Joseph Governs Egypt – Genesis – The Brick Bible

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Yahweh still watched over Joseph in prison. When his fellow prisoners had strange dreams, they told their dreams to Joseph, and with God’s help, Joseph told them what their dreams revealed about the future.

1 of 18 Genesis 39:20–40:22

Two years later, Pharaoh had a troubling dream, so in the morning he gathered all the magicians and wise men in Egypt to his palace, and he described his troubling dream to them.

2 of 18 Genesis 41:1, 8

But none of the magicians and wise men could understand Pharaoh’s dream or tell him what it meant. Then one of Pharaoh’s servants spoke up and said: “I once met a man in prison named Joseph who can interpret any dream.”

3 of 18 Genesis 41:8–13

So Pharaoh had Joseph summoned from prison and said to him, “I am told you have the power to explain the meaning of any dream.” Joseph replied, “It is not my power, but God’s. Tell me your dream.”

4 of 18 Genesis 41:14

Pharaoh told Joseph that in his dream there were seven fat, healthy cows that came up out of the Nile River. They were then followed by seven scrawny, sickly cows. The skinny cows ate up the fat cows.

5 of 18 Genesis 41:17–21

Joseph said, "God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of plenty are coming, followed by seven years of terrible famine. If Pharaoh is wise, he will put someone in charge who will store the extra food from the plentiful years so there is still food to eat during the years of famine."

6 of 18 Genesis 41:25–32

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has given you knowledge of all this, there is no one as intelligent and wise as you. I am hereby making you governor of the whole of Egypt."

7 of 18 Genesis 41:39

As governor, during the seven years of plenty, Joseph collected and stored up all the surplus food.

8 of 18 Genesis 41:47–49

Then the years of terrible famine arrived, and starving people from all the surrounding lands had to travel to Egypt to buy food from Joseph.

9 of 18 Genesis 41:53–57

Back in Israel, Jacob said to his sons, "What are you doing just staring at one another? Go down to Egypt and buy us some food so we don’t die."

10 of 18 Genesis 42:1–2

So the brothers set out and when they reached Egypt, they bowed down before the governor and humbly asked for food. They did not recognize that the governor was their own brother Joseph. But Joseph recognized his brothers.

11 of 18 Genesis 42:3–7

Joseph decided to test them. He had their sacks filled with grain, but he also hid some money in their sacks. And in his younger brother Benjamin’s sack, he hid his own silver drinking cup.

12 of 18 Genesis 42:14–15, 44:1–2

Joseph sent them on their way home, but soon afterward he chased them down as they were leaving the city. “Why have you stolen from me after I was kind and gave you food?” shouted Joseph. He had their sacks opened to reveal the money and the silver cup.

13 of 18 Genesis 44:3–12

The brothers’ hearts sank and they became afraid. They said to themselves that God must now be punishing them for the awful thing they did to their brother so many years ago. “Because your youngest brother stole my cup,” said Joseph, “I will keep him as my slave.”

14 of 18 Genesis 42:21–28, 44:17

At this the oldest brother begged Joseph to take him as a slave instead of Benjamin. He told Joseph their father Jacob had already lost one of his two youngest sons, and to now lose the other youngest son would break his heart forever.

15 of 18 Genesis 44:27–34

Unable to control himself any long, Joseph blurted out: “Look closely! Don’t you recognize me? I am your brother Joseph. Now go return to our father, and bring him and all families and possessions here to Egypt.”

16 of 18 Genesis 45:1–10

Jacob was shocked to learn that his son Joseph was still alive. He took his entire family and traveled down to Egypt. When they finally met again after so many years, Joseph and his father Jacob hugged and wept tears of joy.

17 of 18 Genesis 45:26, 46:6, 29

Pharaoh gave Joseph’s family the best land in Egypt for their new home. Joseph was not angry with his brothers for what they did to him when he was young, because he knew it had all been part of God’s plan.

18 of 18 Genesis 47:5, 45:5

The End of the Patriarchs

The End of the Patriarchs