Joseph In Egypt

GENESIS 39-46


 

Joseph worked as the slave of Potiphar.  Potiphar soon put Joseph in charge of all that he owned. But Potiphar’s wife lied about Joseph to her husband, so Potiphar sent Joseph to prison.

Even in prison the Lord was with Joseph. The warden saw that Joseph was special. He put Joseph on charge of all the prisoners.

After Joseph had been in prison for some time, the cupbearer and the baker of the Pharaoh were sent to prison. One night each of then had a strange dream. They told Joseph about their dreams, and the Lord gave Joseph the ability to explain the dreams. Joseph told the cupbearer that he would soon be free again. "Please tell Pharaoh about me," Joseph said, "and ask him to let me out of here."

The cupbearer forgot about Joseph for two years, until Pharaoh had a strange dream. Joseph was brought to him.

"Can you interpret my dreams?" Pharaoh asked.

"I can’t, but God can," Joseph replied. "Your dreams are a warning. Seven years of terrible famine will strike Egypt. Crops will not grow, and there won’t be enough food to eat."

"What can we do?" Pharaoh asked.

"During the seven good years before the famine, store one-fifth of each year’s harvest. Then there will be food in the land when the famine comes." Pharaoh did as Joseph said, and put Joseph in charge.

When the famine came, people from other countries traveled to Egypt to buy grain. Jacob sent his sons to Egypt for food, because they had none. They went to Joseph, but did not recognize him. They bowed down before him, just as he had dreamed they would years before.

Joseph told his brothers who he was. They were afraid, but Joseph said, "Don’t you see? If I had not been brought here to Egypt, you all would have starved. You did not send me here; the Lord did!" So his father, his brothers, and their children came to live in Egypt with Joseph.


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(From Classic Bible Stories, A Family Treasury retold by Lise Caldwell (c) 1998 Standard Publishing.  Used by permission.  This book may be purchased at your local Christian Bookstore or from Standard Publishing (800-543-1301).

 


© Copyright 2004 New Apostolic Church - USA.