closing chapters of Genesis, we read how Israel prospered and grew to a great multitude in the fertile Nile Delta which was in the land of Goshen.
The similarities of Joseph and Jesus are again remembered. Joseph saved the ancient world from famine, and he saved all Israel and gave them a place of protection and favor. By the end of the 7 years of famine the Pharaoh had all the money, all the livestock, all the land, and the lives of the people because of Joseph. All power is given to Jesus, and we are His kings and priests and live in a position of protection and favor. Rev 1:6
Jesus saved the whole world by His coming and living a sinless life, dying for sinners, and raising up His Church of those who believe and accept His gift of eternal life. He gave His life to bring to our Heavenly Father the whole world's population. Understand that whosoever will believe on Him will be saved, but not all will go to Him.
Joseph lived in the land of Egypt the rest of his life. He died there when he was 110 years old. He blessed the land and was famous there as Imhotep. His architecture is still there today from the Step Pyramid to the pyramids of Giza.
Before he died he made the Children of Israel take an oath that someday when God brought them out of Egypt that they would take his bones with them. Which they did hundreds of years later when Moses led them out.
Now in troubled times, those who visit Joseph's tomb have to do so under armed guard. For the radical Islamists have tried to destroy his tomb.
But I will end this blog on a good note. Just as God promised and in their future, delivered His people, Israel out of Egypt and to the promised land, so Jesus will deliver all of His own upon His return here to earth, for that is His promise to us.
All quotes are based on the KJV Bible. Pictures/art were found on the I-net with credit given if known.
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