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Many years ago (over 3000 years) a man named Joseph was born to Jacob and Rachel. He was one of twelve children born to Jacob. These twelve were called the the twelve tribes of Israel. God later changed Jacob's name to Israel.(Gen. 32:28 ...35:10) The names of the twelve tribes were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin. Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his sons (Gen. 37:3....45:22) because he was born when Jacob was very old. Jacob made Joseph a coat of many colors. He was hated by his eleven brothers when they saw Jacob loved him more. Later Joseph told his brothers of the dream he had while they were binding sheaves, that his sheaf rose above his brothers sheaves, and they made obeisance (bowed) to him. This dream came true (Gen. 42:6 ...43:26,28 ...44:14). This dream made them more angry, knowing that Joseph would reign over them (Gen. 37:8). Joseph then dreamed again....."...The sun and the moon and the eleven stars made
obeisance to me." These were his father, mother, and the eleven brothers. They envied him that much more, but his father took notice (Gen. 37:11).
Later Joseph was sent by his father to where his brothers were feeding his flocks. When the brothers saw Joseph afar off they conspired against him. Reuben was against killing him, telling his brothers to throw him in a pit, because he was going to rescue him and return him to his father (Gen. 37:22,29).Reuben became sad when he saw Joseph was not in the pit. Judah talked the brothers in selling him. They took Joseph's coat and dipped it in goat's blood, told their father some beast had killed him, and he mourned for many days (Gen. 37:34). The brothers had taken Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the
Ishmelites for twenty pieces of silver. ( Judah's troubles were going to begin...read Gen. chap. 38). Joseph was then sold again to an officer of Pharaoh. The Lord was really with Joseph in Egypt, being put over the house. He was soon plotted against by the masters wife. She lied on him and he was thrown in prison (Gen. 39:7-20) but God was with Joseph. He was put in command of the other prisoners, and God made everything that he did to prosper (Gen. 39:23).
While Joseph was in prison Pharaoh was offended by his butler and baker (Gen.40:1 )and put them in prison with Joseph. The two had dreams and was interpreted by Joseph, telling the butler he would be restored, but bad news for the baker, telling him he would be hanged and his flesh eaten by birds. These dreams came to pass in three days, the butler restored and the baker hanged (Gen. 40:21,22). Joseph had asked the butler to remind Pharaoh of him that he might release him also, but the butler forgot Joseph.
Two years after this, Pharaoh dreamed, and Joseph interpreted the dream, telling him there would be seven years of plenty, then seven years of famine. Pharaoh appointed Joseph to have rule what to do over the situation. Joseph put men to gather food of the seven good years to be stored for the seven bad years. Pharaoh then put Joseph second in command to rule all the people (read Gen. 41:40-44). Joseph was now thirty years old (13 years after he was sold by his brothers (Gen. 37:2). All that Joseph had told came to pass. The food that he gathered was immeasurable, as the sand of the sea. The seven years of plenty was ended and the seven years of drought began. The famine was in all the lands (Gen. 41:54,56), but
Egypt had plenty, and Joseph sold to all the Egyptians.
All the countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy corn. Jacob, in Canaan, saw that there was corn in Egypt and sent his ten sons, (but not Benjamin the youngest), into Egypt to buy corn. When Joseph's brothers came to him they bowed before him, just as Joseph had told them in the
dream. (Gen. 37:9). Joseph knew them but they did not know Joseph. He was having a good time keeping his identity from them. Before he would let them take any corn back, they had to promise to bring Benjamin back with them( Joseph's brother by Rachel). Their sins was now finding them out (Gen. 42:21,22). Joseph filled their sacks and put their money back in. They said one to another ".....What is this that God hath done unto us?" (Gen. 42:28).
After they had eaten all the corn they had brought back, their father told them to go back for more, but Judah would not unless he sent Benjamin also. Jacob finally consented and also sent presents back to Joseph. When they got there Joseph prepared them a great meal, setting them according to their age in which the brothers marveled at. Benjamin was given more to eat than the others (Gen. 43:34). After eating their meals, Joseph filled their sacks as full as they could be, then put his silver cup in Benjamin's sack. They were then sent on their way.
Joseph then sent his men to overtake them, asking who stole the silver out of the house. The cup was found in Benjamin's sack. Joseph, knowing it was his brother Benjamin, told the brothers that whoever the cup was found, they would be his servant. Joseph was really testing them now. Judah wanted to take Benjamin's place as his servant. Finally Joseph could not refrain from this and cried, weeping aloud (Gen.45:2). He then told them he was Joseph, telling them that God had sent them before them to preserve their life. Two years of the famine had passed, five more to go. Joseph told his brothers not to be grieved or angry ..."it was not you that sent me hither, but God...."(Gen. 45:8). Joseph then sent for his father to come down to Egypt, as there was five more years of famine to be. He gave them wagons and provisions, changes of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave five changes of clothes and three hundred pieces of silver (Benjamin and Joseph were brothers by Jacob's wife Rachel, His most loved wife).
Jacob left Canaan to go and be with Joseph, and God spoke to Israel (Jacob), and told him.."fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:" (Gen.46:3). God told him he would be with him in Egypt and bring him up again. God had told Abraham his seed would be in a strange country for four hundred years and be afflicted. The Exodus , led by Moses occurred about 1405 B.C. and Israel entered the land of promise about 1405 B.C. (400 years in Egypt.....and 40 years wandering in the wilderness). Jacob came into Egypt when he was one hundred thirty years old, and was in Egypt seventeen years, and died at the age of one hundred forty seven (Gen. 47:28) . Jacob had Joseph swear he would bury him in Canaan, where Abraham, Isaac, Rachel, were buried. Joseph swore he would. And what a funeral possession was had on the trip to Canaan, all of Pharaoh's
servants, the elders of his house, all the house of Joseph, and his brothers, all his father's house (but not the little children). There Jacob was buried.
After Jacob died ,Joseph's brothers feared he would bring vengeance on them, but Joseph took care of their needs. He loved God. He knew that God had prepared all this to happen. Joseph told his brothers to come near (Gen. 45:4-8). Jesus invites us to draw near to him. Joseph shed many of tears during this ordeal but remember, don't be ashamed to cry, it is a sign of love and sorrow._____________I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did studying and writing it.
Written with love ........Andy