Day 28, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today's Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Genesis 40-41
God’s Providential Care
Have we ever lost direction and weren’t able to find out where we were going? Many people rely on a G.P.S. (Global Positioning System) to help them. Sometimes, however, it can steer us wrong. God isn’t like that. In today’s Bible study, we get encouragement from Joseph’s life while learning about God’s providential care. What is that, and how is it shown?
Providence is God arranging the circumstances of our life for his glory and our good. However, sometimes we don’t see what God is doing.
God’s ways are sometimes difficult to understand
In today’s Bible reading, Joseph is in prison, falsely accused of attempted rape. He is undoubtedly confused but doesn’t quit on God. He accepts his circumstances and continues to be faithful, not bitter or hateful. After a while, the warden observes that God is with Joseph, and he can be trusted entirely, so he gives him charge over all the prisoners.
Joseph is now twenty-eight-years old. He has been in prison for a long time. Doesn’t God care? Yes. Although unobserved, God is working behind the scenes.
God’s Providence
One day, Egypt’s Pharaoh was angry with his Chief Baker and Cupbearer and threw them into prison. “It just so happened” they were assigned to the same ward where Joseph was supervising prisoners.
One night, the Chief Baker and the Cupbearer both have dreams that Joseph, with God’s help, interprets. In exchange, Joseph asks the Cupbearer to remember his kindness and mention him to the king. Both night visions come true just as Joseph prophesies. The Cupbearer is restored to his former position. Meanwhile, the Chief Baker is beheaded, and his body is impaled on a pole. The birds feast on it.
Joseph is forgotten. Two more years pass. Joseph could have given up but continues serving in prison to the glory of God. If God wanted us to do that, could we? It may be difficult, but if we trust the LORD and are faithful to our tasks wherever he places us, God will work on our behalf for his glory.
Providential Dreams
Sometime later, Pharaoh has two disturbing dreams. “In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him” (Genesis 41:8).
Then the Cupbearer remembers Joseph. When he tells Pharaoh that Joseph interpreted dreams accurately for him and for the Chief Baker during their imprisonment, Joseph is summoned from the prison. He is shaved, cleaned up, and freshly clothed. He appears before Pharaoh, and Pharaoh says to him,
“I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires”(Genesis 41:15-16, NIV).
Notice—Joseph does not seek glory for himself—he gives God credit for everything. Do we do that?
Pharaoh shares his two dreams.
In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows came up-- scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first. But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.
In my dreams I also saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads sprouted-- withered and thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads (Genesis 41:17-24, NIV).
God’s Providence and Joseph’s rewards
Why did God give these dreams to Pharaoh? He did it to show him that Joseph’s God is Sovereign and gracious. He also did it to prepare people for a catastrophe and save all of Egypt and the entire known world, including his own people. God’s providential care is demonstrated through Joseph’s interpretation of the emperor’s dreams.
Joseph tells Pharaoh that his dreams of the cows and the grain are one—there will be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of severe drought and blight. Because Joseph has the wisdom to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, he is appointed second in the kingdom. He will prepare Egypt for the coming years of abundance and famine. Joseph’s plan of saving back twenty percent of the grain to feed people in the lean years provides a wise financial principle we might follow today.
God helps Joseph forget his hardships
During the years of plenty, Joseph has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh means “forget” because God made him forget all his troubles and the troubles with his brothers. Ephraim means “fruitful” because God made Joseph fruitful in the land of his suffering (Genesis 41:50-52). God was gracious in Joseph’s trials. By naming his sons “forget” and “fruitful,” Joseph was sharing the grace of God with his sons.
What difficulties have we gone through with God by our side? How has the LORD been gracious to us? God can help us forget the bad times and cherish the good. We should share God’s providence and grace with the next generation to encourage their faith.
End note: The Bible Knowledge Commentary says that this Pharaoh was probably Sesostris II, who reigned from 1897-1879 B.C.. The Bible Knowledge Commentary of the Old Testament, edited by Walvoord and Zuck, © 1985, p. 90
Discussion
What is God’s providence? Give an example of how God worked in Joseph’s life or how he might work in our lives.
Why do Christians face difficult challenges if God is working on their behalf? Is he or not? Explain.
How can we share God’s providential work in our lives, and why should we do it?
Focus Verse
Proverbs 20:24 (NIV) “A man's steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?”
You can watch a video presentation of this lesson here. Begin at 1:23:03 and end at 1:32:28
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to mtbiblestudies@gmail.com
Looking Ahead: The famine affects Joseph’s family in Canaan. They come to Egypt, and Joseph tests their character to discover if they have changed. Find out more about Tests of Genuine Character in our Next Lesson.
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