DBG - January 16 - Genesis 41-42

In this chapter we see God bringing Joseph from the prison to Pharaoh’s palace, using him to lead the preparations for the coming famine that would drastically shift the powers in the world.

vs. 1 – God’s timing left Jospeh in prison for two years since the close of the chapter 40.

vs. 1-4 – Pharaoh’s first dream is that seven fat cows are devoured by seven scrawny cows.

vs. 5 – I want to make a quick note about the word corn in the Bible.  There is a difference in how this word is used historically in Britain and the way it is used in America.  In America we think of what is technically called maize, but this was unknown to the Old World until Columbus brough some back from the New World.  The word corn is simply the generic word for grain in most places outside of America.  So, these “ears of corn” are really heads of wheat or barley.  In America, the old usage of corn is still present in words like peppercorn.

vs. 5-7 – Pharaoh’s second dream is that seven good ears of grain are devoured by seven poor ears of grain that had been blighted by dry eastern wind.

vs. 8 – God must have acted in this as much of the divination of dreams is truly chicanery and false.  That they could not imagine some answer that satisfied the king shows God’s hand at work.

vs. 9-13 – The butler finally remembered Joseph after two years!

vs. 14 – Even in Pharaoh’s desperation to understand his dreams, there is certain decorum that must be followed.  Joseph cleans himself up before entering Pharaoh’s court.

vs. 16 – We must mark the modesty in Joseph’s words.  He removes himself and gives God any glory that may come.

vs.17-24 – Pharaoh repeats his dreams from the first part of the chapter.

vs. 25-32 – The interpretation of the dreams is that they refer to the same foretelling.  Egypt would see seven very bountiful years of harvest, followed by seven years of terrible famine.  The famine would consume everything that could be laid by in the good years.

vs. 33-36 – I think this is Joseph’s counsel and not part of the interpretation of the dreams.  He advices Pharaoh to prepare for the coming famine by setting aside 20% of the harvest from the coming good years.

vs. 37-44 – Joseph is finally delivered from the prison and exalted by God into a place next to the Pharaoh himself.  Joseph’s new role as second-in-command is declared throughout the land.

vs. 45 – Zaphnathpaaneah means “revealer of secrets”.  Asenath means “worshipper of Neith” who in Egyptian mythology is the goddess of war and motherhood (she is mother of the sun god Ra), and sometimes shown as creator of the world.  Asenath is the daughter of Potipherah (no relation to Joseph’s former master Potiphar), who is a priest at the city of On, which will later be known as Heliopolis.

vs. 46 – Joseph is now 30 years old and has been in Egypt about 13 years.

vs. 46-49 – Joseph is diligent in his work and faithfully creates stockpiles of provisions for the coming famine.

vs. 51 – Manasseh means “God has made me forget”

vs. 52 – Ephraim means “doubled fruitfulness”

vs. 53-57 – It is remarkable to read of the results of the famine.  It was not just localized to Egypt but was throughout Egypt, the Middle East, and presumably the Mediterranean.  Egypt is the one power that was prepared, so while other nations were weakened Egypt grew only stronger.  The stockpiled supplies are sold back to the people, so now Pharaoh and his state grow only richer.  The people from surrounding areas come and buy of the supplies also, further weakening them and strengthening Egypt.  While everyone else in the vicinity are merely trying to survive, Egypt has become the wealthiest and most power nation on earth.

