Day 4 Genesis 40:12 -50: Actual thoughts

Right at the end of chapter 40 we see that even though Joseph had interpreted these dreams correctly, the cupbearer forgot to actually get him out of prison for helping him. It wasn't until Pharaoh needed a dream interpreted that Joseph was actually thought of.

I thought is was cool that just because Joseph was able to interpret a dream that Pharaoh believed that Joseph was blessed by God. It was this blessing that allowed Joseph to become the second most powerful man in all of Egypt.

The meeting in 42:7 had to be intense. Here is Joseph, the second most powerful man in all of Egypt now, seeing the brothers that sold him into slavery years ago for the very first time. I don't see how he didn't just completely go off on them. The fact that they couldn't recognize him would have made it even easier for him just to take his revenge without them even knowing it. But we see in chapter 45 why Joseph didn't take revenge. It was because he realized that God was the one that sent him to Egypt to put him in the position he was in now to save his people from the severe famine that was going on. He doesn't hold a grudge against his brothers because he understands that God used them to fulfill His over all plan.

Between chapters 42 and 45 there is one thing, however, that really stuck out. Joseph mentions divination a lot. Later, we will see that the law prohibits this kind of act, but for now, Joseph, a man of God, practices divination. I just thought that was interesting.

In chapter 46, we see God speaking directly to Jacob (Israel) and telling him that it is His plan for Israel to go to Egypt. It is His plan for him to see his son Joseph, whom he believed had died many years before this. It is His plan for Joseph to close the eyes of his father when his father Israel dies. That has to be a major comforting statement for the now old Israel; to find out that your son you thought was dead is still alive and that you know you will definitely get to see him again.

In chapter 47, we find the same kind of position for an oath that we found earlier in Genesis. Again, it was just really a culture thing.

I thought it was interesting that the area that Jacob buried Rachel in was actually in Bethlehem.

In chapter 48, we see another occurrence of a younger son being blessed above the first born, which was completely against the culture of the time. But for some reason, that was a theme throughout this book.

In chapter 50, it was cool to see in writing how long it actually took to embalm someone in Egypt. I had no idea that it took 40 days

And finally, we see Joseph again trying to forgive his brothers.

Happy reading!