FROM PRISON TO PRIME MINISTER

 

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