Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream

"We are verily guilty concerning our brother." Genesis 42:21

Joseph was finally released from prison because he was able to interpret the king's dream. God gave Joseph the wisdom to tell the king of Egypt that his dreams meant there would be seven years of a fine harvest. After the first seven years, there would be seven years with no harvest. 

The king made Joseph a great lord and set him to work. Joseph was to buy and store all of the corn that was over and above what people wanted during the seven years of plenty. Then there would be corn during the years with no harvest. 

When the bad years began, Joseph sold the corn to all who wanted it. The famine wasn't just in Egypt. It reached all the countries around and soon Joseph saw ten of his own brothers, those who had sold him into slavery, coming to him to buy corn. He recognized them, but they didn't know him because he'd grown up and was dressed like an Egyptian. He wanted to know what had happened to his father and his younger brother, Benjamin. He started to ask his brothers questions. 

They told him who they were - they were all one man's sons, one brother had been lost, and the other was home with their father. Joseph wouldn't believe them and said one brother must stay in Egypt while the rest went back to fetch the youngest brother. They felt fear and thought about what they'd done to their brother Joseph. They said to each other, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother."

Joseph heard them and couldn't believe what he'd heard. But he kept his plan. He made Simeon stay in Egypt to make sure the others would return and sent them home for Benjamin. He didn't keep any of the money they'd paid for the corn and had servants put it back in their sacks. 

They found the money on the way home and were afraid. But when they reached home their father was more afraid. He thought Simeon was now dead and Benjamin was going to be next. He told them he couldn't send Benjamin with them because if something happened to his youngest son, "then shall ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave."     

QUESTIONS

1. Where was Joseph?

2. Why was he in prison?

3. What did God make him able to tell the king?

4. How many years was there to be much corn ?

5. What was to be done with the corn?

6. Who managed the buying of it?

7. When was the corn wanted?

8. Who came to buy corn?

9. Who did not come?

10. Why did not Joseph's brothers know him?

11. What did he make believe to think?

12. Whom did he tell them to fetch?

13. What did he give back to them?

14. What did their father say about Benjamin's going?

15. Why was he afraid to trust them with Benjamin?

16. What is the way to be believed?