Bereshith (Genesis) 41

Lesson date: 5/1/5855AA

Verses 1-7 – After the end of 2 years time. Remember, this is referring to the 2 years since the cup-bearer and chief baker were released for prison. Notice it was the chief baker, representing the “bread of life” that was put to death: Joh_6:33 “For the bread of Elohim is He who comes down out of the heaven and gives life to the world.”

Joh_6:35 And יהושע said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall not get hungry at all, and he who believes in Me shall not get thirsty at all.

Joh_6:48 “I am the bread of life.

Joh_6:51 “I am the living bread which came down out of the heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he shall live forever. And indeed, the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Please notice it was the cup-bearer who was allowed to live so, that at a later date, he could redeem Yoseph.

Mat 26:39 And going forward a little, He fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I desire, but as You desire.”

Mar 14:36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all is possible for You. Make this cup pass from Me. Yet not what I desire, but what You desire.”

Luk 22:20 Likewise the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood which is shed for you.

1Co 11:25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the renewed covenant in My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me.”

Therefore, the cup represents the renewed covenant which could only be “filled” or fulfilled by the death of the “bread of life” represented by the chief baker.

Please note that the period of time from the release of the chief baker and the cup-bearer is two years. Is there a purpose or meaning behind this?

Pro 13:12 Expectancy drawn out makes the heart sick, But a longing come true is a tree of life.

Psa 147:11 יהוה takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who wait for His kindness.

2Pe 3:8 But, beloved ones, let not this one matter be hidden from you: that with יהוה one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2Pe 3:9 יהוה is not slow in regard to the promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward us, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Now, all this serves as background for verse 1. In verses 1-7 we see that Pharaoh has two dreams; the first about seven fat cows and seven lean cows and the seven lean cows eat the fat cows; then he has a dream about seven plump heads of grain and seven scorched heads of grain and the seven scorched heads of grain eat the 7 plump heads of grain.

In verse 8, upon awakening, he calls for the magicians and wise men to interpret his dreams:

H2748 – חרטם – charṭôm – BDB Definition: 1) diviner, magician, astrologer

Exo 9:11 And the magicians were unable to stand before Mosheh because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Mitsrites.

Lev 19:26 ‘Do not eat meat with the blood. Do not practise divination or magic.

H2450 – חכם – châkâm – BDB Definition: 1) wise, wise (man)

1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with Elohim. For it has been written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

The magicians were the wisest men in the world but the dream is not of the world but of Elohim.

In verses 9-13 the cup-bearer remembers his former fate and also Yoseph. He has sinned, not against Yoseph but against YHVH and now remembers his sin:

Deu 23:21 “When you make a vow to יהוה your Elohim, do not delay to pay it, for יהוה your Elohim is certainly requiring it of you, and it shall be sin in you.

Verse 14 shows that there is a time that comes when the wisest people in and of the world can’t help Pharaoh and he calls for Yoseph. Have you ever been put into a situation where someone has a particular Scripture that they cannot reconcile with man’s doctrine and what the actual Word says and that someone asks you for help? This is that initial seed that desires to be planted so that it can grow.

Verse 14 also shows us that a transformation takes place. We see a bearded Hebrew shepherd who is shaved, something that a Hebrew man word not do unless he was a leper or a Nazarite beginning a vow. His prison clothes are changed for “new” clothes so that Yoseph will appear before Pharaoh, not as a Hebrew prisoner but as an Egyptian. Egyptians practiced shaving, except for high ranking members of Pharaoh’s staff. These high ranking members of the royal court had distinctive facial hair but not full beards.

Lev 19:27 ‘Do not round the corner of your head, nor destroy the corner of your beard.

If Yoseph is a type and shadow of Yeshua, do we see a similar transformation take place in Yeshua’s life? I would argue that we see several such transfomations taking place: Mat_3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

Mar_1:10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

Joh_1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

This is just one such transformation but in Hebrews we see another transformation that would take place: Heb 5:8 though being a Son, He learned obedience by what He suffered.

Is it possible that this also applied to Yoseph?

Verses 15-16 – In these two verses we see Pharaoh attributing Yoseph’s skill at interpreting dreams to Yoseph’s knowledge and ability. Yoseph is quick to attribute any knowledge or ability that he may have to YHVH just as Daniel would hundreds of years later: Dan 2:20 Dani’ĕl responded and said, “Blessed be the Name of Elah forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His.

Dan 2:21 “And He changes the times and the seasons. He removes sovereigns and raises up sovereigns. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who possess understanding.

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of turning.

2Co 10:17 But “He who boasts, let him boast in יהוה.”

Verses 17-24 – Pharaoh relates his dream to Yoseph. The word used for eaten is: H398 – אכל – ‘âkal – BDB Definition: 1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed

Isa 1:19 “If you submit and obey, you shall eat the good of the land;

Isa 1:20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword,” for the mouth of יהוה has spoken.

