Persistent Faith and Severe Mercy

A Sermon Series on the Life of Joseph

Gen: 41-45

Two years passed in jail. The right time arrived for the cupbearer to remember Joseph. It was when Pharaoh saw two consecutive dreams. Seven fat cows grazed on green grass. He saw seven ugly cows which ate the fat cows. He woke up and slept again and saw another dream where there was seven healthy and good heads of grain swallowed by seven thin heads of grain.

No one could interpret the dream. The cupbearer remembered Joseph. The guards took Joseph, cleaned, shaved and washed him and brought him to Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked if he could interpret dreams. I love Joseph’s reaction: “I cannot, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (41:16)

Don’t you love Joseph’s humility? He gives the credit to God, not his wisdom. Joseph did interpret the dream, and once more he gave the bad and good news. There would be seven years of good harvest, then seven years of drought. Two dreams meant that God was assuring that this was going to happen.

Then Joseph took the initiative. He almost commanded to Pharaoh that in order to have good plan he needed someone to be in charge of executing this plan. Remember Joseph is a doer. Once more we see God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. We see God’s hand in giving the dream to Pharaoh; we see God’s hand on Joseph in helping him to do the right interpretation; and we see Joseph’s Godly wisdom in taking action, and not taking revenge from a nation which enslaved him and put him in prison. In all these chapters we will experience persistent faith and severe mercy.

Pharaoh was face to face with a wise man called Joseph. Joseph was appointed to be the top executive in Egypt. He was given the royal ring and robe. He married an Egyptian woman from a distinguished family. Imagine a former Hebrew slave and prisoner, now is the top man of Egypt after Pharaoh.

The question that one could ask, “How will Joseph act when he is rich and famous? Will he forget the dreams that God gave him? Will he forget God?”

The answer is no, in fact he continues to be God’s instrument to bring his “dysfunctional” family back together, and more importantly to bring repentance in his brothers’ life.

We move to chapter 42 and here is when for the first time after 20 years Joseph will see his brothers. It happened exactly like what Joseph had told Pharaoh. There were seven years of abundance, and then there were seven years of drought. The drought was all over the area, even in the land of Jacob. Jacob sent ten of his sons to Egypt to get food. Benjamin stayed with him.

They came to Egypt and they bowed to Joseph. They did not recognize him. Do not forget that 20 years had passed; Joseph was wearing Egyptian clothes, and according to tradition had shaved his head. Joseph told them they were spies and eventually put them in jail.

Why did Joseph not reveal himself quickly? He delayed his revelation, and he was harsh with them. The Bible does not say why. But by looking at the story, I see God’s hand in leading Joseph not to reveal himself at the beginning. In his book Studies in Genesis, Robert Candlish writes: “If Joseph had been left to himself, he would have revealed his identity in a moment, but he was restrained by God, who was using him for salvation of the brothers.” (p 652)

Joseph tested his brothers. He wanted to see if they changed in 20 years. He wanted to see if they were trustworthy. They said, “We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” (42:11) They said they are honest. Yes they were not spies, but were they honest? Did they confess their sin to their father? To God?

We will continue in English.