Ge 41:1-38

Back to Genesis~

Back to Contents

Joseph’s rise to power

(Gen 39:1-41:57)

In contrast to Judah, Joseph was blameless in his behaviour in Egypt. Soon he was placed in charge of Potiphar’s household (Gen 39:1-6).

When he rejected the immoral invitations of Potiphar’s wife, she turned against him bitterly and had him thrown into prison (Gen 39:7-20).

Again his behaviour was blameless, and soon he was given a position of responsibility over the other prisoners (Gen 39:21-23).

Among the prisoners who later joined Joseph were two of Pharaoh’s palace officials (Gen 40:1-4). One night they both had unusual dreams and, believing the dreams foretold something, told their dreams to Joseph.

Joseph predicted that within three days one of the officials would be restored to his former position and the other executed (Gen 39:5-19).

The predictions came true, but the restored official failed to do as Joseph requested and bring Joseph’s case to Pharaoh’s attention (Gen 39:20-23; cf. Gen 39:14-15).

Two years later, when Pharaoh described some puzzling dreams to his palace advisers, the restored official for the first time told the king about Joseph (Gen 41:1-13).

As a result Pharaoh sent for Joseph, who interpreted the dreams as meaning that Egypt would have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (Gen 39:14-32).

Joseph added a recommendation of his own that would ensure a constant food supply throughout the fourteen years (Gen 39:33-36).

Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph that he made him not only administrator of the program but governor of all Egypt (Gen 39:37-44).

The thirteen years Joseph spent as a slave and a prisoner (cf. Gen 39:46 with Gen 37:2) taught him much about practical wisdom and dependence on God, qualities that would now help him considerably in his government of Egypt.

He married an Egyptian and had two sons by her (Gen 39:45-52). When the famine came, Egypt alone was prepared for it, and people travelled there from other countries to buy food (Gen 39:53-57).