August 30, 2006

• Genesis 41 – part 2

  
  

  Joseph is the man with the plan to save Egypt. He correctly interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, and made a suggestion. Pharaoh accepted the suggestion and then decided that Joseph was the man to do the job. What an increase in position – from prison to Prime Minister – second only to Pharaoh.

  
  

  Genesis 41:38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God.

  
  

  The Pagan Pharaoh recognized the Holy Spirit operating in Joseph. That is a remarkable insight for the leader of the Gentiles. This is a first mention of an indwelling Holy Spirit. We have seen the Spirit of God hovering in Genesis 1, but now He is indwelling Joseph.

  
  

  Pharaoh appoints Joseph to be over his house, all his people will be ruled according to Joseph’s word, and only in regard to the throne is Pharaoh greater than Joseph. Joseph is set over all the land of Egypt.

  
  

  It is important to realize that Joseph was faithful in the little things. He served Potiphar well, did not abuse Mrs. Potiphar, and served honorably in the jail. Everything that Joseph put his hand to, God blessed because Joseph honored God in his actions. Now God will bless Egypt, for Joseph’s sake, and preserve the nation Israel.

  
  

  Joseph is given the Pharaoh’s signet ring (a symbol of authority), and he is clothed in garments of fine linen and is given a gold chain.

  
  

  Remember that the Lukewarm church in Revelation 3:17-18 Because you say, ‘ I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing –and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see.

  
  

  Revelation 6:11 The martyrs after the fifth seal is opened will be given white robes.  ”Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed. 

  
  

  Revelation 19:13 regarding the coming of the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Jesus – He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean , followed Him on white horses.

  
  

  This is a representation of what happens to believers when Christ comes, and how Christ is clothed. The white robes represent righteousness, and it is only through Christ’s sacrifice that we can be clothed in white robes.  Joseph went through tribulation, and came out triumphant. Our Christ went through tribulation on the Cross and came out triumphant, bringing His family with Him (believers). Joseph will also preserve His family.

  
  

  Genesis 41:43 And he (Pharaoh) had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.

  
  

  When Jesus comes again, every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

  
  

  Pharaoh tells Joseph that no man may lift their head without Joseph’s consent.

  
  

  Pharaoh renamed Joseph: Zaphnath-Paaneah – which means revealer of secrets. And Pharaoh gave Joseph a Gentile bride – Asenath who was the daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On.

  
  

  Jesus also has a Gentile bride – the Bride of Christ.

  
  

  Joseph was 30 years when this happened (the same age that Jesus began His public ministry).

  
  

  As prophesied, the seven bounteous years came and Joseph collected the 1/5 of the crops and laid up food in the cities. There was so much grain as the sand of the sea, and he stopped counting the grain because it was immeasurable.

  
  

  verse 50-52 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” And the name of the second he called Ephriam: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

  
  

  These two sons will be part of the 12 tribes of Israel. And they were born before the famine came. God gave Joseph a double blessing – two sons.

  
  

  Then came seven years of famine, verse 54 …The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.

  
  

  While this is talking about physical bread, it also is spiritual bread. Jesus is the bread of life – His word is finer than bread. Because Joseph put God first, those who were around Him did not worry about sustenance, and Pharaoh was blessed financially.

  
  

  When the people became hungry, they went to Pharaoh who sent them to Joseph. Joseph opened up the storehouses and SOLD the grain to the Egyptians. There was so much grain that other countries came to Egypt to buy grain because the famine was so severe.

  
  

  Pharaoh’s coffers will be filled.

  
  

  A few analogies: Joseph was delivered from prison by the hand of God, he is a revealer of secrets, God sent Joseph to preserve life, Joseph warned the people of the danger, He urged provisions, He received a new name (Jesus has a name that no one knows yet, and we will be given new names), had a Gentile bride. He was a savior for all his people, not just the Egyptians, he dispensed the bread of life. The people had to go to Joseph to collect the grain (accept the gift of the bread of life), Jesus has unlimited resources, as Joseph had enough grain as the sands of the sea.

  
  

  God wanted Jacob and his 11 sons in Egypt for a season, and a famine for the whole world was what brought them to Egypt.

  
  

  Beth Moore in her Patriarchs gave an interesting word study, page 192
  ” Something very interesting takes place in the original language in the dialogue of Genesis 41, but you’ll have to look ahead somewhat to make the comparison. “Joseph uses ha elohim (lit., ‘the God,’ i.e., the usual way of referring to God in the OT) in speaking to Pharaoh (vv.25, 28, 32 [twice]), but Pharaoh uses elohim (i.e., “God” without the definite article) in speaking about Joseph (v.38) or speaking to Joseph (v39). Joseph’s use of the article before elohim makes Pharaoh’s reference to elohim a general, all inclusive one.” (Victor Hamilton – the Book of Genesis Chapters 18-50) In a land of many gods, including Pharaoh himself in the eyes of the Egyptians, Joseph made the point that his God was the God. There is no other. Pretty gutsy for a man fresh out of the dungeon, wouldn’t you say?”

  
  

  Beth talks about the fact that in our lives we have good years and famine years and asks if any “lasting grain” came out of the good years. p. 193 “Then Dear One, something valuable did come of those years. Something worth remembering. Whether or not you ever realized it, God may have fed you with some of the very grain of your abundant season to get you through your famine. Times aren’t always good, but God is. Maybe you don’t have to forget all of that time.”

  
  

  The prophesy of the future was inevitable, but Beth points out, p. 193 “However, the inevitability of events didn’t mean the people were helpless in the midst of it. Quite the contrary, God sent Joseph precisely so they could do something to survive and even to thrive. Inevitability doesn’t demand passivity……I can’t think of a single time in Scripture when God called His people to do nothing in terrible times. In His mercy, God didn’t even leave the Egyptians defenseless against a future famine. He incarcerated Joseph among them so that “the God” of all creation, “the” One and only, would be exalted among a foreign people who would in turn provide for His own.”

  
  

  P. 194 “Certainly you and I want people to be honest with us but, if you’re like me, you’d also prefer they leave you with a little hope. Maybe even a few possible answers for ways to best endure a difficult situation. None of us wants to hear, “There’s nothing we can do.” A child of God need never sink into hopelessness no matter how dismal an honest appraisal of their circumstances may be. Nothing is impossible with God. In fact, He may have saved back some harvest from those good seasons to faithfully sustain you.”

  
  

  Beth points out in a video that covers this study, that God has strategically placed representatives in positions of public influence. He can gift and skill people for service. When God makes the opportunity, take the opportunity. No one is better suited for places of authority than those who have proved that they can submit to authority. Nothing serves us better in place of High Position, than our lessons learned in Low Position.

  
  

  I find it so comforting to know that no matter what happens in our lives, God can use it for good. It gives a hope even in the midst of distressed circumstances.

  
  

  Have a blessed day!

  
  

  Heather

  • 12:02 am
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