Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

Two years and not a peep from the cupbearer to Pharaoh or Pharaoh himself. Joseph shows zero signs of giving up or getting bitter. He continues his work honestly and with his usual intensity. He doesn’t blame anyone. He rests in his complete trust in God. He is able to do this through all his time in captivity because of the dreams God gave him in his youth (17 years old). Joseph lived in the knowledge God was not slow keeping promises – but there would have been times in the last 13 years that made it hard to keep doubt down.

Pharaoh had a dream. Two dreams, really. He dreamed of seven healthy cows eaten by seven emaciated ones – and it didn’t make a difference to the skinny cows’ appearance. Then he dreamed of a corn stalk. Seven fat ears came from it (extremely unusual). Then another seven ears, but scorched and thin. They ate the fatties and still looked terrible. He woke up and was upset. He knew they meant something, but couldn’t figure it out. He called all his wise men and his magicians (the word for these ‘magicians’ is ONLY used here and in Babylon. Nowhere else in scripture. These were a particular kind of soothsayers). They couldn’t figure it out either.

The chief cupbearer suddenly remembered Joseph and spoke of the Hebrew prisoner’s skill with dreams. Pharaoh called for Joseph (who changed clothes and shaved before arriving). When he arrived, Joseph didn’t beg for release or tell his story. He was respectful and listened to Pharaoh’s request. Joseph told Pharaoh he was nothing special, but that God reveals everything. He was confident that God would do it again. So Pharaoh related the dream with a few more details. And Joseph received the interpretation from God. Seven years of unusual plenty followed by seven years of unusual famine. Joseph recommended finding a wise person to be put in charge so Egypt would be prepared. Joseph suggested a ‘tax’ of 1/5 of food produce (on top of the usual taxes) to be put aside for the famine.

Pharaoh nominated Joseph. He was put directly under Pharoah overseeing everything in the land (including the penal system he had been in). He was given a new name, new clothes, a chariot (Pharaoh’s on #2), and a wife (a daughter of Potiphar). He was sent on a tour of the land and immediately went to work. Once again, Joseph was humble and honest, doing his best for God wherever he found himself. He was thirty when this happened (13 years since he had his dreams). Ezekiel was thirty when he started his ministry. It was the age you could start serving in the temple. Jesus was thirty when he started his ministry. Preparation to be a success takes time. Joseph had meditated on those dreams thirteen years. He may have been surprised by the how, but not that it happened. Success did not go to his head. He continued to rely on God. He gathered the food (storing it in the individual cities where it would have easy access), prepared the nation, and had two boys. Then the famine came.

It was bad. There are records of people in Thebes resorting to eating each other (Met Museum of Art – Accession Number: 22.3.517). The people complained to Pharaoh. Pharaoh told them to see Joseph and Joseph took care of them (more of that in later chapters). The famine was so severe that not only Egypt but the nations around it were affected. Enter the brothers…

“But Jacob did not send Benjamin, the brother of Joseph, for he feared harm would come to him.” (Genesis 42:4)

Jacob/Israel heard Egypt had grain, so he sent his boys to purchase for the whole family (they’d need a lot, so all the brother but Benjamin went). They arrived to buy grain and Zaphenath-Paneah was the man to see. They bowed before him and started to buy. But this official (who was Joseph) charged them as spies. They had been mature men when Joseph left, but Joseph had only been a teen. They hadn’t changed much. Joseph had changed a lot (13 years from being sold to being regent and over 7 since then) AND was dressed and spoke exactly like the other Egyptians. This also shows that Joseph wasn’t white. He had darker skin. Egyptians had brown to black skin and Joseph, as a Hebrew, fit right in.

Now Joseph wasn’t a bitter or resentful man. But all 11 brothers needed to bow. Had they treated Benjamin like him? Had they changed or repented of their evil ways (remember Reuben and Judah committed incest, Simeon and Levi were murderers. All the brothers were looters and slave owners. And they had all either condoned selling Joseph into slavery or kept the truth from their father)? They claimed to be ‘honest men’ but their behaviour in their lives spoke very differently. They needed an opportunity to prove themselves. He threw them into prison.

Three days later, he came with a deal. One brother stays, the others go fetch Benjamin. If they do, all is forgiven. If not, they’re spies and he’ll never sell them grain (killing them AND their families). Reuben (firstborn) immediately berates his brothers saying he TOLD them to let Joseph out of the pit and not sin against the boy. So Joseph chose the SECOND born son to stay in prison – he may have spoken Egyptian fluently and used an interpreter, but he understood Hebrew too. Simeon stayed. The rest left. But Joseph is becoming more hopeful his brothers are changed men, men who will get right with God.

Halfway home, one of the brothers opens some grain to feed the animals (Jewish tradition says it was Levi) and discovers his money. They all got depressed and wondered what judgment for Joseph God was going to force them through. They get home and tell the story to Israel and the old Jacob answers them. He’s furious. Why tell the Pharaoh about Benjamin? Remember what the name meant? The one he would rely on in old age as a cane of support? Jacob is doubling down on it. Reuben even offers two of his sons (he had four in total) as payment if something happens to Benjamin. This was a FOOLISH and. RASH oath, but it shows he was serious about his responsibilities. He’s older, but not much wiser.

When they opened all their sacks to distribute grain to their families, they ALL had their money in their sacks. To them, this was a BAD sign. In reality, Joseph had paid for them. It was a gesture of love and possibly a message that 1) this Egyptian official (Joseph) wasn’t as bad as they thought and 2) they were going to be taken care of. But neither Jacob nor the brothers saw that. They were afraid.

Jacob doesn’t let go of his ‘cane’. Considers Simeon dead to him. Bemoans Joseph being dead. Refuses Reuben’s offer. Declares Benjamin will NEVER go to Egypt!

Summary

Key Players: Pharaoh, Joseph, Reuben, Simeon

Key Themes: Dreams, Fulfillment of Promises, Repentance

Key Verse(s): Genesis 41:1, 8-9, 14, 16, 17-24, 32-36, 37-43, 53-55; 42:1-2, 8-10, 21-25, 36-38