The Study of Genesis: Post Sixteen
***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 16th devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 28 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next few weeks.
Focus: Genesis 41
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 41 – “Prepared for the Famine”
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” Genesis 41:16
Genesis Chapter 41 –
“Prepared for the Famine”
(Read Genesis Chapter 41 First)
We left off in our last devotion with Joseph interpreting dreams for the king’s butler and baker while he was still in prison. His interpretations came true, and he asked the butler to remember him when he was restored to his position… but he didn’t.
Fast-forward two years.
Genesis 41 opens with Pharaoh having a dream that he knew meant something. He saw seven beautiful, healthy cows come up out of the river and graze in a meadow. Then seven skinny, sickly, almost frightening cows came up after them and began to eat the healthy ones. Pharaoh woke up, unsettled, but went back to sleep.
Then he dreamed again.
This time it was seven full, good ears of corn swallowed up by seven thin, withered ones. Now he knew that he must figure out what the dreams meant. The Bible says his spirit was troubled. So Pharaoh called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt, but none of them could interpret the dreams.
I want to pause right here and say this: it matters who you seek counsel from.
The men who “specialized” in dreams had no answers, but an insignificant prisoner who trusted God completely would soon have exactly the answers Pharaoh needed.
That’s when the butler finally remembered Joseph.
He told Pharaoh about the young Hebrew man in prison who had correctly interpreted both his dream and the baker’s. Pharaoh immediately sent for Joseph. After a shave, a bath, and a change of clothes, Joseph stood before the most powerful man in Egypt.
Pharaoh said, “I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.”
Joseph’s response is one of my favorite lines in Scripture:
“It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
In other words…it’s not me, it’s God. I love this response so much. I want to be quick to give God credit just like Joseph did.
Pharaoh told him the dreams, adding one detail we hadn’t heard before…even after the skinny cows ate the healthy ones, they were still just as thin.
Without hesitation, Joseph gave the interpretation:
God was showing Pharaoh what He was about to do.
Seven years of great abundance were coming… followed by seven years of severe famine. The famine would be so great that people would forget the years of plenty. God repeated the dream twice because the matter was settled and would come to pass quickly.
Then Joseph offered Pharaoh a plan. He advised him to appoint a wise and discreet man to oversee the land, collect one-fifth of the harvest during the years of plenty, and store it for the famine to come.
I couldn’t help but notice what Joseph didn’t say. He didn’t try to promote himself. He didn’t push to be hired for the position. He spoke with humility and wisdom.
But Pharaoh and his servants recognized the Spirit of God in him.
Pharaoh said there was no one as wise and discerning as Joseph. He placed his ring on Joseph’s hand, clothed him in fine linen, put a gold chain around his neck, and made him ruler over all Egypt.
Joseph was thirty years old.
During the seven years of abundance, the land produced in great measure, and Joseph faithfully stored the grain. Before the famine came, he and his wife had two sons.
He named the first Manasseh, which means, “For God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.”
And the second they named Ephraim, which means, “For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”
What a testimony!
Even after betrayal, slavery, prison, and years of waiting… Joseph allowed God to heal his heart and make him fruitful again.
Then the famine came, just as God had said. It covered all the land. But Egypt had food.
And when the people became famished, Pharaoh told them, “Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.” Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain, not only to Egypt, but to the nations around them.
Because one man listened to God and prepared, millions lived.
Where there is preparation, the people flourish.
Let’s look at some Scripture on Preparation:
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
Proverbs 16:3
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Proverbs 24:3
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
Psalm 112:5
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Proverbs 24:27
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Lessons on Preparedness from Joseph:
1. Prepare in the “fat years,” not the famine
Genesis 41:29–36
Joseph didn’t wait for trouble to start planning.
What are our seasons of plenty?
• good health
• steady income
• strong faith
• peace in our homes
Build habits before crisis:
• savings
• prayer life
• Bible knowledge
• healthy relationships
2. Spiritual preparedness (oil in the lamp)
Pair this chapter with:
• Matthew 25:1–13 (the wise and foolish virgins)
• Amos 4:12 – “Prepare to meet thy God”
Ask yourself:
• Am I storing God’s Word in my heart?
• Do I pray only in emergencies or daily?
3. Emotional & relational preparedness
Joseph had already:
• learned forgiveness
• endured betrayal
• remained faithful in private
So when a leadership opportunity came, his character was ready.
What should we be storing up?
• patience
• humility
• integrity
• self-control
5. Prepared to help others
Joseph’s preparation helped to save Egypt, other nations, and we will soon see that it reunited his family.
Who benefits when we are prepared?
• our children
• our church
• the people God sends into our lives
God may be filling your storehouse so you can become someone else’s help in their time of need.
Remember…“The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness…” (Proverbs 21:5)
The Georgia Nest 