Genesis 41:15 - The Secret of Dreams

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, 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 can understand a dream to interpret it because God shares his secrets with those that have respect for Him and are accounted righteous (Proverbs 3:32, Psalm 25:14).

Genesis 41:11 - Anytime, Anywhere Communication

And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

God's communication is always present, even while in confinement. God gave the baker and butler each a dream with a meaning of its own while they were in prison (Genesis 40:5), and likewise, God heard Jonah's prayer from within the belly of a fish (Jonah g2:2).

Genesis 41:10 - The Chief Butler remembers Joseph.

Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker:

The ward in the captain of the guard's house was a prison, the same place where Joseph was imprisoned (Genesis 40:3).

Genesis 40:23 - The Sin of Forgetting

Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

This was a case of "out of sight, out of mind" in the face of good times. The butler had good intentions on helping Joseph but he forgot him as though he were dead (Psalm 31:12). When times are good we have a bad habit of forgetting those that helped us succeed (Amos 6:6, Hosea 13:6). This sin of forgetfulness happens when we become overly preoccupied with our own affairs which overshadows the interest of others.

Genesis 40:14 - It's a two-way street.

But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:

There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's request in consideration for his kindness and that of Rahab's. They both asked for help to be rescued and did not expect to be paid for their services. Their expectation was an act of kindness for a act of kindness in return (Joshua 2:12). I scratch your back; you scratch my back.

Genesis 40:8 - As a Instrument in God's Hands.

And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Joseph knew he could interpret the dream but only as a medium by which God would give them the answer they desired (Genesis 41:16 NIV).

Genesis 39:21 - Peace of Mind in Troubling Times

But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

God granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden because God was please with the way Joseph lived his life (Proverbs 16:7).

Genesis 39:10 - Avoid falling under the spell of passion.

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.

she spake to Joseph day by day - Potiphar's wife's intense desire to have sex with Joseph was relentless. Not only did Joseph continually refuse her illicit sex offers, he also took care not to be with her. By avoiding her, she couldn't entice him with her smooth offers of how having sex with her would be harmless and something to be enjoyed (Proverbs 7:18). Don't believe the lie, sexual immorality is harmful and something not to be enjoyed.

Genesis 39:9 - For Righteousness Sake

There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's reason for not sleeping with Potiphar's wife and that of King Abimelech's reason for not sleeping with Sarah, Abraham's wife (Genesis 20:6). In both cases, sin was avoided for the sake of righteousness, gained through divine awareness. Man's righteousness is not only the result of human motives, for we also suffer for the sake of doing what is right.

Genesis 39:6 - A Good-looking Man

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

There is a marked resemblance between Joseph's appearance and that of King David, they were both well-known for their striking handsomeness (1 Samuel 16:12 NIV).

Genesis 39:3 - Taking the Righteous Path

And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

His master saw that the LORD was with him because God's blessings crown the head of the righteous for all to see ( Proverbs 10:6). The LORD made all that he did to prosper because the righteous succeed in everything they do (Psalm 1:3). Like Joseph, take the righteous path, shining your light for all to see in everything you do.

Genesis 38:14 - Playing the Harlot

And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath - Prostitutes often dress seductively and spend most of their time in the streets and in public places soliciting their body indiscriminately for money (Proverbs 7:12). Avoid them at all cost, being careful not to be ensnared by their seductive ways.

Genesis 38:13 - Timnath or Timnah?

And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

Timnath was not the Timnath of Sampson (Judges 14:1), which is on lower ground than Adullam. Most likely, it is the Timnah of Joshua 15:10, 57, about 10 mile west of Bethlehem.

Genesis 38:11 - Back Home: Used, Childless & Widowed

Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house

Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house as this was the custom for widowed women without children (Leviticus 22:13; Ruth 1:12-13). However, Reuben was lying; he had no intention of allowing Shelah to marry Tamar.

Genesis 38:9 - Levirate Matrimony & Onanism

And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.

