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33 “And now let Pharaoh
look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.
34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the
harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all
the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the
authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be
held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine
that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the
famine.”
Lesson One: Joseph in that moment was also given a plan
by God. God often gives divine
inspiration and direction in a moment if we open to listen and heed His advice. First, Joseph says that the king should find
a wise and discerning man. A man who has
understanding, insight and humility.
Humility because this is a task that will require to change the whole
direction and emphasis of the economy and life direction of a nation. He will be a man who will have to be in
charge of the whole land of Egypt. He
will have to have co-operation of the government, the economy and the social
structure of the land.
Next, appoint commissioners and
government officials over the land and their task will to gather a fifth of the
harvest during the seven years of abundance.
He was doing what creation itself does.
Ants, squirrels, and other creatures know there is a winter coming so
they get ready for it. They should
collect all the food during the good years that are coming and store it under
the authority of the king. This way it
has all the resources and power that comes from being an absolute ruler. The arm forces, the government is all behind
it and protecting it. It should be kept In
the cities for food. The king lived in
the city and all the major cities had storage facilities in them and also the
majority of Egypt lived near the major cities for better distribution. The food should be held in reserve for the
entire country. Joseph knew because of
the dreams that this would be certain.
The food then could be used during the seven years of famine so the
country would not be ruined. Pharaoh had
been the dream because he was the one man who could do all suggested. He would need everyone involved to save the
country. God gave through Joseph clear
instruction how Egypt could avert disaster if they had a plan of attack. Good leadership always listens to sound
advice.
37 The plan seemed good to
Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone
like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God]?”
Lesson two: Immediately the king had his officials
recognized a good plan. It was sound,
wise and precise. Then the king did
something no one expected. In that
moment he asked the question. Is there
anyone like this man? One in whom is the
Spirit of God. This was a divine
moment. A godless, polytheistic
worshipper recognizes the true God. The
king has seen the old gods of Egypt fail.
This man standing before Him had the Spirit of God in Him. In the ancient world there were seven signs
of a man who was one in touch with the divine.
Wisdom, understanding, counsel, courage, knowledge piety, respect for
the divine. Isaiah would reveal this as
well in his writings. Joseph showed all
this and more. What an amazing
thing. I can see the shock on the faces
of the magicians, wise men and the priests.
What was the king saying? The old
gods had failed but the one true God had come through. This man was a living ambassador of the
gods. This was a revolutionary
moment. A change from the old, ordinary
and mundane. Maybe the king was looking
to make a change. He did see that Joseph
was different than any man he had ever met.
When you walk with the Lord others will see it.
39 Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so
discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my
people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be
greater than you.”
Lesson Three – Pharaoh saw that both the
interpretation and the plan were given by God to Joseph. He also saw that no one in the court was as
wise and discerning as Joseph. Now this
was a step of faith on the part of the king.
He was breaking all protocol. All
the up and comers were passed over.
Maybe he was making a new start.
We know God was behind this. A
lesson we learn here is that God can show himself to even the most heathen of
people. That is happening right now
around the world with Moslems, Hindu’s, Sihk’s and others. It happened to Nebuchadnezzer and Cyrus. God is the mover and shaker of empires. He raises them up and pulls them down. Then Joseph is put in charge of the palace,
all the people will submit to his orders and only the king will be greater and
have more authority. In one moment
destiny is fulfilled. Joseph goes from
prison to Prime Minister. He is given all
authority, power, might and dominion of the greatest empire at that time. Potiphar, his wife, the cupbearer all now are
under the authority of the former slave and prisoner. When God moves you don’t even have a chance
to catch up. Can you see the shock, the
amazement of all the officials, priests and magicians. This unknown who just hours before was a
prisoner is now in charge. God had
strategically had his man in place.
Joseph’s faithfulness, perseverance, obedience was now rewarded. Remember do not be weary in well doing in due
season you will reap a harvest. Notice
Joseph did not do one thing to get this promotion. This was God and God’s alone.