In this chapter we see Joseph’s family turn to Egypt (and thus Joseph) for aid during the famine.

vs. 1 – This is probably early in the seven years of famine.

vs. 3-4 – The importance of this task is shown in Jacob sending ten of his sons. He keeps only Benjamin back, who is about 25 years old at this time.

vs. 6 – This is the fulfillment of the prophecy by Joseph in 37:7.

vs. 7 – I have it said by some that there is no record of Joseph ever doing anything wrong.  I heartily disagree.  We can easily see the actions of his arrogant youth and his failure to protect himself from Potiphar’s wife as wrong.  I think Joseph had realized that in time his family may come for aid during the famine.  He could hold a grudge and deny them any food.  He could instantly reveal himself to them.  Instead he toys with them.  We could explain away a justification for this, as many do, in that he was trying to judge if his brothers had changed in the twenty years that had passed since they sold him into slavery.  I find it difficult to ascertain exactly what his motives are, but I am sure he takes enjoyment in what he is about to do to his brothers.

vs. 9-12 – Joseph first accuses them of being spies and acts like he does not believe their story.  Through this he is able to learn much.

vs. 13 – Joseph now knows that they believe him to be dead and that his brother Benjamin lives.

vs. 14-20 – Joseph, under the guise of making them prove they are not spies, tells them that they will be cleared only if they go and return with their youngest brother that had not accompanied them.  He threatens to kill them if they do not, and takes them into custody so he could judge their response.

vs. 21-22 – The brothers suspect they are being punished for what they did to Joseph years before.  This is actually true in a sense, but not in how they suspected. Reuben reprimands the others for not sticking his original plan.

vs. 23-24 – Joseph overhears these words and is satisfied that his brothers regretted what they did to him.

vs. 24-26 – The next part of Joseph’s scheme unfolds.  He does not keep nine of the ten prisoners as he had previously staid.  He keeps Simeon prisoner, possibly because he was the cruelest of the family as seen in his actions in chapter 34.  Joseph has grain loaded for other brothers to return home with, but secretly places the money they paid into the sacks of grain.

vs. 27-28 – Only one of the brothers discovers the hidden money while headed back home.  We must presume they are closer to home than to Egypt because the how the story unfolds only makes sense if that is the case.  If they were only a short distance from Egypt, they likely would have been too frightened to continue home until the issue were resolved.

vs. 29-34 – The nine returning brothers report back to Jacob of the events in Egypt and how they are expected to return with Benjamin to prove themselves and secure Simeon’s release.

vs. 35-38 – The matter is further complicated when they discover the rest of the money in the sacks of food.  They will surely be accused of theft when and if they return to Egypt.  Jacob is unwilling to risk losing Benjamin by sending him to Egypt.  Rueben even swears on the lives of his two sons that he would make sure Benjamin would be brought bake safely.  Still Jacob is unmoved.

We cannot read this section of Scripture without marveling at God’s providence.  He knew that there would be a great famine that would endanger the family He had promised to bless and become a great nation.  It was no accident what had befallen Joseph.  God had put him in Egypt and set things in motion so that through him the nation of Israel would endure.  We may not always understand what He is doing, but we know He is doing something!  Hold fast to the promise of Romans 8:28!

Our hymn today is technically not a hymn at all.  It is a reworking of a psalm into a metrical form, which was very popular in English sacred music.  This version of Psalm 105 is from Tate and Brady’s 1696 psalter “A New Version of the Psalms of David”, which was the very popular in the 1700’s.

O render Thanks and bless the Lord;
invoke his sacred Name;
Acquaint the Nations with his Deeds,
his matchless Deeds proclaim,
Sing to his Praise, in lofty Hymns
his wondrous Works rehearse;
Make them the Theme of your Discourse,
and Subject of your Verse.

Rejoice in his Almighty Name,
alone to be ador'd;
And let their Hearts o'erflow with Joy,
that humbly see the Lord.
Seek ye the Lord, his saving Strength
devoutly still implore;
And where he's ever present, seek
his Face for evermore.

The Wonders that his Hands have wrought,
keep thankfully in Mind;
The righteous Statutes of his Mouth,
and Laws to us assign'd.
Know ye his Servant Abr'am's Seed
and Jacob's chosen Race,
He's still our God, his Judgments still
throughout the Earth take place.

