Joseph was his father Jacob’s favored son but was treated unfairly by other people. Because they were jealous of him, Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave to a caravan of Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt. The wife of the man who bought Joseph as a slave in Egypt accused him of trying to hurt her. Even though it wasn’t true Joseph was thrown into prison.
While he was in prison, God was with Joseph and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden who put him in charge of everything in the prison.
During his time in prison, Joseph also interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s chief baker and cupbearer, who Pharaoh had thrown into prison. Everything happened to them exactly as Joseph said it would. Pharaoh restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and had the chief baker hanged. When the cupbearer was released from prison, Joseph asked him to remember him, but he didn’t.
Later, however, when Pharaoh had two dreams that greatly troubled him, his chief cupbearer remembered about Joseph in prison and told Pharaoh about him and his ability to interpret dreams. Therefore, Pharaoh sent for Joseph and he was brought out of prison.
14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. 19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. 20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. 21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
22 “In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. 23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. 24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none could explain it to me.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. 27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.
28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30 but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. 32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.
33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”
37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”
39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 40 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.”
The Road to Ruler
God gave Pharaoh the dreams to let him know what he was going to do. God had plans and he wanted Pharaoh to know about them, as he was going to use Egypt to save Joseph’s family.
Pharaoh could see that Joseph relied on and learned from God. He had insight that no one else had. Probably the jailer also had given a good report of him.
Joseph suffered greatly before he was elevated to the position of ruler in Egypt. He had been hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, accused unfairly, put in prison and left there.
God had a plan and purpose for Joseph. God had to form him into the man and ruler he wanted him to be. Joseph had to be humbled and made useful to God. He had started out full of pride. Prideful people aren’t useful to God. In his suffering Joseph was a model slave and prisoner. He relied upon God and did what was right in all circumstances.
Joseph had suffered greatly at the hands of his brothers, but he wasn’t bitter and didn’t hold onto a grudge. He had looked to and trusted God in the midst of all his troubles and had received all that God wanted to do in and through him. He listened to and gained wisdom from God and became an important ruler over Egypt.
Joseph’s life and good deeds reflected God’s wisdom and through all that happened to him he brought honor to God. James 3:13 says, Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
The way we live our life should reflect our relationship with Jesus. If we trust and depend on him, we will do what is right and reflect God’s wisdom no matter what happens to us. If we get angry and become bitter because of what is done to us, we won’t act in God’s wisdom and life won’t go well for us. Joseph is a model of how we should choose to live. Because he chose to act wisely in all situations, he became a great ruler in Egypt.
- Overview Questions: What were Pharaoh’s dreams? What did Joseph say would happen? Why did Pharaoh make Joseph ruler over Egypt?
- Thought Questions: Why do you think Pharaoh appointed Joseph as a ruler even though he had been put in prison as a criminal? How would you describe Joseph’s character? What causes the development of good character?
- Prayer: Thank God that through your connection to him you can respond rightly in all situations and reflect his wisdom in what you do. Thank God that good character and godly wisdom come out of a relationship with him and can be demonstrated in whatever situation you find yourself in. Pray that you would desire what God wants and choose to go his way so that people see him at work in you.
- This Week’s Memory Verse: James 3:13
How does a person demonstrate wisdom? Good deeds show God’s wisdom.
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Questions: What is wisdom? What is humility? Why does humility come from wisdom? What are good deeds that reflect humility and wisdom?