Day 13 · Part 2: Abraham’s Family

Prisoner in Egypt

Gen 39–41 · 103 verses

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In the Story

Chapter 13: Prisoner in EgyptAbout 10 minutes, or listen

In context

Joseph is a slave in the house of Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. Four times Genesis 39 says that the Lord was with Joseph, in Potiphar’s house and in prison (Genesis 39:2–3, 21–23). Potiphar’s wife tries day after day to get Joseph to sleep with her; when he runs from her, she accuses him falsely, and he is put in prison (Genesis 39:7–20).

There he explains the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer, who served the king his wine, and his baker. The cupbearer gets his job back and the baker is put to death, just as Joseph said, but the cupbearer forgets Joseph for two full years (Genesis 40:20–41:1). Then Pharaoh dreams of cows and grain by the Nile, the river Egypt’s harvests depended on.

Joseph tells Pharaoh, “It isn’t in me. God will give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:16). Pharaoh sets him over all Egypt and gives him his signet ring, which sealed orders in the king’s name, and an Egyptian name, Zaphenath-Paneah (Genesis 41:41–45). Joseph was seventeen when his story began and thirty when he stood before Pharaoh (Genesis 37:2; 41:46). Stephen later sums it up: “God was with him, and delivered him out of all his afflictions” (Acts 7:9–10).

A word of hope

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, these may forget, yet I will not forget you! Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands. Your walls are continually before me.

Isaiah 49:15–16 · The cupbearer forgot Joseph for two years; in Isaiah the Lord says that even a mother may forget, “yet I will not forget you.”

For families

In Egypt Joseph married Asenath, and they had two sons before the famine. He named the first Manasseh: “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.” He named the second Ephraim: “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction” (Genesis 41:50–52).

Joseph lived far from his father’s house for many years. When you are away from home, what do you miss most?

In the Bible

World English Bible, as published by eBible.org (public domain).

A hymn for today

In the Garden · words by C. Austin Miles

Organ and orchestra: an introduction, then each of the 3 verses. Tap a verse’s number to start there.

I come to the garden alone,While the dew is still on the roses;And the voice I hear,Falling on my ear,The Son of God discloses.
RefrainAnd He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.
He speaks, and the sound of His voiceIs so sweet the birds hush their singing;And the melodyThat He gave to meWithin my heart is ringing.
RefrainAnd He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.
I'd stay in the garden with Him,Though the night around me be falling;But He bids me go;Through the voice of woe,His voice to me is calling.
RefrainAnd He walks with me, and He talks with me,And He tells me I am His own;And the joy we share as we tarry there,None other has ever known.