Echoes of His Word-Day 26

26th of January 2024- Genesis 41-42

Today as we continue with the story of Joseph, he remains in prison for two more years after interpreting the cup-bearer’s dream. The king of Egypt- Pharoah has a dream and brings all the astrologers and magicians to interpret the dreams. Pharoah has similar dreams twice; in the first, seven fat cows are swallowed up by seven lean and ill-favored cows, and in the second dream, seven thin ears swallow up seven good ears of corn. God shows Pharoah this dream twice because it is very important. This is when the cupbearer remembers the promise he made to Joseph before his release from prison. Joseph is sent for, and he interprets the dream as God’s warning about seven years of plenty that would be followed by seven years of drought. He advises that Pharoah sets a man in charge of gathering enough food during the time of plenty. Pharoah is so elated and sets Joseph as the Prime Minister. He arrays him in fine linen, puts a gold chain around his neck, and makes him second in command.  God is wonderful, He never forgets his covenants or reneges on his promises no matter how long it takes.

Joseph is enthroned at thirty years old and has spent thirteen years in slavery. Which of God’s promises in your life appears to be taking time? Remember that He is ever true and faithful to perform all that He has promised (1 Corinthians 1:9).

After the seven fat and plenteous years came the seven years of famine. The Bible says that the famine was spread all over the surface of the earth and was very sore. God used Joseph- the runt of the litter to save the world! The famine got to the land where his brothers and father lived, and they learned there was grain to buy far away in Egypt. Jacob sends his ten sons and keeps Benjamin his last son home. They reach Egypt and see the Prime Minister and we watch the dream that Joseph had decades ago come to pass as his brothers bow themselves to him. They could not even recognize their brother! Joseph, however, knows exactly who they are and accuses them of being spies. To prove how genuine they are, they begin to give a history of themselves and even mention that one of their brothers- Joseph is dead and they have one brother left at home with their aged father, Joseph insists that they go back and bring Benjamin to prove that they are true and seizes Simon as collateral. I believe that Joseph says this because he wants to see his blood brother Benjamin. Joseph and Benjamin have the same mother – Racheal. The brothers begin to say between themselves in Hebrew that this was judgment for selling their brother Joseph into slavery.

The brothers return home with sacks of food only to find the money in their sacks. They tell their father about the Prime Minister of Egypt who had demanded that they come with their youngest brother. Jacob laments the loss of Joseph and now Simeon.

In conclusion, we see the intricate workings of Joseph’s destiny and the fulfillment of God’s promise.