About the Video:

God had promised Abraham that he would become the father of many nations. Abraham’s family grew rapidly, and Joseph was born to Abraham’s grandson, Jacob. 

Jacob had eleven other sons but Joseph was his favorite son.  Joseph’s brothers became jealous of Joseph. Not only that, Joseph had dreams that he would one day become a great ruler and even his brothers would bow down to him (Genesis 37). Because of their jealousy, Joseph’s brothers decided to get rid of him.

Joseph was sold into slavery and taken to the land of Egypt where he lived in the house of an important Egyptian official. One day, Joseph was falsely accused of doing something wrong, and he was thrown into prison. Even though Joseph was imprisoned, God was faithful to Joseph and made Joseph a leader in the prison. In prison, Joseph made friends with Pharaoh’s cupbearer, who was later released and returned to serving Pharaoh.

Two years later, Pharaoh had two weird dreams that he did not understand. No one could interpret the dreams for him. The cupbearer remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh that Joseph could interpret dreams

With God’s help, Joseph was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. Based on the dream, Joseph warned Pharoah to prepare for a great famine.  Pharoah listened to Joseph and followed Joseph’s plan to store up grain to sell to many people from many countries once the famine arrived. Pharaoh made Joseph the second most powerful man in Egypt and gave Joseph the responsibility for managing and selling the stored food. 

Joseph was faithful to God in Egypt and people soon desired to know more about Joseph’s God.

Questions to Consider:

1. Describe Pharaoh’s dreams.

2. Why did Pharaoh need someone to tell him what the dreams meant?

3. How does Pharaoh treat Joseph because of his ability to interpret dreams?

4. Has God been faithful to you and how do you show your faithfulness to God?

Background to the Story:

• This story begins because of the covenant that God made with Abraham to make him the faither of many nations. This was done through Abraham, his son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob, and Jacob’s son Joseph. (Genesis 17)

• Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. But God used that event to make Joseph the second most powerful person in Egypt. Later, Joseph was able to use his position to care for his family, saving them from the famine, and providing them good land in Egypt.

• Just as Joseph was sold into slavery, his family would eventually become slaves in Egypt. When God made the covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15:12-14, God told Abraham that his family would become slaves for 400 years. However, God would eventually rescue them from slavery and make them a great nation.

Reference - Genesis 41