12. JOSEPH- PRISONER IN A FOREIGN LAND
"Jacob rent his clothes... and mourned for his son many days ... and refused to be comforted."
Aim
To show how Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt Jacob had twelve sons, two of whom were the sons of his favourite wife, Rachel - Joseph (which means "the Increaser") and Benjamin. Of all his sons Jacob favoured Joseph above all others and made for him a coat of many colours. This made his brothers jealous, for such a coat set him apart from them as the firstborn of the family. As the later events in his life prove, Joseph was a godly and faithful young man, unlike his brothers, who grew to hate him.
Genesis 37, 39-40
JOSEPH'S DREAMS: Genesis 37:1-11
Not only had Jacob set Joseph apart from his brothers, but God also chose to give special dreams to him. His older brothers were already jealous of him, but this made them even more resentful. Joseph told his two dreams to his family.
"Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf (v. 7).
His brothers were very scornful and said, "Shalt thou indeed reign over us?" (v. 8).
Then Joseph told his second dream. "Behold the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me" (v. 9). Even his father rebuked him this time, but knowing what a good and faithful lad he was, Jacob "observed the saying", and took careful notice of it. God was showing Jacob's family that Joseph would take the place of the firstborn in the family, but none of them knew just what strange events would take place in the years ahead.
JOSEPH SOLD INTO SLAVERY IN EGYPT:
Genesis 37:12-28
One day Jacob told Joseph to go to Shechem to see if all was well with his brothers. They had taken a flock of sheep to feed there. When Joseph reached Shechem they had already gone on and finally he found them at Dothan. When they saw him coming they began to plan evil against him. "Behold this dreamer cometh" they said, "let us slay him." Reuben, the eldest said, "Let us not kill him but put him in this pit" vv. 19-22). He thought to come back and save Joseph for his father's sake.
"And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren that they stripped Joseph of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; and they took him and cast him into a pit, and the pit was empty and there was no water in it" (vv. 23-24). Later, as they were eating, they saw a company of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead with their camels laden with goods to sell in Egypt. Judah said, "Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hands be upon him for he is our brother and our flesh". So they sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver into slavery in Egypt. He was about 17 years old at this time.
JACOB'S GRIEF AT THE LOSS OF JOSEPH: Genesis 37:29-36
When Reuben returned to the pit he found that Joseph was gone. He knew at once that his father would be distressed and he, Reuben, would be blamed. So the brothers thought of another plan. Taking Joseph's coat of many colours, they killed a kid and dipped the coat in its blood. Then they sent it back to their father, saying that they had found the coat and asked if it were Joseph's. Jacob recognised the coat at once as the one he had given his beloved young son. As the brothers had planned, Jacob supposed that a wild beast must have killed him and he mourned for many days and would not be comforted.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, the Ishmaelites had sold Joseph to Potiphar, the captain of the Egyptian guard. Joseph soon became a favourite in Potiphar's house, and was placed in charge of his house and riches because Potiphar could see that "Yahweh was with Joseph" (Gen. 39:3).
"Although his brothers had treated him so hatefully, Joseph had no evil thoughts in his heart towards them. He trusted in God, even though he was now a slave in a foreign country.
JOSEPH IS CAST INTO PRISON: Genesis 39:19-23
Joseph still had many trials to face, but he always behaved very wisely and God blessed him. When Potiphar's wife falsely accused him to his master he was thrown into prison. God, however, was with Joseph "and shewed him mercy" (v. 21). As he had found favour with Potiphar, he now also found favour in the sight of the prison-keeper, who gave him charge of all the other prisoners who were there. Whatever the difficulties, the blessing of God made Joseph prosper in everything he did.
THE BUTLER AND BAKER DREAM DREAMS: Gen. 40
The chief butler and the chief baker of the King of Egypt had offended their master. Pharaoh (ie the king) had them thrown into prison and there they were under Joseph's care.
One morning Joseph noticed them looking unusually sad. They explained that they had each had a dream in the night and did not know what it meant. "Do not interpretations belong unto God?" said Joseph. "Tell me them, I pray you" (v. 8). So first the chief butler told his dream.
"In my dream, behold a vine was before me; and in the vine were three branches ... and Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand" (vv. 9-11).
Then Joseph told the meaning of the dream. The three branches were three days and in three days' time he would be taken out of prison and restored to his position as chief butler to Pharaoh once again. "But think on me when it shall be well with thee", said Joseph, "and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this place" (v. 14).
When the chief baker heard such a happy ending to the butler's dream, he told Joseph his dream.
"Behold, I had three white baskets on my head: and in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head" (vv. 16-17).
So Joseph interpreted the dream. The three baskets were three days and in three days' time Pharaoh would command him to be hanged.
It happened exactly as Joseph had said. Three days later it was Pharaoh's birthday and he restored the chief butler to the palace and the baker was hanged.
But the thing which Joseph asked the butler to do, he forgot. So Joseph remained in prison for another two years.
LESSON FOR US
What a wonderful example the young man Joseph is. He trusted in God always, enduring suffering without complaint. He returned good for evil and behaved wisely at all times, knowing that God could see him all the day long. Even in a foreign country, he remembered the God of Israel and remained faithful to Him. If we can take these lessons to heart, God will bless us and show us mercy now and give us an inheritance with Joseph in the Kingdom.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that the life of Joseph pointed forward to the life of Jesus Christ in many interesting ways. Here are some from the lesson we have just considered.
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1. Jacob loved Joseph more than his brethren (Gen. 37:4) |
God said "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17) |
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2. Joseph's brethren said, "Shalt thou indeed reign over us?" (Gen. 37:8) |
The Jews said, "We will not have this man to reign over us." (Luke 19:14) |
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3. They hated him (Gen. 37:8) |
They hated Jesus (John 15:25) |
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4. They thought up an evil plan against Joseph (Gen. 37:18) |
They also conspired against Jesus (Matt. 26:4) |
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5. They said, "Let us slay him" (Gen. 37:20) |
They said, "Let him be crucified" (Gen. 37:20)
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6.Joseph was cast into a pit and then lifted up (Gen. 37:23-28) |
Jesus was crucified and then rose again (Matt. 28:5-6)
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QUESTIONS
Short Answers
1.Jacob gave Joseph a special coat. Why did this make Joseph's brothers jealous of him?
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Where did Joseph find his brothers with the sheep?
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Which brother planned to rescue Joseph from the pit?
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To whom did Joseph's brothers sell him and for how much?
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Who bought Joseph in Egypt?
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Why was Joseph placed in charge of Potiphar's household?
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About how old was Joseph when he was sold as a slave?
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Who threw Joseph into prison in Egypt?
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Who else was in prison with Joseph?
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How could Joseph interpret dreams?
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What did Joseph ask the chief butler to remember?
Detailed Answers
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What two dreams did Joseph have and why were his brothers angry?
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Tell what Joseph's jealous brothers did to him when he was about 17 years old.
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What was the dream of the chief butler and what did it mean?
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What was the dream of the chief baker and what did it mean?
Additional Answers
5. In many ways the early life of Joseph was similar to the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. List some of these ways.