The seed should not be his because the first born son would carry on the name of Er so that his dead brother's name would not be forgotten in Israel (Deuteronomy 25:6). Spilled it on the ground is considered a form of contraception from which we get the term "onanism." Although Onan did not masturbate, masturbation ends with the same result - a wasted ejaculation.

Genesis 37:31 - The Object of Resentment

And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

This verse highlights the dangers of parental favoritism; the ostensive show of favoritism sometimes result in children filled with spite. Joseph's coat of many colors distinguished him as Jacob's favorite (Genesis 37:3). His brothers resented their father for making the coat so they used it out spite in convincing their father of Joseph's death.

Genesis 37:28 - Friend In Deed

Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Midianites merchantmen... drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit - A person who gives assistance to another in need is a friend in deed. Just as God used foreigners to rescue Joseph, a Cushite man rescued Jeremiah from starving to death in a pit. (Jeremiah 38:7-13 NIV).

Genesis 37:24 - In Desperate Need of God

And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

Like Joseph, Jeremiah was also thrown into a pit and was in desperate need of God (Jeremiah 38:6). Spiritually, you can also find yourself suddenly thrown into a pit. When you find yourself in the pits, look to God to lift you out and get you back in step (Psalm 40:2).

Genesis 37:11 - Overwhelming Feelings of Reverence

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Joseph's dream was too wonderful for his father to fathom. However, his father understood to power of dreams so his father observed the saying. Just like when the shepherds spread the word concerning what the angel had told them about baby Jesus; everyone was too amazed to believe Jesus was the Messiah, but Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:17-19).

Genesis 46:29 - Joseph Remembers His Father

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

In becoming the lord of all Egypt, Joseph provided a safe haven for his father in the land of Goshen (Genesis 45:9-11), even though his father rebuked him as a child for having the dream (Genesis 37:9-10). In Goshen, Joseph presented himself unto him as evidence of the dream coming true; then they embraced and wept for a long time.

Genesis 37:7-8 - Making dreams a reality.

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Joseph's brothers rightly interpreted his dream and became the agents of divine Providence. United in their hatred of him, they helped bring his dream into existence by selling him to the Midianite merchants, who took him to Egypt (Genesis 37:28). Not knowing that Joseph became the governor of Egypt, they made obeisance to him twice (Genesis 42:6; Genesis 44:14).

Genesis 36:40-43 - The Dukes of Edom

And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession: he is Esau the father of the Edomites.

Parallel Passage 1 Chronicles 1:51-54

Genesis 36:31 - Before Israel had a king

And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.

The children of Israel didn't have a king until about seven hundred years later when Samuel introduced Saul as the man the LORD had chosen to be their king (1 Samuel 10:24).

Genesis 35:17-18 - Be careful of what you wish for.

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.

The midwife knew God would provide Rachel with another child because she remembered when Rachel named her firstborn Joseph and said, "May the LORD add to me another son" (Genesis 30:24 NIV). When Rachel had no children, she cried, "Give me children, or else I die" (Genesis 30:1); and one child wasn't enough, she had to have another and it cost her her life.

Genesis 35:11 - Adam, Noah, and Jacob

And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;

God appeared and made himself known as God Almighty only to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:1, Genesis 48.3, Exodus 6:3) ; but of the three, only Jacob (joining the company of Adam and Noah Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9:1) received the blessing: be fruitful and multiply.

Genesis 35:7 - Man of the House

Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

To bring about God's promises, the man of the house must command his household to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just (Genesis 18:19 NIV).

Genesis 35:1 - House of God

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

Jacob obeyed God; he returned to Bethel, the place where God promised him the land of Canaan (Genesis 28:13) and built there an altar, and he called the place El Bethel (Genesis 35:7).

Genesis 34:10 - To Keep The Peace

And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

the land shall be before you - To deal with the crisis at hand between the families, Hamor was offering Jacob's family the land of their choice in the same way that Abraham offered Lot the land his choice (Genesis 13:9).

