THE STORY OF JOSEPH

Summary

The ancient tale of Joseph, son of Jacob, unfolds as a narrative of dreams, betrayal, and divine purpose. Favored by his father, Joseph's visions of grandeur incite jealousy among his brothers, leading to his betrayal and sale into Egyptian slavery. Despite hardships, Joseph's integrity and dream-interpreting talents rise him to power, where he foresees and mitigates a devastating famine. His eventual reunion with his repentant brothers in Egypt symbolizes forgiveness and the fulfillment of a greater destiny, impacting both his family and Egypt.

Takeaways

• 👤 Jacob, also known as Israel, had 12 sons, with Joseph being his favorite.
• 👥 Joseph's brothers were named Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Napali, Gad, Asher, and Benjamin.
• 🌾 Joseph had two significant dreams that indicated a future of prominence, which increased his brothers' resentment.
• 👕 Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery after stripping him of his colorful coat, a symbol of Jacob's favoritism.
• 🐐 Joseph's coat was dipped in goat's blood to deceive Jacob into believing Joseph was killed by a wild animal.
• 🇪🇬 Joseph was sold to Potipar, an officer of Pharaoh, and rose to a position of authority despite being a slave.
• 🍇 Joseph's ability to interpret dreams was first revealed in prison, where he interpreted dreams of the cupbearer and the baker.
• 🔮 Joseph's interpretations of the cupbearer's and baker's dreams came true, with the former being restored to his position and the latter being hanged.
• 👑 Pharaoh's own dreams were interpreted by Joseph, revealing seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine.
• 🏛 Pharaoh appointed Joseph as the governor of Egypt due to his wisdom and foresight in interpreting the dreams.
• 🌾 Joseph's administration stored grain during the years of plenty, preparing Egypt for the subsequent famine.
• 👨‍👧‍👦 When famine struck Canaan, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for food, unaware they were in the presence of Joseph.
• 🔍 Joseph tested his brothers' character and remorse through trials, concealing his identity.
• 😭 Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers, demonstrating forgiveness and the fulfillment of a divine purpose.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Joseph reunited with his family, bringing them to Egypt to live prosperously during the remaining years of the famine.

Q & A

Who was Jacob also known as?

Jacob was also known as Israel.

How many sons did Jacob have and who was his favorite among them?

Jacob had 12 sons, and his favorite was Joseph.

What did Joseph's brothers do to him out of jealousy?

Joseph's brothers stripped him of his coat of many colors and threw him into a pit, eventually selling him as a slave to traders heading to Egypt.

What significant event occurred when Joseph was in prison?

While in prison, Joseph interpreted the dreams of two fellow prisoners, the cupbearer and the baker, which accurately predicted their futures.

How did Joseph rise to a position of authority in Egypt?

Joseph was sold to Potipar, an officer of Pharaoh, where he proved to be diligent and trustworthy, eventually rising to a position of authority in Potipar's house.

What false accusation led to Joseph's imprisonment?

Joseph was falsely accused by Potipar's wife of attempting to seduce her, which led to his imprisonment.

What was the significance of the dreams that Pharaoh had?

Pharaoh's dreams foretold seven years of abundant harvests followed by seven years of devastating famine.

How did Joseph interpret Pharaoh's dreams and what was his interpretation?

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dreams as a prophecy of seven years of prosperity and seven years of famine, advising Pharaoh to prepare for the impending famine.

What position did Pharaoh appoint Joseph to after interpreting his dreams?

Pharaoh appointed Joseph as the governor of Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh himself.

How did Joseph's brothers react when they met him in Egypt without knowing his true identity?

Joseph's brothers showed genuine remorse and newfound compassion during the trials he subjected them to, unaware of his true identity.

What was the final outcome of the story of Joseph for his family and Egypt?

Joseph forgave his brothers, reunited with his family, and brought them to Egypt to live in prosperity during the remaining years of the famine, becoming a savior for his family and the nation of Egypt.