Genesis 41 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 41

WHEN:

• Joseph was 17 when he went to Egypt (approximately 1728 B.C.).

• Genesis 41 records events that happened when Joseph was 30 years old (approx.. 1715 B.C.).

CHARACTERS:

• Joseph – Jacob’s son with Rachel. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him into slavery.  

• Pharaoh – The king of Egypt

• Chief Cupbearer – Pharaoh’s cupbearer who had previously spent time with Joseph in prison.

• Manasseh and Ephraim – The sons of Joseph.  

WHERE:

• The story contained in Genesis 41 took place in the country of Egypt.

• We are not given specifics as to the region or city.

OUTLINE:

• PHARAOH’S DREAMS (41:1-8):

  • Two years after the chief cupbearer and chief baker’s dreams were fulfilled, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, dreamed two dreams.  

  • When he awoke, he was troubled and called his magicians and wise men to interpret the dreams, but they couldn’t.

• JOSEPH IS SUMMONED BY PHARAOH (41:9-14):

  • The chief cupbearer approached Pharaoh and told him about the Hebrew boy who had interpreted his dream in prison.

  • Pharaoh summoned Joseph.

  • Joseph quickly shaved and changed clothes before meeting Pharaoh.

• JOSEPH INTERPRETS PHARAOH’S DREAMS (41:15-36):

  • Pharaoh told Joseph he heard he could interpret dreams, but Joseph told Pharaoh it was God who would provide the interpretation, not him.

  • Pharaoh recounted his 2 dreams to Joseph.

  • In the first dream, 7 healthy cows came up out of the Nile River, followed by 7 skinny and ugly cows.

  • The 7 skinny cows at the 7 healthy cows but remained just as skinny as before.

  • In Pharaoh’s second dream, 7 healthy ears of grain grew from one stock, but they were joined by 7 ugly ears of grain that were “blighted by the east wind.”

  • The 7 ugly ears of grain swallowed up the 7 healthy ears.

  • Joseph told Pharaoh God had revealed the interpretation to him.

  • Pharaoh’s similar dreams shared the same interpretation.

  • The 7 healthy cows and the 7 healthy ears of grain symbolized 7 years of abundance.

  • The 7 skinny cows and the 7 withered ears of grain symbolized 7 years of famine.

  • Egypt would experience 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of severe famine.

  • Joseph encouraged Pharaoh to appoint a wise man to store up food during the 7 years of abundance so the nation would not starve during the 7 years of famine.

• JOSEPH IS PROMOTED TO POWER (41:37-46):

  • Pharaoh decided Joseph was the man he needed for the job.

  • He made Joseph the second most powerful man in the land of Egypt.

  • Joseph was given a wife and a new name, Zaphenath-paneah.

  • Joseph was 30 years old when he was honored by Pharaoh.

• 7 YEARS OF ABUNDANCE (41:47-52):

  • During the 7 years of abundance Joseph gathered grain in storehouses.

  • The year before the famine Joseph had 2 sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

• THE BEGINNING OF FAMINE (41:53-57):

  • At the end of the 7 years of abundance, the famine began.

  • The Egyptians and those from surrounding nations came to Joseph to buy food.

APPLICATION:

• Joseph proceeded confidently into a task that required God’s help to succeed.  

• When Pharaoh asked Joseph if he could interpret dreams, Joseph confidently replied that God would give him the interpretation.

• He stated it positively and without qualifiers.

• He did not doubt that God would help him because he was returning the glory to God.

• Is our faith ambitions enough to undertake a task that necessitates God’s help? Or do we only undertake work we are confident our personal skillset can complete?