Lesson Highlights

• Joseph interprets the dreams of the butler, the baker, and Pharaoh. Pharaoh makes Joseph ruler over all Egypt.
• Joseph makes himself known to his brothers and forgives them.

A study of this lesson will help us understand that if we are faithful and obedient, God will consecrate our afflictions for our good.

Scripture references for study:  Genesis 40–45
    Note: Underlined scripture references have been hyperlinked to the LDS Scriptures at LDS.org and will open in a new window.

Lesson 12 Handout (PDF format)

The Dreams Of The Butler, The Baker, & Pharaoh

1. Joseph's Difficulties.
• In Lesson 11 we discussed the challenges faced by Joseph.
• After Joseph received the coat of many colors, his brothers "hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him" (Genesis 37:4).
• In spite of the animosity of his brothers, Joseph was obedient to his father and followed his brothers to Dotham. He was to report back to his father.
• His brothers sold him to a caravan of Ishmeelites headed for Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
• Joseph was a obedient and faithful servant to Potiphar.  "...the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand" (Genesis 39:3). Joseph was made the overseer of Potiphar's household and had complete control over Potiphar's possessions.
• Once again Joseph faced adversity when Potiphar's wife attempted to seduce Joseph. When he "fled" from the house, rather than put himself in a compromising situation, he was accused by Potiphar's wife. Joseph was arrested and thrown in prison.
• Once again, Joseph turns lemons into lemonade.
• Joseph is one of the original positive thinkers. Rather than sulk in his misery and curse God for his bad luck, he remained faithful to the Lord.
• "But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it." (Genesis 39:21-22)
• Consider these words from Paul:  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28).
2. Joseph Interprets Dreams.
• Pharaoh's butler and baker were put into prison. These two servants were put under the charge of Joseph while serving their sentence.
• While in prison these men each had dreams which Joseph, through the power of God, accurately interpreted.
• Joseph taught these men that "interpretations belong to God" (Genesis 40:8).
• The butler was shortly restored to the service of Pharaoh.
• Two years later - two years - Pharaoh dreamed two dreams and sought the interpretation. This was thirteen years after Joseph had been sold into slavery. Did Joseph have patience?
• "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart" (Psalms 27:14).
• DO WE HAVE THE PATIENCE OF JOSEPH?
• Pharaoh called the wise men and magicians of Egypt, but none could interpret the dream.
• The butler then reported his experience with Joseph in prison two years earlier.
• Joseph was summoned by Pharaoh and told that God would give him an answer.
• WHAT DID PHARAOH DREAM?
• He dreamed of seven fat cows and seven lean cows (Genesis 41:1-4).
• He also dreamed of seven good ears of corn and seven thin ears (Genesis 41:5-7).
• WHAT WAS JOSEPH'S INTERPRETATION?
• After hearing of these dreams, Joseph explained to Pharaoh that the dreams represented seven years of plenty and seven of famine (Genesis 41:25-32).
• Joseph counseled Pharaoh about preparation for the years of famine (Genesis 41:33-36).
• Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph and the interpretation. He elevated Joseph to second in command in all Egypt (Genesis 41:37-43).
• "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt." (Genesis 41:39-41)
3. The Seeds of Righteousness.
• HOW CAN WE FOLLOW JOSEPH'S EXAMPLE IN DEALING WITH OUR OWN CHALLENGES AND TRIALS?
• HOW HAVE NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES IN YOUR LIFE LATER BEEN TURNED TO BLESSINGS?
• Joseph was willing to abide by the law of the harvest. Planted seeds to not grow and ripen overnight. They often take time as they did in the life of Joseph. The eventual harvest put Joseph in a position to give great service that would eventually result in the physical salvation of an entire nation, along with his own family.
• The following account by Brother Todd A. Britsch helps illustrate another important principle that father Joseph lived by:  "It is important to know that God's promises of the ultimate triumph of goodness and righteousness are valid. I would like to illustrate this point with an analogy from football. I do this with a bit of an apology to my colleagues who can't understand how someone who makes his living teaching about poetry, music, and painting could be such a fanatic about this slightly rough sport.

