Post the Thirty-First

Michelle Kang ID# 1239515 – 6 ‘o clock class
Professor Steve Osborn
Biblical Interpretation and Spiritual Formation
10 December 2007

Historical Narratives: Genesis 40:1-23

Observations:

Contextual

General Purpose of the Genesis:
The purpose of Genesis is to record God’s creation of the world including the creation of humankind, the fall of man and the separation by sin, and God’s desire to have a people set apart to worship Him (Israel).
Date of Genesis:
The book of Genesis was written from about 1450 B.C. to 1410 B.C. The time period that the material in the book covers starts at creation and ends around 1805 B.C. It starts at creation and ends with the death of Joseph.
Relation to Israel’s Development as a Nation:
Genesis presents the early history of the nation of Israel as God’s chosen people. It includes all the events leading up to the death of Joseph. The book tells of how God uses the descendents of Jacob to create His nation of Israel. This passage is specifically important in pointing out how God uses the circumstances that Joseph is put in to begin His nation.

Key Players and Events of God’s plan in the development of Israel in the book of Genesis:
Adam and Eve
God created the first humans, Adam and Eve. He made man in His own image, in the likeness of Him who created them. He loved them, but sin separated man from God. We learn from Adam and Eve that sin is destructive and has consequences.
Noah
Noah was faithful to God. He and his family were spared from the flood because he obeyed God and built the ark. God protected Noah, and protects those who obey him.
Abraham and Sarah
God promised early on to Abram that he would be the father of all the nations. Abram was discouraged because he was old and couldn’t bear a child, but God kept His COVENANT with Abram, later Abraham, and gave him a son, Isaac with his wife, Sarah. God told Abraham to give his son up as an offering, and Abraham was faithful and willing, but God blessed Abraham’s faithfulness and told him that his descendants would be “as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore”. This marks the beginning of the promises for the nation of Israel to multiply and be prosperous.

Isaac and Rebekah
Isaac was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that he would have a child. He’s also the first descendant in fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham. Isaac received as his wife, the Rebekah, who others chose to be his wife for him. He put God’s will above his own, and gave total submission to God. Through Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob was born.

Jacob
Jacob was a man of consistency. He worked for Laban for more than fourteen years and even wrestled with God. He wrestled with God until daybreak, seeking to be blessed! Jacob was the third in the Abrahamic line of God’s plan. He was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. God promised to be with Jacob and to watch over him.

Joseph
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and thrown into prison unjustly. He suffered so much. Still yet, he depended on God, and God refined him and raised him up to be second in command of Egypt. He was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. God revealed Himself to Joseph and through Joseph.

Key Events Before and After the Passage of Genesis 40:1-23
Joseph was the most beloved son of Israel (formerly Jacob). Israel gave him a robe and it made his brothers very jealous. They felt much hated toward Joseph. His brothers took him and sold him to the Midianites. The Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt, one of the Pharaoh’s officials. God blessed Joseph while he was in the Potiphar’s house. Potiphar ’s wife wanted to sleep with Joseph, but he refused, so she accused him of trying to sleep wither her. He got put into prison, but even then, the Lord was with Joseph.
In Genesis 40, Joseph briefly encounters the chief cupbearer and chief baker to the pharaoh and interprets their dreams. He asks the cupbearer to remember him when he gets out of prison; however, the cupbearer does not remember him.
After Genesis 40, two years pass, and Pharaoh has a dream no one can interpret. It is then, that the cupbearer remembers Joseph. Joseph is called to interpret the dream, and the Pharaoh is so pleased he puts Joseph second in command, in charge of the whole land of Egypt. Jacob sends his sons, Joseph’s brothers, to Egypt to get grain during the famine. They bow before him and it is later revealed who Joseph really is. The brothers went back to report that Joseph was alive, and Joseph had his family move to Egypt where they were blessed and multiplied. This marked the beginning of the history of Israel as God’s selected people. Since there was great famine in all the land, Joseph had the most power. People came to him asking him for food. He was ruler of the food distribution, and everyone depended on him.
Finally, the Egyptians offered themselves up to servitude and along with their land in exchange for food. Meanwhile, the people of Israel continued to multiply, and God blessed them greatly.

Literary (special circumstances/details; points of drama/tension; questions to answer)
Special Circumstances:

Misfortune?
We look at Joseph and the circumstances he was placed in. His father loved him the most, and consequently, his brothers hated him. When we read that he was taken and sold as a slave, we can immediately allow ourselves to feel angry about the injustice. Further on, we read that as a high ruler entrusted him with all things, he was unjustly accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. We can frown upon learning this, seeing that Joseph chose to resist temptation so that he might not sin against God. Finally, he accurately interprets his cellmates’ dreams, and still yet, they do not remember him when they have recovered to their position. Joseph is left to wait in prison, serving time and facing suffering for things he did not do. It is easy to inquire what the deal was! Joseph, a man upright before the Lord, faced so much injustice and suffering!

