OT 11 Joseph Rescues His Family and Israel Settles in Egypt

This week, we have 2 lectures to keep pace for those following the Come Follow Me schedule.

Text: Genesis 42-50

Supplemental Text: The Third Thousand Years chapters 6-8

BYU Lecture 14: Joseph marries Asenath and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. He prepares Egypt for the upcoming famine by taxing the people by 20%. During the hardship of this famine, Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt desperate for food and were directed to the Prime Minister Joseph. It had been 20 years and they did not recognize Joseph, but Joseph recognized them. Joseph sets out a plan to bring Jacob and Benjamin to Egypt. Finally, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and all rejoice together.

Jacob is overcome when he is told his son Joseph is alive. He is reluctant to go down to Egypt because of an earlier prophecy that his seed would then become slaves, but God revealed to him that he should go. The whole family comes to Egypt and settles in Goshen.

BYU Lecture 15: As discussed previously, Joseph is now married and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Due to impropriety of Jacob’s oldest two sons, Rueban (guilty of incest) and Simeon (guilty of murder), Jacob adopts Joseph’s two sons as replacement heirs. Jacob blesses Ephraim to be the principal heir to the Priesthood.

Prior to his death, Jacob gives his final blessings to all his children. Reuben and Simeon receive nothing, although their descendants will receive some land inheritance. Judah is promised to be the political leader and through his seed the Messiah will be born. Joseph was given the coveted birthright blessing, which would then be passed on to Ephraim.

Near the end of Joseph’s life, he receives some amazing prophecies – many of which were lost or intentionally removed from the modern Bible. Apparently, these prophecies were preserved in the Brass Plates. In the latter days, Joseph Smith was able to restore some of these prophesies which can be found in Genesis 50 and others can be found in 2nd Nephi.

Jewish scholar Dr. Joseph Klausner refers to the latter-day coming of “Messiah ben Joseph” who will precede “Messiah ben Judah” and who will be martyred. What he did not know is “Messiah ben Joseph” has already come, known to us as Joseph Smith.