Important Stories about Joseph
The story of Joseph is found in the book of Genesis 37-50.
Joseph's Childhood: (Genesis 37: 1-11)
Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel. As a young child, Joseph was very clever, sensible and trustworthy making him his father's favourite. Jacob was so fond of Joseph that he made him a beautiful coat of many colours. The robe was designed so that it wasn’t possible to do any heavy work. This meant his brothers had to complete Joseph's share of the work as well as their own. Joseph's brothers became very angry and jealous. Their jealously grew when his brothers saw God had given Joseph a special talent of interpreting dreams. One of Joseph’s favourite dreams was that he would become the greatest and all his brothers would bow down to him. When Joseph told his brothers, they became hateful and resentful.
Joseph sold by His Brothers:(Genesis 37: 2-36)
Joseph's brothers became so envious, they decided to kill him and throw his body in the well. However, Joseph’s eldest brother Reuben convinced them to throw him in the well and then leave him to die. Reuben planned to rescue him later. The opportunity to kill Joseph came when Jacob asked him to check on his brothers. Once again, Joseph’s brothers changed their minds and decided to sell him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. They told Jacob that Joseph had been eaten by a ferocious animal. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned or his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to
mourn until I join my son in the grave. So his father wept for him. (Genesis 37: 34-35)
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife:(Genesis 39: 1-23)
Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar - the chief steward of the Pharaoh. Joseph became a devoted and trustworthy servant. Joseph succeeded in everything and with God’s help he was soon promoted to chief servant of Potiphar. However, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s' wife, and he was thrown into prison. Even in jail, Joseph was faithful and loyal to the Lord. Through God's blessing, Joseph was treated kindly by the chief-jailer and was put in charge of all the other prisoners.
The Cupbearer and the Baker (Genesis 40: 1-23)
Soon after Joseph was thrown in prison, he was joined by the Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and the Chief Baker. One night, the Cupbearer had a dream. Using his skill of interpreting dreams, Joseph told the Cupbearer that in three days time, he would return to his original job of handing the Phar0ah his cup. Joseph also told the Cupbearer to mention his skill of interpreting dreaks to the Pharaoh.
When the Chief Baker heard Joseph interpreting dreams, he asked Joseph to interpret his dream. Joseph told him that in three days’ time, the Pharaoh would hang him
Joseph's interpretations of the dreams proved to be right and on the third day, the King let the cupbearer return to his original job and hung the baker. Unfortunately, the Cupbearer did not remember his promise to Joseph.
Pharaoh’s Dreams: Genesis 41: 1-57)
Two years passed before the Cupbearer remembered Joseph’s talent of interpreting dreams. The Pharaoh had a dream and none of his magicians could tell him what it mean, so they called upon Joseph. With God's help, Joseph told the Pharaoh that his dream meant Egypt was soon to have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. The Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of Egypt. As Joseph predicted, Egypt had seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. During the years of plenty, Joseph collected grain. This grain would be used in reserve during the famine.
During the famine, Joseph sold grain to the Egyptians, as the famine was so severe. People from all over the world, came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph
Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt: (Genesis 42: 1-57)
When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt he sent his sons to buy food for their families in Israel. All Joseph's brothers ended up worshipping him and begging him for food. Joseph had already predicted this from his dreams. Joseph recognised his brothers but they did not recognise him. Joseph did not hold a grudge against his brothers and gave them food.
Joseph Makes Himself Known (Genesis 45: 1-25)
Joseph’s brothers returned to Egypt many times for food. Finally, Joseph could not stand hiding anymore and told his brothers: “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because
it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45: 4-7)
Joseph told his brothers to return to their father and tell him to move to the land Goshen where Joseph will feed his family.
Joseph's Childhood: (Genesis 37: 1-11)
Joseph was the son of Jacob and Rachel. As a young child, Joseph was very clever, sensible and trustworthy making him his father's favourite. Jacob was so fond of Joseph that he made him a beautiful coat of many colours. The robe was designed so that it wasn’t possible to do any heavy work. This meant his brothers had to complete Joseph's share of the work as well as their own. Joseph's brothers became very angry and jealous. Their jealously grew when his brothers saw God had given Joseph a special talent of interpreting dreams. One of Joseph’s favourite dreams was that he would become the greatest and all his brothers would bow down to him. When Joseph told his brothers, they became hateful and resentful.
Joseph sold by His Brothers:(Genesis 37: 2-36)
Joseph's brothers became so envious, they decided to kill him and throw his body in the well. However, Joseph’s eldest brother Reuben convinced them to throw him in the well and then leave him to die. Reuben planned to rescue him later. The opportunity to kill Joseph came when Jacob asked him to check on his brothers. Once again, Joseph’s brothers changed their minds and decided to sell him as a slave for 20 pieces of silver. They told Jacob that Joseph had been eaten by a ferocious animal. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned or his son many days. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to
mourn until I join my son in the grave. So his father wept for him. (Genesis 37: 34-35)
Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife:(Genesis 39: 1-23)
Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar - the chief steward of the Pharaoh. Joseph became a devoted and trustworthy servant. Joseph succeeded in everything and with God’s help he was soon promoted to chief servant of Potiphar. However, Joseph was falsely accused by Potiphar’s' wife, and he was thrown into prison. Even in jail, Joseph was faithful and loyal to the Lord. Through God's blessing, Joseph was treated kindly by the chief-jailer and was put in charge of all the other prisoners.
The Cupbearer and the Baker (Genesis 40: 1-23)
Soon after Joseph was thrown in prison, he was joined by the Pharaoh’s Cupbearer and the Chief Baker. One night, the Cupbearer had a dream. Using his skill of interpreting dreams, Joseph told the Cupbearer that in three days time, he would return to his original job of handing the Phar0ah his cup. Joseph also told the Cupbearer to mention his skill of interpreting dreaks to the Pharaoh.
When the Chief Baker heard Joseph interpreting dreams, he asked Joseph to interpret his dream. Joseph told him that in three days’ time, the Pharaoh would hang him
Joseph's interpretations of the dreams proved to be right and on the third day, the King let the cupbearer return to his original job and hung the baker. Unfortunately, the Cupbearer did not remember his promise to Joseph.
Pharaoh’s Dreams: Genesis 41: 1-57)
Two years passed before the Cupbearer remembered Joseph’s talent of interpreting dreams. The Pharaoh had a dream and none of his magicians could tell him what it mean, so they called upon Joseph. With God's help, Joseph told the Pharaoh that his dream meant Egypt was soon to have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. The Pharaoh was so impressed that he put Joseph in charge of Egypt. As Joseph predicted, Egypt had seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. During the years of plenty, Joseph collected grain. This grain would be used in reserve during the famine.
During the famine, Joseph sold grain to the Egyptians, as the famine was so severe. People from all over the world, came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph
Joseph's Brothers Go to Egypt: (Genesis 42: 1-57)
When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt he sent his sons to buy food for their families in Israel. All Joseph's brothers ended up worshipping him and begging him for food. Joseph had already predicted this from his dreams. Joseph recognised his brothers but they did not recognise him. Joseph did not hold a grudge against his brothers and gave them food.
Joseph Makes Himself Known (Genesis 45: 1-25)
Joseph’s brothers returned to Egypt many times for food. Finally, Joseph could not stand hiding anymore and told his brothers: “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because
it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (Genesis 45: 4-7)
Joseph told his brothers to return to their father and tell him to move to the land Goshen where Joseph will feed his family.