His Cov'nant he hath kept in Mind
for num'rous Ages past,
Which yet for thousand Ages more,
in equal Force shall last.
First sign'd to Abr'am, next by Oath
to Isaac made secure;
To Jacob and his Heirs a Law
for ever to endure:

That Canaan's Land should be their Lot,
when yet but few they were:
But few in Number, and those few
all friendless Strangers there.
In Pilgrimage, from Realm to Realm,
securely they remov'd;
Whilst proudest Monarchs for their sakes,
severely he reprov'd:

"These mine Anointed are, said he,
"let none my Servants wrong,
"Nor treat the poorest Prophet ill
"that does to me belong."
A Dearth at last, by his Command,
did through the land prevail;
'Till Corn, the chief Support of Life,
sustaining Corn did fail.

But his indulgent Providence
had pious Joseph sent,
Sold into Egypt, but their Death
who sold him to prevent.
His Feet with heavy Chains were crush'd,
with Calumny his Fame;
'Till God's appointed Time and word
to his Deliv'rance came.

The King his Sov'reign order sent,
and rescu'd him with Speed;
Whom private malice had confin'd,
the People's ruler freed.
His Courts, Revenues, Realms, were all
subjected to his Will;
His greatest Princes to controul,
and teach his Statesmen Skill.

Part II

To Egypt then, invited Guests,
half-famish'd Isr'el came;
And Jacob held, by Royal Grant,
the fertile Soils of Ham.
Th' Almighty there with such Increase
his People multiply'd,
'Till with their proud Oppressors they
in Strength and Number vy'd.

Their vast Increase th' Egyptian Hearts
with jealous Anger fir'd,
'Till they his Servants to destroy
by treach'rous Arts conspir'd.
His Servant Moses then he sent,
his chosen Aaron too;
Empower'd with Signs and Miracles
to prove their Mission true.

He call'd for Darkness, Darkness came,
Nature his Summons knew;
Each Stream and Lake, transform'd to Blood,
the wand'ring Fishes slew.
In putrid Floods, throughout the Land,
the Pest of Frogs was bred;
From noisome Fens sent up to croak
at Pharaoh's Board and Bed.

He gave the Sign, and Swarms of Flies
came down in cloudy Hosts;
Whilst Earth's enlivin'd Dust below
bread Lice through all their Coasts.
He sent them batt'ring Hail for Rain,
and Fire for cooling Dew.
He smote their Vines, and Forest Plants,
and Garden's Pride o'erthrew.

He spake the word, and Locusts came,
and Caterpillars join'd;
They prey'd upon the poor Remains
the Storm had left behind.
From Trees to Herbage they descend,
no verdant Thing they spare;
But like the naked fallow Field,
leave all the Pastures bare.

From Fields to Villages and Towns,
commission'd Vengeance slew
One fatal Stroke their eldest Hopes
and Strength of Egypt flew.
He brought his Servants forth, enrich'd
with Egypt's borrow'd Wealth;
And, what transcends all Treasures else,
enrich'd with vig'rous Health.

Egypt rejoic'd, in hopes to find
her Plagues with them remov'd;
Taught dearly now to fear worse Ills
by those already prov'd.
Their shrouding Canopy by Day
a journeying Cloud was spread:
A fiery Pillar all the Night
their desart Marches led.

They long'd for Flesh; with Ev'ning Quails
he furnish'd ev'ry Tent:
From Heav'n's own Granary, each Morn,
the Bread of Angels sent.
He smote the rock; whose flinty Breast
pour'd forth a gushing Tide,
Whose flowing Stream, where'er they march'd,
the Desart's Drought supply'd.

For still he did on Abr'am's Faith
and ancient League reflect;
He brought his People forth with Joy,
with Triumph his Elect.
Quite rooting out their Heathen Foes
from Canaan's fertile soil,
To them in cheap Possession gave
the Fruit of others Toil:

That they his Statutes might observe,
his sacred Laws obey.
For Benefits so fast, let us
our Songs of Praise repay.