Bible in a Year January 14: Gen 40:9 – 42:28

 

January 14: Gen 40:9 – 42:28

Verse 41:46 tells us that Joseph was 30 years old when he became Pharaoh’s second in command. We don’t know how many of those years he spent in jail (at least 3), but it’s been 13 years since his brothers sold him to the passing caravan.

Obviously his brothers are still feeling terrible guilt over what they had done to believe God was punishing them for their sin when they went to Egypt. Their father had suffered greatly over the loss, and it seems Benjamin might have been overprotected as a result. I wonder if every difficulty they had faced over those years had reminded them of their deeds, causing them to think God was punishing them. It sounds like they had done a lot of self-punishment over their regret.

I have to wonder why they didn’t return the money back to Joseph when they realized it was in their sacks.

How had Joseph gotten over his anger and distress? Genesis 42:21 says he had pleaded for his life when his brothers threw him in the well, and probably again when they sold him into slavery. How long that journey to Egypt must have been – as a 17 year old he was dragged away from everything he knew toward an unknown future. But at some point he either stuffed down his pain or let it go to accept his lot and do the best job possible in each situation. And he obviously held on to his relationship with God. I can only presume his faith grew as he aged, despite being surrounded by a culture that had no time for the true God.

One fun sentence I noticed – verse 40:20 is the first time in the Bible that tells of a birthday party!

TOMORROW’S TEXT:  Gen 42:29 – 45:15