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put
you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring
from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine
linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as
his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way, Thus he put
him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
Lesson Four: The bigger the task, the greater the
responsibility. Cam Floria said, that
when you find yourself waiting for the Lord it often means a great work is
about to be done through you. This
happened to Joseph. That is why we must
trust the Lord and His timing. Be
faithful in the small things and in due season and in God’s timing we will be
given greater responsibility. Now
Joseph’s responsibility was way over the top.
Beyond what he could dream or imagine.
Remember though we serve a God who does the impossible. He always has his person at the right
time. Our only responsibility is be
faithful where we are. Now Pharaoh did
four things. He took his signet ring and
put it on Joseph’s finger. Signet rings
were emblazoned with a family crest and they would frequently be used to stamp,
or sign a document. The metal shapes would leave a permanent mark in any soft
wax or even clay and this would be placed onto a variety of legal documents.
Joseph now had total power in Egypt. He
had authority over all the affairs of state.
He was in control. Next, the king
dressed him the finest linens, he was now rich beyond his wildest dreams and
put a gold chain around his neck. This
was most likely the The Usekh necklace or collar it is a personal ornament, a
type of broad collar or necklace, familiar to many because of its presence in
images of the ancient Egyptian elite. Deities, women, and men were depicted
wearing this jewellery. One example can
be seen on the famous gold mask of Tutankhamun.
It was a sign of great wealth.
Next, we see he had him ride in a chariot as his second in command or
Prime Minister and heralds ran before him make way. This was the ancient form of media or social
media. The whole land was audience to
what happened. He was proclaimed
publicly as Prime Minister. He followed
through on all he said and Joseph was put in charge of the whole land. The king saw immediately in Joseph was a man he could trust. They became best friends immediately. Do we exhibit this type of trust,
transparency, accountability? Joseph did
44 Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in
all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him
Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,[d] to be his wife. And Joseph went
throughout the land of Egypt.
Lesson Five: Pharaoh in that moment would have bestowed a
special badge to Joseph and he was given as well the role of protector of
Egypt. He was in charge of immigration,
the diplomatic core. No one could even
set foot or hand in all Egypt. Joseph
next to the king was the supreme authority.
What an incredible honor. The
king completely trusted Joseph. He then gives Joseph a new name. Zaphenath-Paneah
which means, "the man to whom
mysteries are revealed or the one who reveals mysteries". Jerome in the Latin Bible says this name
means Savior of the world. Joseph is a
type of Christ. Just a quick note
nothing ever bad is said about Joseph.
He was completely blameless in the record. Only three men in the Bible have this
distinction, Joseph, Daniel and Jesus. Each
man changed their world for God. He is
given Asenath whose name means the sun god’s special gift. She would be the mother of two tribes of
Israel. She would have been a virgin, be
of the highest rank in the aristocracy of Egypt. She would have been destined for the crown
prince. God used this marriage to
strengthen Joseph’s new position as a national leader. The city of On was also
known as Heliopolis, “The City of the Sun.” It was the center of worship of the
sun god, Ra, and was located 10 miles northeast of modern Cairo. The high
priest in On held the title of “Greatest of Seers.” When Joseph married into
this family, he joined a social class befitting a national leader. Also implied
in the marriage arrangement was Pharaoh’s confidence that Joseph, too, was a
“seer,” or prophet, of the highest caliber.
God used this situation to
accomplish His will in ways Joseph could not understand at the time. After that Joseph went throughout the
land. This means he went right to
work. What a promotion, Joseph in that
moment became the Savior of the then known world. Today Jesus is the Savior of the world. Joseph is a type of Christ. As Joseph was used to save his world so Christ
saved us. Now there is one final
application. You are in charge of your
world under God’s leadership. Like
Joseph you have influence in your world.
You represent the Lord in your world.
When you speak, live like and show the Lord in your life. You change your world. You contact people in your world for
Christ. Wherever you go, whatever you
do, how you live influences everyone in your world. Today I am going to ask you to get rid of
everything that is negative in your world and to recommit yourself to being an
ambassador of Christ and real change in your world. Close with
I'll Tell The World - Jaclyn Pruehs
