Genesis 39-41
From the Pit
to the Pinnacle of the World
Psalm 8:1-4 Get a Grip on Glory
1.”Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who has set Your glory above the heavens!2.From the lips of babes and infants You have established strength, because of Your adversaries, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger.3.When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained4.what is man that You think of him? What is the son of man, that You care for him?”Observation
8:1.Majestic is important. Name is reputation. Glory is “liver,” in Hebrew, the largest and most important organ in the body. To glorify God is to have Him be seen as greater than anything and everything in the created realm. The nation of Israel was created (as are we) for His glory (Isaiah 43:7), and we are commanded to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Application
How does each item on your ToDo list contribute to God's glory? Align your life with God's purpose for you by visiting the How to Glorify God page in TOYL.
Prayer
Creator and Master, thanks for life today. Guide me in using it to give You glory. Amen.
Proverbs 3:1-4 Remember to Remember
1.“My son, don't forget my teaching; but let your heart keep my commandments:2.for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.3.Don't let hesed/loyalty and truth/faithfulness forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.4.So you will find favor/grace, and good understanding in the sight of God and man."Observation
3:1-4.The key to the blessings of long life, peace, and favor in the sight of man and God is keeping God's commandments (as instructed by his father) which result in being loyal and faithful to God.
Application
Memorization is a great way to write truth on your heart.
Prayer
God who never forgets, help me remember and do what's true. Amen.
Genesis 39-41 From the Pit to the Pinnacle of the World
Genesis 39 Prospered: from the Pit to Prison
1."Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.2. Yahweh was with Joseph...3.His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand.4.Joseph found grace/favor in his sight...5.from the time that he made him overseer in his house, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of Yahweh was on all that he had...6.He left all that he had in Joseph’s hand. He didn’t concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.7.It happened after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”8.But he refused...How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”13.When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,14.she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, “Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice...19.It happened, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” that his wrath was kindled.
20.Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody.21.But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed hesed-loyal love to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.22.The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was responsible for it.23.The keeper of the prison didn’t look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper."
Observations
39:1-21.Joseph was blameless, upright, and prospered by God. Potiphar's wife was evil, lying, and poisonous to Joseph. Because of his loyalty to God, Joseph was unjustly punished. Yet, God was loyal to him, protecting and prospering him wherever he was.
39:22-23.
God can give us contentment and favor, whatever our circumstances.
Application
Do what's right in the sight of God, regardless of the consequences, which God will oversee and orchestrate for your benefit.
Prayer
God of Joseph, help me be content and patient and true to you, as I await the fulfillment of Your promises. Amen.
Genesis 40 Two Dreams and Eleven Plus Two Years
1."It happened after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt...4.The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.8.They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “ Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.”12.Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.13.Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cupbearer.14.But remember me when it will be well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.15.For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”
16.When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good...18.Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days.19.Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.”
20.It happened the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.21.He restored the chief cupbearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;22.but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.23.Yet the chief cupbearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him."
Observation
40:1-23.Innocent and imprisoned, Joseph serves those around him, using the skills God had given him. Meanwhile, he is forgotten for 11 years by everyone but God. Then he had to wait two more years for the cupbearer to remember (Genesis 41:1,45). He didn't get bitter, nor resent his treatment, but must have learned the secret of contentment.
Application
It's better to bear the cup than bake the bread. It's best to learn the Secret of Contentment.
Prayer
Infinitely Loyal and Wise God, whenever I'm tempted to doubt that You know what You're doing, remind me of Joseph, and help me submit to what you've allowed into my life. Amen.
Genesis 41 - From Prison to the Palace
1."It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed...8.In the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.9.Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh...12.There was with us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard, and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams...13.It happened, as he interpreted to us, so it was: he restored me to my office, and he hanged him.”14.Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph...15.I have heard it said of you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”16.Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “ It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”25.Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dream of Pharaoh is one. What God is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh.26.The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good heads of grain are seven years. The dream is one.27.The seven thin and ugly cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty heads of grain blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine.28.What God is about to do he has shown to Pharaoh29.Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt.30.There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land...32.The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
33.“Now therefore let Pharaoh look for a insightful and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.34.Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt’s produce in the seven plenteous years.36.The food will be for a store to the land against the seven years of famine, which will be in the land of Egypt; that the land not perish through the famine.”37.The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.38.Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”39.Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is none so insightful and wise as you.40.You shall be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.”41.Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”45.Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.46.Joseph was thirty years old...47.In the seven plenteous years the earth produced abundantly.49.Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very much, until he stopped counting, for it was without number.50.To Joseph were born two sons before the year of famine came...51.Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.”52.The name of the second, he called Ephraim: “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
54.The seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.57.All countries came into Egypt, to Joseph, to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all the earth."
Observations
41:16.Joseph was a good steward of the abilities God had given him, even though he couldn't see how God planned to use him in the future. Pharaohs were considered divine, so to say there is a higher power who pulls the strings was a bold and risky statement.
41:40.
After protecting him from his evil brothers for over a decade, at just the right time, God put Joseph in position to save the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the world. Maybe God had a plan for Joseph's pain after all.
41:51-52.
Manasseh means “cause to forget.” Ehpraim means “doubly fruitful.”
Application
It's possible to be abused and mistreated, yet also look back in gratitude when we see how the sharps and flats created a masterpiece. It takes confident faith in God's promises to have the same response looking forward.
Prayer
God of plans and prosperity, help me trust You and appreciate Your blessings in the midst of what I perceive as pain. Amen.
Digging Deeper
Genesis 41:45 Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife, Asenath, (dedicated to Neith, the goddess of war/protection, also viewed as the creator and mother of the sun-god Re in some traditons.) The Greeks identified her with Athena, the highest honor.
“An interior wall of the temple at Esna records an account of creation in which Neith brings forth from the primeval waters of the Nun the first land ex nihilo. All that she conceived in her heart comes into being including the thirty gods. Having no known husband she has been described as "Virgin Mother Goddess":
Unique Goddess, mysterious and great who came to be in the beginning and caused everything to come to be . .. the divine mother of Re, who shines on the horizon . . .[4]
Proclus (412–485 AD) wrote that the adyton of the temple of Neith in Sais (of which nothing now remains) carried the following inscription:
I am the things that are, that will be, and that have been. No one has ever laid open the garment by which I am concealed. The fruit which I brought forth was the sun.[5]” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neith
God in a nutshell: Protects and prospers even in adverse circumstances; Reveals His plan so we can take appropriate action; subjects His choicest servants (cf also Job, Daniel, Jesus, Paul) to unjust treatment to bring about a greater good and glory (and makes it up to them).
Us in a nutshell: We can do well if we don't lose sight of God's promises; we're given abilities to use in the service of others.
Where to go for more
Truthbase.net
Secret of Contentment
Lord of the Ringless