Come, Follow Me · Week 11 · March 9–15

Genesis 37–41

This Week's Reading

This week’s reading in Genesis follows Joseph from his youth in Canaan to his rise as a powerful administrator in Egypt. It teaches us that God can use even painful trials, such as jealousy and betrayal, to prepare faithful servants for great purposes. Through dreams and interpretations, we see how divine guidance directs history toward the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham. The story highlights Joseph’s integrity, patience, and ultimate triumph over adversity, pointing forward to Christ who suffered unjustly yet brought salvation to all.

Key Passages

Genesis 37:2–4 Even though Joseph was beloved by his father and given special gifts, his brothers felt jealousy and hatred because of it.
Genesis 37:17–26 Though the brothers plotted evil against Joseph, Reuben tried to save him, showing that mercy can exist even in broken families.
Genesis 39:1–6 The Lord was with Joseph in Egypt, blessing his master’s household and proving that faithfulness brings divine favor.
Genesis 40:1–10 In prison, Joseph interpreted dreams for the chief butler and baker, demonstrating God’s power to reveal future events.
Genesis 41:1–5 Pharaoh’s dreams of seven fat cows eaten by seven lean ones and seven good ears followed by seven thin ones signaled coming famine.

Questions to Ponder

How might you respond if someone treated you unfairly because they were jealous or afraid?
In what ways has God used difficult experiences in your life to prepare you for greater blessings?
What does Joseph’s integrity while serving Potiphar teach us about staying faithful when no one is watching?
How can we trust that God will interpret our dreams and guide our steps, even when we do not understand them now?

A Thought to Take Home

Joseph’s life reminds us that God sees our hearts and uses every circumstance for our good. His story encourages us to remain faithful despite hardship, trusting that the Lord will bring light out of darkness. As we study his journey, we are invited to reflect on how Christ, the true Joseph, suffered unjustly yet brought eternal life to all who believe.

Further study

Genesis 37:2–4 Genesis 37:17–26 Genesis 39:1–6 Genesis 40:1–10

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This guide was prepared with AI from the scriptures and checked against the text; it can still make mistakes. For the Church's own guidance, read the official Come, Follow Me manual for this week. Nephite Atlas is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Key passages

Genesis 37:2–4

²These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report. ³Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. ⁴And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

Genesis 37:17–26

¹⁷And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. ¹⁸And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. ¹⁹And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. ²⁰Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. ²¹And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. ²²And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. ²³And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; ²⁴And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. ²⁵And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. ²⁶And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Genesis 39:1–6

¹And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. ²And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. ⁴And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. ⁵And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. ⁶And 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.

Genesis 40:1–10

¹And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. ²And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. ³And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. ⁴And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. ⁵And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. ⁶And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. ⁷And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to day? ⁸And 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. ⁹And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; ¹⁰And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:

Genesis 41:1–5

¹And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. ²And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. ³And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. ⁴And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. ⁵And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.