    "A few years ago, before the time that all BYU games were televised live, I landed at the Salt Lake airport just as a BYU 'away' game was concluding. I rushed around the terminal until I finally found someone who could assure me that we had won, although by a very close score. That evening, after returning to Provo, I went downstairs to watch the replay of the game on KBYU. My demeanor was amazingly serene. When we fumbled or had a pass intercepted, I hardly reacted. My wife could even let our children get around me. Usually I feel obligated to help my brethren in striped shirts by pointing out their errors in judgment. Because my seats are on row 25, such correction often requires a rather high decibel level. This loudness has carried over to watching football on television. But on that day I remained absolutely calm, even when I had the benefit of instant replay to verify my claim that their defensive back clearly arrived early and that the ground had obviously caused our running back to lose the ball. I was a veritable model of football decorum, never becoming unduly upset or ill behaved.
    "The cause of my improved behavior was obvious: I already knew the outcome of the game--BYU would win. It is amazing how that knowledge changes things: cornerbacks can get beat, running backs can fumble, linebackers can miss tackles, offensive guards can blow blocking assignments, and other things can go wrong. But when we know the final score, such things can be endured and sometimes even ignored.
    "We also know the final score for the history of this world and for the life of the righteous. The Lord and his people will triumph. It is true that the sorrows of this world and the strength of Satan's forces will win a number of the skirmishes. I am reminded of a wonderful cartoon that appeared in the New Yorker magazine many years ago. It depicts on a baseball scoreboard the battle between the optimists and pessimists. Each inning the pessimists are ahead, sometimes by rather large scores. But at the end of the game, the score reads, 'Optimists 1, Pessimists 0.' So it is with the history of this world. Satan and his followers, as well as the natural circumstances of mortal life, will inflict many bruises and win many battles. But God, who knows the end from the beginning, has promised that those who serve him will receive the fullness of his blessings. When we realize that righteous living puts us on the winning side, we can learn to trust him during trying times." (BYU Devotional Addresses: "Trusting God When Things Go Wrong", by Todd A. Britsch, BYU professor of humanities. This devotional address was given on September 30, 1997 at the Marriott Center.)

Joseph & His Brothers

1. Joseph was a type of the Savior.
• Joseph rose from the depths without compromise, the rewards of righteousness were realized, and God then put him in a place where he could bless the lives of many. Consider the parallels to Jesus Christ (see Old Testament Student Manual, p97):
• Joseph was the favored son of his father, as was Jesus.
• Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus.
• Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, as was Jesus.
• Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus' day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus.
• Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age.
• In their attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation. Jesus, by his being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and completed the atoning sacrifice and became the Deliverer for all mankind.
• Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began his ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty.
• When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus.
• Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men.
2. While ruling in Egypt, Joseph married Asenath, the daughter of a priest of On (Genesis 41:45).
• Elder Mark E. Peterson:  "Inasmuch as Asenath was offered to him in marriage and he accepted her, the question arises, did he marry out of the proper bloodline? Did he marry a native Egyptian, this daughter of Potipherah? Was Potipherah an Egyptian by descent? If he married an Egyptian of the forbidden blood, would his children be barred from holding the priesthood?....