Genesis 32:8 - The Ingratiating Manner of Jacob

And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.

These, the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and servants are to find grace in the sight of my lord in the hope that Esau would be kind to him (Genesis 32:5 CEV).

Genesis 33:3 - Who's serving who?

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Jacob bowed himself to the ground seven times because Jacob feared Esau and his dominion (Genesis 27:40). However, at the end of their meeting, Esua acquiesces his servitude to Jacob as his lord (Genesis 33:15).

Genesis 32:31: Power Made Perfect in Weakness

And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Although Jacob halted upon his thigh, he had "power with God" to pass over the brook to meet not only Esau, but Esau with his four hundred men (Genesis 32:28, 2 Corinthians 12:9).

Genesis 32:26 - How to get your breakthrough.

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Although Jacob was weak and tied from wrestling all night, he was not going to give up until he got his blessing. As he desperately held on with all his might, crying and begging for his favor (Hosea 12:4), he got his breakthrough.

Genesis 32:6 - Jacob Faces His Fear

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.

he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him increases Jacob's fear of Esau's vengeance. However, Jacob stands his ground and faces his fear (Genesis 33:1).

Genesis 31:48-49 - The Watchtower

And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.

Mizpah (which means “watchtower”) is the place where God routed the Philistines with a load thunder while Samuel and the Israelites fasted, cried out and made sacrifices to God (1 Samuel 7:2-11 NIV).

Genesis 31:43 - Laban's Contrition With Jacob

Laban answered Jacob, "The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne?

Laban response to Jacob's expression of indignation is one of contrition by conceding the right of Jacob's prosperity; for Jacob is now a rich man, and everything he owns comes from Laban (Genesis 31:1 CEV).

Genesis 31:41 - Jacob's Indignation With Laban

Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters - Jacob had agreed to serve seven years for Rachel but Laban deceived him into having to serve fourteen years; for after serving the seven years, Laban asserted that Jacob must first marry Leah because it was their custom that the older daughter marry fist (Genesis 29:26-27 NIV).

Genesis 31:32 - Like Father, Like Son

With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.

Joseph brothers, the sons of Jacob, gave the same response regarding the silver cup placed in Benjamin's sack (Genesis 44:9):

If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves."

Genesis 31:29 - The God of Jacob's father

It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

God made himself known to Jacob as the God of your father in the dream he had at Bethel (Genesis 28:13 NIV).

Genesis 31:2 - A word to the wise:

And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

When a man is suffering a loss, pay special attention to his attitude; in times of great distress, even the most tenderhearted man will have no compassion, not even for his own family (Deuteronomy 28:54 ).

Genesis 31:1 - Green with Envy

And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.

From the words of Labans' sons, Jacob realised that they were envious of his prosperity and was intimidated from all this glory he had gotten from their father (Psalm 49:16). As a result, Jacob knew he had to take action (Genesis 31:31) because he who has no wisdom comes to his end through passion (Job 5:2 BBE).

Genesis 30:36 - God giveth, God taketh.

And he set three days' journey betwixt himself and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of Laban's flocks.

Laban made the three days journey betwixt himself and Jacob so the flocks that Jacob cared for would not mix with the ringstraked, speckled and spotted cattle of Laban's sons. However, God brought forth from Laban's flocks offspring that was ringstraked, speckled and spotted. And it came to pass that Laban's cattle became Jacob's cattle (Genesis 31:9).

Genesis 28:22 - Jacob's vow with God.

This stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.

After God blesses Jacob with prosperity and a large family, Jacob remembers his vow with God and returns to this stone and builds an altar (Genesis 35:7).

Genesis 28:17 - On holy ground.

And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

This place is holy ground that Jacob was lying on when he dreamt his vision. Just like Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:5-6), Jacob became afraid when he realized that he was in the presence of God. Joshua too found himself standing on holy ground when the captain of the Lord's army appeared before him, just before the fall of Jericho (Joshua 5:15).