Points of drama/tension
One of the biggest points of tension was when Joseph was accused of trying to lay with Potiphar’s wife when Joseph himself is the one that chose not to sin. It really catches the reader off guard when we find that he was thrown into prison for something he didn’t do.
Another point of tension was when Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him. As the cupbearer and baker are released and the dream unfolds, the cupbearer forgets about Joseph! The suspense in finding what will happen to Joseph after the Pharaoh finds out about the truth is extremely upsetting when we find that the cupbearer forgot. Furthermore, we see that Joseph is left in prison for two additional years.

Questions to answer
What is the accurate account of Joseph’s reaction to the seduction by Potiphar’s wife?
Joseph replied that he understood how much Potiphar left Joseph in charge with. However, Joseph did not rationalize his refusal by thinking about disgracing Potiphar or Potiphar’s wife. However, he immediately addressed that laying with her would be to sin against God, and because of his strong belief in this, he was able to stand firm on his decision not to lay with her. This shows the integrity of Joseph’s character as well as a firm understanding of who God in relation to himself.
What was Joseph’s attitude during the time he was imprisoned for his unjustly accused act?
The Lord took care of Joseph during his time in prison. Joseph remained faithful to God by being responsible, even in prison. He was even promoted to prison ward. Joseph was not bitter at God for the situation he was placed in. Rather, he delighted in the Lord, and God showed him much favor.

Who did Joseph give credit to for interpreting the Pharaoh’s dream in verse 16?
Joseph gave all the credit to God for his ability to interpret. Rather than trying to justify himself or right the injustice that had stormed upon him, Joseph made it known that God was the source of this interpretation. He glorified God in this way, humbling himself in selfless submission to God who gave him power.
Big Idea: (one sentence that describes the main thrust of the passage)
God does things in His own time according to His own, perfect will.
Interpretation (Observation work in hand, what did God want the original audience to understand? What might they have “heard” in this episode? Why, of all that could have been written, did God through the author include this?)
The original audience for this historical narrative was the people of Israel. God wanted His people to know how the nation of Israel came to be. More importantly, He wanted to show His nation that His hand was upon them. In the same way that God oversaw every single circumstance in Joseph’s life, He looked over the people of Israel. Joseph desperately feared the Lord, and God expected the same attitude and behavior as Joseph. He wanted them to understand that He was a God who blesses those who obey Him and remain faithful and fearful of Him who created all people.
Top Level – The eternal, universal plan of God
God is a God of power and glory. He knows all things. He has power and does things in His own time according to His own will! God may allow us to suffer, but it is all for His glory.

Middle Level – the story of God’s people
God gave them this book to encourage them to trust in Him. Israel was God’s chosen people, and they as a nation were called to bear the image of God and proclaim His name to all the nations of the world. The Israelites needed to understand their beginnings and foundation as a nation to understand their importance in carrying out the will of God. This passage was definitely meant to be eye opening.

Lowest Level – the stories of individuals
Joseph was a good man who followed God regardless of the troubles he went through. We can understand that God rewards those who are faithful to Him. Joseph’s story from home to the deliverance of the first people of Israel from famine and destruction is a powerful message, but to miss that God was behind all of this is neglecting the bigger picture. God is sovereign and knows all things.

Application (meaning for the original audience,contemporary applications) In the Old Testament historical narratives, Dr. Russell states on p. 112:

“What does this passage tell us about God (the Hero), His plan, or the role that His people should be playing in His plan?”
This passage tells us that God is faithful. God is powerful, and God is intentional. His plan was for a leader, Joseph, to contribute to the creation of His chosen nation. God’s plan is to bring glory to Himself through His creation. He does this by revealing Himself in awesome and mighty ways, unfathomable, and WAY beyond anything we could ever imagine. We see how much Joseph went through, not knowing what God’s plans for him were. Still yet, he trusted in the Lord to take care of Him. He remained faithful to God, even when circumstances were trivial.
Through his devotion, God was pleased, and blessed Joseph greatly. Joseph went from being a slave, to becoming the most highly regarded man of the land of Egypt, and the lands that surrounded. God gave Joseph the power to interpret dreams! Even then, Joseph gave all glory to God, and through this, Joseph was able to foretell the famine that was to occur in the land. Every one came to Joseph for food. He had all the power in the land.
God used the trivial circumstances Joseph went through to refine him and shape him so that he would be one of the greatest and most powerful people in all the land. Without these things, God’s plan for Joseph to rule would not have been fulfilled. This shows that the role God’s people should be playing in His plan is to trust in God regardless of the circumstances.
God is far above any understanding we have of Him or His will. Thus, God promises His blessings if we, as His chosen and beloved people, would unconditionally continue to love and seek Him. God desires for us to desire Him. His plan is to reveal His glory by using us, but this cannot be fulfilled if we are overcome by difficulties we can’t understand if we lose the patience to trust God.

“What positive or negative model might this passage be setting before us to teach us about trusting God in the midst of His plan?”
This passage provides a positive model for us to remain obedient to God. Joseph became one of the greatest men of His time because of his faithfulness to God and fear of God’s plan for Him. We might therefore be encouraged to let God take charge of any situation we are placed in, and allow Him to refine us and process us into someone who is more like Him. God loves us, and ultimately, He cares for us. His plan is for us to be great, and promises us His blessings. However, we must obey His commandments and trust in Him completely.