From Prison to Palace: God's Providence and Forgiveness
- Be God's Glory
- Jan 13
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 13
Welcome to The Glory Team Bible Reading plan. In Chapters 41-43 Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and rises to power. He reunites with his brothers, showing God’s providence and forgiveness.
Genesis 41: Joseph, who was previously imprisoned in Egypt, is brought before Pharaoh to interpret the king's troubling dreams of seven fat cows followed by seven thin cows, and seven full ears of grain followed by seven withered ears; Joseph reveals the meaning as seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, advising Pharaoh to store food during the good years to prepare for the coming hardship; impressed by Joseph's interpretation, Pharaoh elevates him to a position of great power in Egypt, making him second in command, allowing Joseph to manage the nation's resources and save them from the impending famine, demonstrating God's providence and Joseph's exceptional wisdom and leadership.
Genesis 42: Jacob sends his ten oldest sons to Egypt to buy grain during a severe famine, unaware that they will encounter their long-lost brother Joseph, now a powerful official in Egypt; Joseph recognizes them but conceals his identity, accusing them of being spies and demanding they return with their youngest brother Benjamin as proof of their honesty; he detains Simeon as collateral, causing the brothers great fear and guilt over their past mistreatment of Joseph, while secretly returning their payment money to their sacks, further intensifying their anxiety upon returning home to Canaan with the news of Joseph's demands.
Genesis 43: Facing a severe famine, Jacob reluctantly sends his sons back to Egypt to buy more grain, but this time they must bring Benjamin with them as the Egyptian ruler, who is secretly their long-lost brother Joseph, had previously demanded it as a condition for further trade; Judah takes the lead in convincing Jacob to send Benjamin, promising to be responsible for him; the brothers travel to Egypt with gifts and double the money they had previously found in their sacks, demonstrating their sincerity and hoping to appease the Egyptian leader; upon arrival, Joseph arranges a special feast for them, showing favor towards Benjamin, but still keeping his identity hidden from his brothers.
From Prison to Palace: God's Providence and Forgiveness
The purpose of the book of Genesis are to record God's creation of the world and His desire to have a people set apart to worship Him. The author of the Book of Genesis is Moses. There is plenty of evidence that leads to this conclusion:
The Talmud (The Hebrew Bible, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology.) attributes this book to Moses.
Citations from Genesis show that the Old Testament is part of the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 1:8; 2 Kings 13:23; 1 Chronicles 1:1)
Jesus and the New Testament writers attribute Moses as the author of as an essential part of Scripture (Matthew 19:8; Luke 16:29; 24:27)
The original audience of the book of Genesis are the people of Israel and it was written in the wilderness during Israel's wanderings. The setting is primarily the region presently known as the Middle East.
The Key People we will learn about are Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Joseph.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God, including His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption.
Elohim - God, The Strong Creator
Jehovah - Lord, The Self-Existing One
El Elyon - The Lord God Most High
Adonai - Lord, Master
El Roi - God who sees me
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Jehovah Jireh - The Lord will provide
El-Elohe-Israel - God, The God of Israel
El Bethel - The God of Bethel (The House of God)
In Genesis Chapter 41, God's character as the sovereign orchestrator of events is powerfully revealed. While specific names of God are not explicitly mentioned in this chapter, His presence and wisdom are unmistakable. God (Elohim) is acknowledged by Joseph as the source of the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:16), emphasizing His role as the ultimate revealer of mysteries. Elohim's divine guidance elevates Joseph from a prisoner to the second-in-command of Egypt, showcasing God's power to transform circumstances for His purpose. This chapter highlights God's faithfulness, providence, and the fulfillment of His plans, even in the midst of human struggles and uncertainties.
In Genesis Chapter 42, God's character as just and merciful is evident as He begins the process of reconciliation within Joseph’s family. The Hebrew name Elohim (God) is mentioned multiple times, reflecting His role as the all-knowing and sovereign judge. Joseph's brothers, unaware of his identity, acknowledge their guilt for their past actions, stating, “In truth, we are guilty concerning our brother” (Genesis 42:21). They attribute their distress to God’s justice. Through Joseph’s actions—testing his brothers while also showing restraint and compassion—God's character as both a disciplinarian and a redeemer is reflected. He uses their trials to bring repentance, restoration, and the fulfillment of His promises to Abraham’s lineage.
In Genesis Chapter 43, the Hebrew name Elohim (God) appears again, emphasizing His role as the sovereign provider and orchestrator of events. Jacob, reluctantly sending Benjamin to Egypt, prays, “May God Almighty (El Shaddai) grant you mercy before the man” (Genesis 43:14). This invocation of El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One, highlights God's ability to provide and protect even in dire circumstances. God's character is revealed through Joseph's kindness toward his brothers, despite their betrayal. The unexpected feast Joseph prepares reflects God's grace and provision, reminding us of His ability to turn moments of fear and uncertainty into blessings and restoration.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions: Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Themes of God’s Sovereignty and Providence:
How does Joseph’s rise to power in Genesis 41 show God’s ability to work through even the most difficult circumstances for His purposes?
What can we learn about God’s timing from the delay in Joseph’s release from prison until Pharaoh’s dreams?
How does God’s orchestration of events in Egypt highlight His control over nations and rulers?
Themes of Faith and Forgiveness:
How did Joseph’s faith in God equip him to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams with humility and accuracy?
What does Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers in Genesis 42-43 teach us about God’s mercy and our responsibility to extend that same forgiveness to others?
How can we see God’s grace at work in the brothers’ journey to Egypt and their interaction with Joseph?
Lessons on God’s Character:
How is God revealed as El Shaddai (All-Sufficient One) in Jacob’s prayer for his sons’ safe return in Genesis 43?
In what ways does Joseph’s provision for his brothers in Genesis 43 mirror God’s gracious provision for His people?
How does God’s presence in Joseph’s life encourage us to trust Him in the waiting seasons of our own lives?
Personal Reflection:
Have you experienced a situation where God’s timing didn’t align with your expectations but ultimately worked for your good? How did it strengthen your faith?
How does the way Joseph treated his brothers challenge you to show grace and forgiveness in your own relationships?
What steps can you take to trust God more deeply as the ultimate provider and sustainer in your life?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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