Joseph: From Prison to Palace

In Egypt, Joseph is the slave of Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. “The LORD was with Joseph”: everything succeeds in his hands, and his master puts him in charge of his whole house. But Potiphar’s wife tries day after day to seduce him. Joseph refuses: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” One day she catches him by his garment; he leaves it in her hand and flees. Falsely accused, he is thrown into prison. There too, God is with him. He interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker: the first is restored, the second is hanged. But the cupbearer forgets him… for two years. Then Pharaoh dreams of seven fat cows devoured by seven thin ones, and seven good ears of grain swallowed by seven thin ears. Brought out of prison, Joseph interprets them: seven years of plenty, then seven of famine. At thirty, he is put in charge of all the land of Egypt and stores up the grain.