King Pharaoh was impressed with Joseph. He knew God had given Joseph wisdom and discretion to tell him the meaning of his dream: there would be seven plentiful years of food followed by seven poor years. The king appointed Joseph over his house and over the land of Egypt. Joseph was responsible for storing and preserving food during the years of plenty so that when the poor years came, the land of Egypt would have food to ration out to the people.

     Joseph had been poorly treated for much of his life. His jealous brothers had sold him into slavery. Potiphar’s wife told a lie which caused Joseph to be imprisoned. Joseph was good through all his troubles, and God blessed him so that his life worked out well.

     When the seven years of plenty ended and the years of famine began, the people began to cry out for food. The king said, “Go to Joseph. Do what he instructs.”

     Joseph opened the storehouses of corn and began to distribute food. The famine was everywhere so people from other lands came to Egypt to buy food.

     One day as Joseph was overseeing his business, he looked out over the people who were coming in for food. There in front of him were his ten older brothers who had sold him into slavery many years before. They did not recognize Joseph, but he recognized them.

     They told Joseph they had a younger brother at home. Joseph pretended that he did not believe them. He told them they must return to their home and bring their younger brother Benjamin to Egypt to prove they were truthful men. An older brother was imprisoned while the nine returned for Benjamin. The brothers were afraid. They talked among themselves about the horrible deed they had done years before when they sold Joseph into slavery. They were convinced Joseph could not understand their language since he had been speaking with them through an interpreter. They did not see Joseph weeping as he listened to their words.

     When the older brothers returned with their youngest brother, Joseph could not restrain himself any longer. He ordered everyone out of the room except his brothers. He made himself known to his brothers. He wept so loud that the Egyptians outside heard. Joseph asked his brothers, “Is my father still living?” He had great plans for his father and for his very frightened brothers whom he forgave.

     When the brothers returned home with the news, their father could hardly believe them. Joseph had sent for all the family and their possessions to come to Egypt where there would be plenty of food for them. Imagine that father’s thrill. Once again he would see his beloved son. When his father arrived in Egypt, Joseph went out in his chariot to meet him. He fell on his father’s neck, and there he cried for a long time.  In this way Abraham’s descendants went down to Egypt.