Chapter 41
A lot to unpack in this chapter.
The Pharaoh has dreams and the forgetful chief butler finally remembers Joseph.
Joseph got cleaned and shaved and put fresh clothes on...you can't be stanky around the Pharaoh!
Joseph tells Pharaoh, "It's not me, but God who will give you an answer." Always put God first and acknowledge that it is Him who gives you wisdom and ability to do the things you are able to do.
Joseph goes from being in a dungeon prison to being second only to Pharaoh. He was given a wife, with whom he has 2 sons (Manasseh and Ephraim).
He spends 7 years gathering food, so much so that it was without number.
After, there was famine. The famine became so severe on the Earth, that all countries came to Joseph for food.
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Chapter 42
Jacob's sons travel to Egypt for food (except Benjamin). They run into Joseph, but they don't recognize him. He recognizes them though. He speaks roughly to them and calls them spies. He tells them they must bring back their youngest brother. Simeon is bound and left behind while the other brothers head back to their father. Joseph commands that their sacks be filled with corn and their money and provisions.
When they get back to their father, he's not happy with the situation and won't let them return to Egypt with Benjamin.
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Chapter 43
Jacob finally allows them to return to Egypt with Benjamin. You change your mind about things when you're hungry.
He sends his sons with gifts and double money. They arrive in Egypt and are brought into Joseph's house to dine. He treats them kindly this time. Their feet are washed. Feet are important in the Bible. I like my feet. They get me places.
Joseph set the brothers in order of their age and gave Benjamin 5 times as much.
Occasionally, Joseph has to go hide and have a good cry. I feel ya' Joseph.
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Chapter 44
Joseph continues to play with his brothers. It seems fair after their shananigans when he was a youth. He has their bags filled food and their money, plus he has his silver cup put into Benjamin's bag.
They left. Later the bags were searched, the cup is found in Benjamin's bag, they have to return to the city. Judah approaches Joseph, asking that he take him instead of Benjamin. If Benjamin doesn't return back to Jacob, it will be the death of Jacob.
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Chapter 45
Joseph can't stand it anymore and reveals himself to his brothers. They are speechless.
He says, "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." Joseph was a wise and true man of God. What they meant for evil, God meant for good. "All things work together for good to them that love God."
Wagons and all kinds of things are sent back to Canaan to fetch Jacob. The Pharaoh gives them the good land of Egypt. When they get to Jacob and tell him the news, he is astonished. But, soon he revives and decides to go to Egypt.
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Chapter 46
Israel offers sacrifices to God in Beersheba. God speaks to him and tells him to fear not going into Egypt.
Israel arrives in Egypt and they came into the land of Goshen. Joseph and Israel are reunited and weep.
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Chapter 47
Five of the brothers meet the Pharaoh. Jacob meets the Pharaoh. Jacob was 130 years old at the time. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. Pharaoh commands they be given the best in the land of Egypt.
Joseph rounds up all the money in the land of Egypt for bread.
When money failed, Joseph took all their livestock.
When they were out of livestock, he took their land (except for the land belonging to the priests).
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Chapter 48
Israel blesses Joseph's sons. He says that they are as his own sons. He also puts his right hand on the younger son's head, saying that he will be a greater nation.
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Chapter 49
Jacob gathers his sons to him. Here we see why it was a big mess up for Reuben to have slept with Bilhah. He loses his place as firstborn.
Jacob speaks longer about Judah here. Judah is the lineage of Christ.
And continued with each and he blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
At the end of this chapter Jacob dies at 147.
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Chapter 50
Jacob is embalmed and they mourn for him 40 days. With Pharaoh's permission, Joseph went up from Egypt with a great company to bury his father. He buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, and Leah.
After they returned to Egypt, Joseph's brothers were afraid of what Joseph might do to them. But, Joseph said, "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Powerful.
Before Joseph died, he told his brethern that God will bring them out of the land (which he does in the next book) and he told them to carry his bones with them out of the land (which happens in the Exodus). Then Joseph dies at 110 years old.
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