The reading for Friday, January 13, 2023 , is Genesis 41 - 43

 Today's reading: Genesis 41 - 43

Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph in charge of Egypt, and Joseph's brothers go to Egypt

The chief cupbearer, after 2 years, remembers what Joseph had done for him by interpreting his dreams. 

Joseph gives God the credit of interpreting Pharaoh's dreams. Too often, I fall short of giving God the credit God deserves--which is all of it. 

Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and is put in charge of Egypt. Remember, Joseph had just come from prison, now he's put in charge of the land. 

Pharaoh gives Joseph a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. I find 2 things curious about this. 1.) the woman is named in the Bible. 2.) How can Joseph marry an Egyptian woman? Previously, the people of Israel went to their own people to marry. Isaac and Rebekah did not like Esau marrying the local women. 

Joseph recognizes his brothers, treats them harshly, and puts them in prison for 3 days. Among themselves, the brothers say that this is happening because they put Joseph in a pit and then sold him. Joseph understands what his brothers are saying, but they don't know it because Joseph was using an interpreter. Joseph turns away and cries. Joseph then has Simeon bound before his brothers. Joseph also gives each brother his grain for free because the silver is in the mouth of each bag. 

Rueben offers Jacob to kill both of Rueben's sons if Rueben doesn't return Benjamin safely from Egypt when they go down again. Huh? Why would Jacob want to kill his grandsons? Was this some kind of saying? I dunno. Rueben was the brother who had planned to get Joseph out of the pit and return him to his father back in the day. 

Judah then says that he will be responsible for Benjamin's safety. 

Joseph's brothers try to return the silver that had been put in their sacks previously. They are told that the bill has been paid. 

Joseph and his brothers feast together, but Joseph at a different table, his brothers at a different table and the Egyptians present at a different table. Eating with Hebrews was detestable to Egyptians, but yet they could be in the same room together feasting. I once heard a Mennonite man tell how someone who was shunned came to a funeral. The person who was shunned sat at a different table that didn't quite touch the table of the others present, so they weren't "eating together." 

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