Joseph and Pharaoh
Genesis 41 December 3, 2023
Genesis 41:1-16
Two years later, Pharaoh has a dream…
He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows.
Genesis 41:1-16
Pharaoh has a second dream…
Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads.
Genesis 41:17-40
Joseph interprets dreams, Pharaoh honors him.
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.”
Genesis 41:41-57
Joseph is put second in command of Egypt
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
Joseph and Moses
Name the connections between Joseph and Moses.
Consider similarities in their stories and foreshadowing in the Joseph story that points to Moses.
When you consider the contrasts between Joseph and Moses, what might that mean?
Joseph and Moses
There are two “mom”s and two maidservants in both stories
There both have miraculous birth stories
Both have youth stories that develop into maturity of faith
Both marry foreign women with pagan priests as fathers in law
Both have “against all odds” stories of being raised in a palace that opposes their people
Both stories have naming: Pharaoh renames Joseph, God tells Moses His “name”
Both have unexpected audience with Pharaoh and with God, come out the better for it
Joseph and Moses: Dreams and Plagues
Remember Joseph’s two dreams? (stars and grain)
Remember the 2 dreams Joseph interpreted in jail? (3 days)
Three plagues (disease of the livestock, hail, and locusts) destroy crops and livestock
One of the two Dreams interpreted in jail mention 3 days and death/bread
Pharaoh has two dreams, 7 mentioned multiple times, death and starvation/food (crops and livestock)
Total of 6 dreams
List of the 10 plagues of Egypt in order:
Joseph and Moses
Joseph and Moses are contrasting personalities, mirror images of each other, with Moses rectifying the problematic steps taken by Joseph. Joseph was born in Israel, but became professionally successful in Egypt; Moses was born in Egypt, but established his place in history by taking the Jews on their way to Israel. Joseph was the insider who chose to move outside (he dreamt of Egyptian agriculture, as well as the cosmic universe).
Joseph and Moses
Moses was the outsider (Prince of Egypt), who insisted on coming inside (by slaying the Egyptian taskmaster). Joseph brought his family to Egypt, Moses took his people out of Egypt. Moses saw Egypt as a foreign country, and names his son Gershom “for he said I have been a stranger in a strange land” (Ex. 2:22). Joseph has at best ambiguous feelings about his early years in Canaan, naming his firstborn in Egypt Manasseh “since God has made me [allowed me to] forget completely my hardship and my parental home” (Gen. 41:51).
Joseph and Moses
Joseph, through his economic policies, enslaves the Egyptian farmers to Pharaoh; Moses frees the Jews from their enslavement to Pharaoh. And Joseph’s dreams are realized, whereas Moses’ dream — the vision of Israel’s redemption in Israel — remained tragically unfulfilled at the end of his life.
Joseph and Moses
Next week…
Joseph’s brothers return to Egypt… twice
The culmination of the recurring brothers-in-conflict theme:
Remorse, reconciliation, and redemption.