We can submit and obey His Word and eat the good or, we can rebel and refuse to obey His Word and as a result be destroyed by the same Word. Or, you can say it another way, “Eat right and live or Live wrong and be eaten.”

Rev. 19:15 “And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations. And He shall shepherd them with a rod of iron. And He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Ěl Shaddai.”

Rev. 19:21 “And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.”

We see in these two verses that what comes from Yeshua’s mouth is a sword in place of a sword or, is it?

Heb_4:12 For the Word of Elohim is living, and working, and sharper than any two-edged sword, cutting through even to the dividing of being and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

What is coming from Yeshua’s mouth is the Word of Elohim.

If you look back to Isa. 1:20 above you see that the word used for devoured is “akal” – H398. But, if you look at verse 41:24 you will see the word used for devoured is H1104 – בּלע – bâla‛ – BDB Definition: 1) to swallow down, swallow up, engulf, eat up

When I see words being substituted I have to wonder why. Here it is an admonition to beware of false teachings. How did I arrive at that? Look: H1109 – בּלעם – bil‛âm – BDB Definition: Balaam = “not of the people”

2 Pet. 3:17 “You, then, beloved ones, being forewarned, watch, lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the delusion of the lawless”

Jude 1:11 “Woe to them! Because they have gone in the way of Qayin, and gave themselves to the delusion of Bilʽam for a reward, and perished in the rebellion of Qoraḥ.”

Verses 25-32 – Yoseph assures Pharaoh that the dreams he has seen are indeed from YHVH and that the two dreams go together to prove that they are truly from YHVH: Deu 19:15 “One witness does not rise up against a man concerning any crookedness or any sin that he commits. At the mouth of two witnesses or at the mouth of three witnesses a matter is established.

Many people argue that this “boom/bust” cycle is a naturally occurring cycle that is 7 good years and 7 bad years. If that is the case, why hadn’t Pharaoh and his advisors figured that out already? No, this was different. Remember, what made Egypt great was “the river”, El Nil, the Nile. It was not just a river but in Egyptian thought it was their god that made them a special people. Its yearly floods brought life and death to Egypt. Even in years of no rain in Egypt the rains falling on the mountains of central Africa provided the Egyptians with an ample supply of water each year to guarantee the Egyptians a harvest. But this was different. This was something unlike anything they had ever experienced and it required the presence of a prophet of Elohim: Amo 3:7 For the Master יהוה does no matter unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

:25 “… Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do”

:28 “… Elohim has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do”

:32 “… Elohim is hastening to do it.”

Are we told anything similar? 1Th 5:2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of יהוה comes as a thief in the night.

1Th 5:3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then suddenly destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman, and they shall not escape.

It could be that America will know hunger. Why? Deu 8:3 “And He humbled you, and let you suffer hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, to make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth ofיהוה.

Mat 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they shall be filled.

Verses 33-37 – Yoseph advises Pharaoh that he should appoint a wise and discerning man over Egypt to handle this affair. This is a form of esteem. What Yoseph is alluding to is that the entire affair is beneath the attention of Pharaoh and that Pharaoh should not have to waste his time taking care of all the little details involved. ((This is an important concept and I will put it together in just a moment.))

Yoseph then advised Pharaoh to appoint overseers to collect 1/5^th of the production for each of the good years and to store it for use during the bad years.

Now we look at the words of Pharaoh to Yoseph: Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said to Yosĕph, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is no one to interpret it.

By Pharoah’s own words he has admitted his wise men and magicians are not wise enough to do the job and the job is very important, so much so, that it could lead to the destruction of Egypt if not done carefully and Yoseph’s words prove that the task is too menial for Pharaoh to do it himself so Pharaoh has little choice but to appoint Yoseph.

Mat 10:19 “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it shall be given to you in that hour what you shall speak,

Mat 10:20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you.

Pro 2:6 For יהוה gives wisdom; Out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Psa 119:130 The opening up of Your words gives light, Giving understanding to the simple.

Remember, the produce of the 7 fat years are exceedingly fat, not just a good year. Yoseph explains that 1/5^th of the production of each of the seven years will be enough to sustain Egypt for seven bad years. In other words, each year is an overabundance.

Verse 38-39 – “Could we find another like him, a man in whom is the Spirit of Elohim?” Notice that Pharaoh does not ask if a wiser an can be found. Instead he asks if there is another man in whom the Spirit of Elohim dwells. Like Dani’el, Yoseph rightly pointed out that Elohim gave the interpretation of the dream, not Yoseph. Of course the answer is “no”.

Exo 5:2 And Pharaoh said, “Who is יהוה, that I should obey His voice to let Yisra’ĕl go? I do not know יהוה, nor am I going to let Yisra’ĕl go.”

