This is week five’s message from the nine-week series “Joseph – What God Intended For Good” that focuses on the life of Joseph and his family as authored by Moses in Genesis.
Last week, we looked at how events unfolded that led to Joseph becoming the number two official in Egypt – second only to the king – Pharaoh. This week, we will see how Joseph fulfilled Pharaoh’s trust in him.
Message
The story in a nutshell. First Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He came to be in charge of his master’s (Potiphar) household in Egypt until he was falsely accused of assaulting his master’s wife – for which he was thrown into prison. While in prison, he accurately interpreted the dreams of two fellow inmates. One of the inmates (the cupbearer) was restored to Pharaoh’s service and two years later mentioned Joseph to Pharaoh when Pharaoh had two dreams that needed to be interpreted. Joseph was then brought before him and with God’s help interpreted the dreams. This is now where the story continues with Joseph being put in charge of Egypt.
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.
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, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere.”
The verses pretty much speak for themselves without adding comments except it should be noted that although Joseph became Egyptinized, he remained true to his Hebrew roots as evidenced by giving his children Hebrew names.
Concluding Remarks and Application
Joseph was patient in waiting on God’s time; he was courageous in living out his convictions; he was diligent in carrying out the plan God had revealed to him; He lived an exemplary life such that the Pharaoh could see the Spirit of God in him, and he remembered the faithfulness of God to him.
But, as exemplary as Joseph was in this account, the story is about God and not about Joseph. God was in the process of carrying out His plan; the hand of God was on Joseph, even when he was oppressed; the Spirit of God was evident in Joseph’s life; the wisdom of God was revealed to Joseph, and the goodness of God was manifested in Joseph’s life.
Sometimes as believers, we struggle in the waiting times; when we are waiting on God to carry out what He said He would do; when we are living in that in-between moment what God said He would do and the fulfillment of His Word.
While we are waiting on God to fulfill His purpose, we should continue to live lives of faithfulness
While we are waiting on God to fulfill His purpose, we should demonstrate courage in our convictions
While we are waiting on God to fulfill His purpose, we should trust the future that God is working out for us
While we are waiting on God to fulfill His purpose, we should continue to allow the Spirit of God to be evident in us
When God carries out His purpose in our lives, we need to remember what He has done for us.