    "Asenath's father, as the scripture indicates, was a priest in the city of On, and no doubt a sun worshipper, since, as a priest, he would conduct that sort of worship. But in officiating in this manner, he would do so in total ignorance of the true God. He was not as yet a believer in Joseph's religion, for at this point he and Joseph had never met. Joseph would have had no opportunity to teach him about the true God, who was unknown to the idolators.
    "So Potipherah was not as yet a believer in Joseph's religion. But neither was anyone else who lived in Egypt at that time. Joseph alone was a believer in the true God. All Egypt was idolatrous.
    "Potipherah was obviously a Semite and not of Egyptian blood at all. That is the point here. His blood had not been mixed with the Egyptians, and his daughter, Asenath, was therefore herself a Semite without any restriction on her bloodline. Therefore, no barrier would be raised against the marriage from this standpoint." (Joseph of Egypt, pp37-38)
• Prior to the famine Asenath bore two sons:  Manasseh & Ephraim (Genesis 41:50-52).
3. Joseph directed the storage of food during the seven years of plenty.
4. When the famine deepened, Joseph sold from the storage that had been prepared.
• The famine extended throughout that part of the world, including Canaan.
• When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt he sent his ten oldest sons to buy grain. Benjamin remained home with Jacob (Genesis 42:1-4).
5. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph's brothers came and kneeled before Joseph seeking to buy grain. They did not recognize Joseph (Genesis 42:6-24).
• Joseph accused them of being spies.
• He sent them back to bring their youngest brother, Benjamin.
• The brothers were still feeling guilty about having sold Joseph into slavery 20 years earlier. "We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us" (v21).
• "And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. And he turned himself about from them, and wept" (v23-24).
• Simeon remained in Egypt as insurance that they would return.
6. Upon their return to Canaan, they asked Jacob to let Benjamin return with them to Egypt (Genesis 42:29-43:14).
• Jacob refused since he had already lost his beloved Joseph and now Simeon was left behind in Egypt.
• He finally gave in when the famine became more sore.
• Judah said that he was willing to take full responsibility for Benjamin.
• It appears that that Joseph's brothers matured some since they sold Joseph to the slave traders. Their guilt for that act was displayed in Egypt. Now Judah, the one who led the brothers to sell Joseph, was willing to take full responsibility for Benjamin's safe return.
7. Back in Egypt, the brothers went to the house of Joseph. The sons of Israel still did not recognize Joseph (Genesis 43:15-34).
• Joseph inquired of their father.
• When Joseph saw his brother "he entered into his chamber, and wept there" (Genesis 43:30).
• Benjamin was given special treatment.
8. Before Joseph's brothers left with their grain, he had a silver cup planted in Benjamin's sack (Genesis 44:1-45:1).
• Shortly after the departure of his brethren, guards were sent and out searched the sacks of the eleven brothers and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.
• The sons of Israel were returned to the house of Joseph.
• Joseph ordered that Benjamin be left behind and that they bring their father down to Egypt.
• They pleaded for Benjamin, "The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die" (Genesis 44:22).
• Judah plead for Benjamin and his father:
• "...when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave" (Genesis 44:31).
• Judah offered to stay behind in Benjamin's place.
• Again we see displayed the tremendous change of heart of Judah. Years before he was concerned about his pride and selfish-ambitions and sold his brother into slavery. Now he is more concerned about his father and brother than he is his own life.
• The emotion of the moment was too much for Joseph.  "Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren." (Genesis 45:1).
9. READ GENESIS 45:1-10.
• Joseph sends his brothers home and to bring their father, Jacob, down to Egypt.
10. WHAT IMPRESSES YOU MOST ABOUT JOSEPH'S FORGIVING HIS BROTHERS?
• WHAT DOES THE WORLD TELL US TO DO WHEN SOMEONE HAS WRONGED US, AS JOSEPH'S BROTHERS DID HIM?
• WHAT DOES THE LORD TELL US TO DO?
• READ D&C 64:8-11. We are to forgive all men.
• HOW CAN WE DEVELOP HEARTS THAT ARE MORE FORGIVING?
• As we understand the life of Joseph, we learn that no matter what adversities we encounter, it is for our own blessing.
• Live worthy of the Spirit. We cannot have both the Spirit of God and an unforgiving heart.
• HOW HAVE YOU BEEN BLESSED WHEN YOU HAVE DEALT KINDLY WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE MISTREATED YOU?