We see in the above passage that the Pharaoh of Mosheh’s time did not know nor his wise men remember the name of YHVH, taught to them by Yoseph.

Exo 28:3 “And you, speak to all the wise of heart, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the garments of Aharon, to set him apart, for him to serve as priest to Me

Exo 31:2 “See, I have called by name Betsal’ĕl son of Uri, son of Ḥur, of the tribe of Yehudah,

Exo 31:3 and I have filled him with the Spirit of Elohim in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all work,

Exo 31:4 to make designs for work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,

Verses 40 – I want to separate verse 40 from the other verses about the blessing bestowed upon Yoseph. The word kiss is from H5401 – נשׁק – nâshaq – BDB Definition: 1) to put together, kiss. This is taken for the idea of doing homage or showing respect, to acknowledge or confirm what or whom you have affection for. With this in mind look at the verse in Hoshea: Hos 13:2 And now they sin more and more, and make for themselves moulded images from their silver, idols according to their skill, all of them the work of craftsmen. They say of them, “Let the men who slaughter kiss the calves!”

In this passage the people are being told to kiss the calves that are being sacrificed to pagan gods to show that they wholly and totally love the pagan gods and not YHVH. In effect, the people of Egypt are acknowledging Yoseph as their Deliverer. The unspoken part of this is that if they do not “kiss” Yoseph they will not survive the famine.

Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be enraged, And you perish in the way, For soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge in Him.

So, if we love the Messiah and kiss the Messiah we must also do as He said: Joh 14:15 “If you love Me, you shall guard My commands.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of Elohim, when we love Elohim and guard His commands.

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love for Elohim, that we guard His commands, and His commands are not heavy,

2Jn 1:6 And this is the love, that we walk according to His commands. This is the command, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.

Verses 41-44 – Yoseph is established as ruler over Egypt: Psa 110:1 יהוה said to my Master, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

Yoseph is likewise seated on the right hand of power and Pharaoh takes off his signet ring which bears the full weight and authority of the king and is given to Yoseph: Mat 28:18 And יהושע came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Yoseph is dressed in fine linen: Eze 9:2 And look, six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-axe in his hand. And one man in their midst was clothed with linen and had a writer’s ink-horn at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.

Eze_9:11 And see, the man clothed with linen, who had the ink-horn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”

Dan_10:5 then I lifted my eyes and looked and saw a certain man dressed in linen, whose loins were girded with gold of Uphaz!

Mat_27:59 And having taken the body, Yosĕph wrapped it in clean linen,

Mar_15:46 And he, having bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Luk_23:53 And taking it down, he wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb hewn out of the rock, where no one was yet laid.

Joh_19:40 Then they took the body of יהושע, and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as was the habit of the Yehuḏim for burial.

Please notice that Yoseph wears fine linen in this life but Yeshua only wore fine linen in this life at the time of his death.

A chain of gold is placed around Yoseph’s neck. Eze 16:11 “And I adorned you with ornaments, and I put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck.

This is the only other place in Scripture where this word is used: H7242 – רביד – râbı̂yd – BDB Definition: 1) chain (ornament for neck – necklace)

Yoseph was to ride in the second chariot and as he rode people would shout: H86 – אברך – ‘abrêk – BDB Definition: 1) (meaning dubious) – a shout made to announce Joseph’s chariot. It is said to be of Egyptian origin and if that is the case it is in the command form of Egyptian. Please notice its similarity to the word for blessing: H1288 – בּרך – bârak – BDB Definition: 1) to bless, kneel. It could be that this command form of Egyptian was carried forward to Hebrew in this case, much like the Egyptian word for supervisor, foreman (or slave driver) is “ruman” which comes from the word for Roman.

And, Pharaoh set Yoseph over Egypt: H5414 – נתן – nâthan – BDB Definition: 1) to give, put, set.

…lift a hand – idiom for hold a weapon (as for battle)

…lift a foot – idiom for getting ready to mount a horse (as for battle).

Verse 45 – H6847 – צפנת פּענח – tsâphnath pa‛nêach – BDB Definition: Zaphnath-paaneah = “treasury of the glorious rest”

Pharaoh also gave Yoseph a wife, Asenath the daughter of the High Priest. We will talk more about this later.

Verse 46 – And Joseph was thirty years old. Luk_3:23 And when יהושע Himself began, He was about thirty years of age, being, as reckoned by law, son of Yosĕph, of Ěli,

2Sa 5:4 Dawid was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

Verses 47-53 – The years of plenty! So much grain was gathered that they could not count it anymore. This has been my experience. When we keep His Commands, His Blessings are poured out so much so that we cannot receive them all.

Verses 54-57 – Years of Famine. Even when we follow His Commands he has predetermined that certain events will take place. As His Children, if we keep His Commands, He will lead us through the trials and bring us safely through to the end.

Ahavah vberakhot,

Lesson date: 10/21/5858AA