Sunday, July 4th
Genesis 39: 17-23
“… and she [Pharoah’s wife] told him the same story, saying, “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought among us, came in to me to insult me; but as soon as I lifted up my voice and cried, he left his garment with me, and fled out of the house.” When his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper on the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatever was done there, he was the doer of it; the keeper of the prison paid no heed to anything that was in Joseph’s care; because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.” (Genesis 39: 17-23)
- So Pharoah’s wife lied about Joseph to get him in trouble and what happened? (He was put in prison)
- But who was always with him? (God)
- So what happened to Joseph?
- I wonder how much the “keeper of the prison” trusted Joseph?
Monday, July 5th
Genesis 40: 5-8
“And one night they both dreamed – the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison – each his own dream, and each dream wit its own meaning. When Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them they were troubled. So he asked Pharoah’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell them to me, I beg you.” (Genesis 40:5-8)
- What did you hear?
- Who was in the prison with Joseph?
- Who had dreams?
- I wonder if Joseph will be able to interpret the dreams for him?
- How would he be able to do that? (Because the Lord was with him)
Tuesday, July 6th
Genesis 41: 1-8
“After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows sleek and fat, and they fed in the reed grass. And behold, seven other cows, gaunt and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. And the gaunt and thin cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. And Pharaoh awoke. And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold it was a dream. So in the morning his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men; and Pharaoh told them his dream, but there was none who could interpret it to Pharaoh.” (Genesis 41: 1-8)
- What did you hear?
- Do you know what that word “gaunt” means? (extremely thin and bony)
- Do you know what an “ear of grain” is? (possibly an ear of corn)
- I wonder what Pharaoh’s dream means?
- Who do you think could interpret that dream for him?
Wednesday, July 7th
Genesis 41: 14, 28-31, 53
“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.” (Genesis 41: 14)…..“It is as I told Pharaoh, God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; the famine will consume the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of that famine which will follow, for it will be very grievous.” (Genesis 41: 28-31)…“The seven years of plenty that prevailed in the land of Egypt came to an end; and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. (Genesis 41:53)
- What did you hear?
- How long did Joseph wait in the dungeon?
- Was Joseph able to interpret Pharaoh’s dream?
- What did you hear Joseph tell Pharaoh?
Thursday, July 8th
Genesis 42: 1-7
“When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might befall him. Thus the sons of Israel [Jacob] came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. Now Joseph was governor over the land; he it was who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Joseph saw his brothers, and knew them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them.” (Genesis 42: 1-7)
- (background) The seven years of plenty and seven years of famine did come to the land, just as Joseph said it would and Pharaoh made him governor over all of Egypt. At Joseph’s direction, they stored up grain for the 7 years of plenty in preparation for the 7 years of famine.
- What did you hear ?
- Why did Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt?
- How many of Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt?
- I wonder why Joseph treated his brother’s like strangers?
- Do you think Joseph sold grain to his brothers?
Friday, July 9th
Genesis 43: 1-2, 13-14
“Now the famine was severe in the land. And when they had eaten the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.” (Genesis 43: 1-2) ….“Take also your brother, and arise, go again to the man; may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may send back your other brother and Benjamin.” (Genesis 43: 13-14)
- What did Jacob ask his sons to do?
- Who did they take with them this time? (Benjamin, the youngest brother of Joseph)
- Why did they go back to Egypt?
- I wonder what will happen when they get there?
Saturday, July 10th
Genesis 44: 1-5, 14-15a
“Then he [Joseph] commanded his steward of his house, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, and put my cup, the silver cup, in the mouth of the sack of the youngest, with his money for the grain.” And he did as Joseph told him. As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys. When they had gone but a short distance from the city, Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he divines? You have done wrong in so doing.’” (Genesis 44: 1-5) …“When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there; and they fell before him to the ground. Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? (Genesis 44: 14-15a)
- I wonder what happened? (Joseph gave them grain and their money back. He hid his silver cup in Benjamin’s bag.)
- I wonder why he would do that?