Children's Bible Ministry of Connecticut, USA

 

Joseph and Pharaoh


 First his brothers had betrayed him. Now he had been unfairly imprisoned. Life seemed very unfair for Joseph but he knew that God was with him. He was not alone. – Slide 24Why did so many bad things happen to Joseph? Why do bad things happen to us? We do not always understand why. Instead of asking why a better question to ask is what? What does God want to teach me? What can I learn from the things that happen to me and around me?

After two full years Joseph was called out of prison. The butler finally remembered Joseph! Pharaoh, the king, had puzzling dreams. Read the dreams in Genesis 41:15-25. Joseph explained that he could not himself tell the meaning of the dreams, but God would give the answer.

‘In my first dream,’ Pharaoh explained, ‘I was standing on the bank of the River Nile. I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass.  But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. These thin cows ate the seven fat cows but afterwards still looked as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up.’ – Slide 5Pharaoh saw seven skinny cows eat seven fat cows. And the skinny cows didn't get any fatter. Pharaoh awoke and then slept again and saw seven good ears of grain eat seven sick looking ears of grain.

Joseph explained: God is about to show Pharaoh what He is about to do. There would come seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.

Joseph suggested that Pharaoh find a man who is wise who could be in charge of collecting and storing the extra food during the years of plenty. Then he would open the storehouses and sell the food during the years of famine.

Joseph’s suggestions impressed Pharaoh and his officials. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as wise as you are. You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I will have a rank higher than yours.’ – Slide 11Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are: You shall be over my house, and according unto your word shall all my people be ruled: only in the Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, ‘Kneel down!’ – Slide 13throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Joseph's dreams are about to come true!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD

And depart from evil.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Commit your way to the LORD,

Trust also in Him,

And He shall bring it to pass.

Psalm 37:5

Joseph, part one - Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors

Joseph, part two - Joseph and His Brothers

Joseph, part three - Joseph in Eygpt

images courtesy of Sweet Publishing / FreeBibleimages.org.

 

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