Jacob Blesses His Sons & Grandsons

1. Near the end of Jacob's life, Joseph brought his two sons to see their grandfather (Genesis 48).
• Jacob asked for the boys and Joseph guided the first born, Manasseh, to Jacob's right hand and Ephraim to the left.
• Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim and the left on Manasseh.
• Joseph tried to lift his father's hands and correct the blessing.
• Jacob refused and gave Ephraim the birthright blessing.
• Joseph learned that it is God who gives the blessing.
2. Ephraim and Manasseh were adopted by Jacob as if they were his own.
• They each received a share of the inheritance of Israel, thus Joseph received two shares (Genesis 48:22).
• Growing out of the birthright and inheritance Ephraim "was to assume the leadership responsibilities for the House of Israel in the last days." (The Millennial Messiah, p.189)
• As Joseph gathered Israel for their temporal salvation in his day, in the last days Ephraim will direct the latter-day temporal and spiritual gathering.
3. In Genesis 49 Jacob blessed his twelve sons:
• The blessing to Judah was that he would be the forebear of the Messiah.
• The reference to Shiloh is that of the Messiah or Jesus Christ (Genesis 49:10).
• Brother Daniel H. Ludlow:  "This prophecy concerning Shiloh has been subject to several rabbinic and Christian interpretations and the object of considerable controversy. The interpretation given this passage by the Mormon Church is one based on revelation to modern prophets, not on scholarly commentary. It was revealed to Joseph Smith that Shiloh is the Messiah. . . ." (Companion To Your Study of the Old Testament, p97)
• JST Genesis 50:24:  "And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers; and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of father Jacob be with you, to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet; (not the Messiah who is called Shilo;) and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy bondage."
• With the exception of the blessing to Judah about the Messiah, the blessing to Joseph transcended all others.
• Joseph's posterity would be numerous, "a fruitful bough" (v22).
• Some of his posterity would go to other lands, "branches to run over the wall" (v22).
• In spite of persecution, he would be strengthened by the Lord (v23-24).
• He would receive great spiritual and temporal blessings (v25).
• His blessings would be greater than those of his forefathers (v26).
4. "And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people." (Genesis 49:33)
• Jacob's body was embalmed and taken back to Canaan where it was buried.
5. After Jacob died, his sons feared that Joseph might take revenge upon them.
• READ GENESIS 50:15-21.
• Once again we learn  about the greatness of Joseph.

Gospel Doctrine Notebook

1. Record your thoughts on Joseph, his patience and his willingness to forgive. How can you follow the example of Joseph?
2. Throughout his many trials, Joseph remained faithful. He even forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery. Because of his righteousness, Joseph received great blessings. If we are faithful, like Joseph, God will bless us by making all things work together for our good.
3. Elder Mark E. Peterson:  "Joseph of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, is a prime example of a man raised up by the Lord to correlate and tie together the divine purposes of two widely separated periods of time, one ancient and the other strictly modern.

    "Like Abraham, he was one of those preexistent spirits who was foreordained before he was born to occupy a strategic position anciently, but who would likewise greatly influence events of the latter days.
    "He began his life in the depths of obscurity like so many of the prophets of God, but was catapulted suddenly into a position of world prominence, for both ancient and modern times.
    "He ascended from an Egyptian jail to become the governor of the land, second only to Pharaoh. It was a position of international importance, because he was made administrator of the only food supply available in the entire Middle East during a seven-year famine.
    "He became a prophet who was instrumental in bringing ancient Israel into Egypt, where the tribes could develop into a great nation required for their ultimate destiny.
    "And now his modern descendants—the Latter-day Saints —as members of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph's sons, preside in the last dispensation of the gospel, in preparation for the second coming of the Christ." (Joseph of Egypt, p6)

Resources Used In This Lesson

• A Companion To Your Study of the Old Testament by Daniel H. Ludlow.
• BYU Devotional Addresses.
• Joseph of Egypt by Mark E. Peterson.
• Old Testament Student Manual - Religion 301.
• The Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie.

Next Lesson

Lesson 13:  Exodus 1–3; Exodus 5–6; Exodus 11–14