Genesis 41:46-57

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Seven Years of Plenty and Seven Years of Famine

Printed Version

BACKGROUND NOTES

DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

Godly believers can wisely plan ahead if they really depend on the Lord’s direction.

Godly believers can be abundantly fruitful if they really forget past disappointments.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Have you come to the right place for bread?

QUESTIONS

Approximately how long was Joseph in Egypt before he was elevated to the position of Prime Minister?

What was Joseph’s first work as Prime Minister?

How did Joseph get a double portion of the inheritance?

Is it a contradiction to plan ahead and to depend on the Lord’s direction at the same time?

Why was Joseph fruitful in the land of his affliction?

ANSWERS

He was seventeen years old when he was betrayed by his brothers and he was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh. That means he was in Egypt a total of thirteen years before he became Prime Minister of Egypt.

He had granaries built in many of the cities all over Egypt. During the seven good years of plenty, 20% of the grain was collected and stored for use during the seven bad years of famine to come.

There was no tribe of Joseph in Israel, but Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, became two tribes in Israel, replacing Reuben. See 1 Chronicles 5:1.

No. They are complementary and go together. If you are really depending on the Lord’s direction, you will wisely plan what to do with your time, abilities and money.

Because he was faithful to God, and because he forgot past disappointments.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

Recall incidents when you depended on the Lord’s direction, and at the same time you planned ahead.

Are you able to forget about past disappointments? Are you able to get rid of a grudge when you’ve been wronged? If not, place the disappointments and the hurts in the Lord’s hands so you can be fruitful. Review Genesis 41:50-52.

CHALLENGE

The people cried for bread and were told to go to Joseph. Otherwise, they would have perished. Have you come to Jesus for the living bread? If not, you will perish. See John 6:48. Fulfillment and meaning to life is found in Christ alone.

KEY VERSES

“When all the land was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said, ‘Go to Joseph....’“ Genesis 41:55