Father Mike Schmitz hosts this Bible in a Year podcast episode, day 22, reading from Genesis chapters 41-42, Job chapters 33-34, and Proverbs 4:1-9. The podcast uses the Great Adventure Bible Timeline to guide listeners through Scripture chronologically.

The episode focuses on Joseph's dramatic rise from prisoner to Egypt's second-in-command through dream interpretation, while Job's friend Elihu continues defending God's justice. Father Mike draws spiritual connections between the Old Testament Joseph and Saint Joseph, referencing Consecration to St. Joseph by Father Calloway as a modern devotional resource.

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams and Rises to Power

After two years in prison, Joseph is summoned to interpret Pharaoh's troubling dreams about seven fat and seven thin cows, plus seven full and seven withered grain ears.

Joseph tells Pharaoh: 'It is not in me. God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer,' crediting divine revelation for his interpretation abilities.

The dreams predict seven years of abundance followed by seven years of severe famine, with Joseph recommending storing one-fifth of Egypt's produce during the good years.

Pharaoh appoints Joseph as governor over all Egypt at age 30, giving him his signet ring, fine clothes, and a gold chain as symbols of authority.

Joseph's Strategic Management During Famine

During seven years of plenty, Joseph stores grain 'like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.'

Joseph marries Asenath and has two sons: Manasseh ('God has made me forget all my hardship') and Ephraim ('God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction').

When famine strikes, 'all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.'

Jacob sends ten sons to Egypt for grain but keeps Benjamin home, fearing harm might befall Rachel's remaining son.

Joseph Tests His Brothers Without Revealing His Identity

Joseph recognizes his brothers when they bow before him, fulfilling his childhood dreams, but 'he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them.'

Joseph accuses them of being spies and demands they bring Benjamin to prove their honesty, keeping Simeon as collateral.

The brothers confess guilt: 'In truth, we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul when he begged us, and we would not listen.'

Joseph secretly returns their money in their grain sacks, causing fear when discovered: 'What is this that God has done to us?'

Elihu's Defense of God's Justice and Communication

Elihu argues that God speaks 'in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it' through dreams and visions of the night.

God uses suffering to 'turn man aside from his deed and cut off pride from the man,' serving as divine correction rather than punishment.

Elihu declares: 'Far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the almighty that he should do wrong.'

He criticizes Job for speaking 'without knowledge' and answering 'like wicked men' in his complaints against God.

Wisdom Literature and Spiritual Connections

Proverbs emphasizes the supreme value of wisdom: 'Get wisdom, get insight. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you.'

Father Mike connects 'Go to Joseph' (Ite ad Joseph) as a biblical pattern pointing to Saint Joseph as protector of the 'bread from heaven.'

He recommends Consecration to St. Joseph by Father Calloway as 'a remarkable journey of 30 or so days to get to know Joseph better.'

Both Old Testament Joseph and Saint Joseph demonstrate faithfulness under trial, fighting 'to stay faithful to the Lord' despite opportunities to rebel.