Introduction Old Testament

The Jar:  I AM

Genesis 46:3 ESV

Genesis 37:18-28 (Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers)

Genesis 37:36 ESV

Genesis 41:12 ESV

Genesis 41:17-24 (Dream about seven plump and seven lean)

Genesis 41:25-31 (Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream)

Genesis 41:37-40 ESV

Genesis 42:1-4 ESV

Genesis 42:6-8 (Joseph’s brothers go to Egypt but don’t recognize him)

Genesis 45:4-7 ESV

Genesis 46:3 ESV

Today we begin looking at Old Testament scriptures found in the jar I was given as a gift.

As I started to pray about this lesson, I asked God to show me an illustration that would match the scripture.

Then I went outside.

It was partly cloudy outside and the cloud formations looked very interesting. You’ll notice that I use a lot of photographs of the Sun, moon, and clouds for illustrations.

That’s no accident. As I pray about each lesson and illustration, I am often drawn to various cloud formations or to other elements in the sky.

The day I took the photograph for this illustration seemed to be different. As I looked at the cloud, a face emerged. Hummm…

I thought maybe I was imagining the face in the clouds so I sent it to my children to see if they noticed anything different about the photograph.

They saw the face as well.

Okay, so I’ll go with that.

Genesis 46:3 says, “I am God, the God of your Father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.“

In this scripture, God was speaking to Jacob.

Do you remember the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors? A few of Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him because of the beautiful coat their father gave him so they sold him into slavery and he was taken to Egypt (Genesis 37:18-28).

We read in Genesis 37:36 once Joseph was in Egypt, “Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.”

After some time passed, a great famine covered the land. In Egypt the Pharaoh had a dream and he didn’t understand it, so he asked what it meant. No one could interpret the dream, but they remembered that Joseph who had been thrown in the pit was able to interpret their dream. In Genesis 41:12 the men told Pharaoh, “A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.”

The Pharaoh sent for Joseph and asked him what his dream could mean. Pharaoh (Genesis 41:17-24) told the dream about seven plump cows and seven lean cows and seven good ears and seven lean ears to Joseph.

God revealed to Joseph exactly what the dream meant and Joseph told Pharaoh that there would be seven good years of plenty followed by seven years of famine (Genesis 41:25-31).

Genesis 41:37-40 says, “This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”

So Joseph was given great power in Pharaoh’s court.

In the meantime, we learn in Genesis 42:1-4 that Jacob hears there was food in Egypt, “When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” And he said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die.” So ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.”

In Egypt Joseph has risen to a position of power and his brothers were brought before him to ask for food. Because he was dressed like a powerful man in the court of Pharaoh they didn’t recognize him at first (Genesis 42:6-8).

Eventually, Joseph, who is now Governor of Egypt revealed himself to his brothers in Genesis 45:4-7 , “Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

God told Jacob, the father of twelve sons to go to Egypt.  So, we’re back to Genesis 46:3, “I am God, the God of your Father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.“

And so, Jacob went to Egypt. It became clear in the end that God had a plan all along. Even when Joseph was sold and taken to Egypt, God had a plan. In time, Joseph and Jacob knew the plan.

And so, just like my cloud illustration, God knew every detail before I could see the detail.

God knows the details of your life as well. God has a plan for you…God will not fail.

Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Trust God

Trust God with the details of your life. Tell God, “I trust You.”

In God, Deborah

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