Life of Joseph- Week 10 (2)

Joseph the Prime Minister

Genesis 41:37-57

Genesis 41:37–57 ESV

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over 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 the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. 50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” 53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

INTRODUCTION

ILL- OU footbal suite

“Imagine the scene: a magnificent courtroom with an ivory throne, marble steps, and a live lion lying on the ground. Tall columns surround the place, as do guards, ministers of state, and a servants of the great king of Egypt. And there, standing beside Pharaoh, is Joseph, with his rough hands and his pallid complexion from being in the dungeon all those years. It’s a great picture, and it’s why people love the story of Joseph. Thirteen years removed from his shepherding family, Joseph had just been handed an enormous responsibility. He was prime minster of Egypt, but more important, he was a minster of God. The Lord had cast him in a role of administrating the survival of the world.”

I. God’s Preparation for Ministry

A. Joseph was perfectly prepared for the role he was now playing.

1. Dr. Jeremiah says, “God slowly shapes the character of the man or woman, so that they’re ready at just the right time for the perfect position.”

B. 2 Steps of God’s Preparation for Ministry

1. Progressively Increased Responsibility

a. Verse 41–Joseph was given charge of all of Egypt.

Genesis 41:41 “41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.””

(1) God didn’t grab Joseph out of a shepherding family, cart him to Egypt, and two weeks later plunk him down in the throne room.

(a) First, He made sure Joseph was sold to Potiphar, who watched Joseph for awhile, then put him in charge of his house,

(b) Later, He arranged for Joseph to be put in prison, where the keeper of the prison put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care.

(c) Not 2 exciting positions but necessary.

b. Luke 16:10 “10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”

(1) The issue is not our position, but our faithfulness.

(2) the measure of our faithfulness is the common denominator of God’s ability to promote us to influence.

(3) Success is not what it takes for God to promote to more responsibility as much as faithfulness.

2. Progressively Increased Difficulty

a. A.W. Tozer believed God would probably have to hurt a person deeply before He could bless him greatly.

b. Joseph had a lot of difficulty

(1) thrown into a pit, thinking he was going to die.

(2) chained to a cart and hauled to Egypt.

(3) Sold as the slave of a hard man.

(4) Thrown in jail

(5) Forgot by a friend.

c. “If we have a desire to be used by God, we can expect to go through some difficulties. All of the saints in Scripture went through a hardening process before they were used by God in great ways, and we can’t expect to escape the same process.”

II. God’s Personal Provision for Ministry

A. Genesis 41:48-57

Genesis 41:48–57 ESV

48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. 50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” 53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.” 56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

B. God did three things for Joseph by way of providing for his needs during the time of his ministry in Egypt.

3 Provisions

1. Family in the Midst of Foreigners

a. He was a foreigner away from all his relatives, knew language and culture.

b. The first thing Pharaoh did for his new prime minster was give him a wife.

(1) Asenath, daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On.

(a) Poti-Pherah was priest for the sun god which served the science and religion for the Egyptian empire.

(b) The city of on was famous for its annual festivities worshiping the sun, and they believed Pharaoh was the current incarnation of the sun god.

(2) By marrying the priest’s daughter, Joseph became a naturalized Egyptian and became part of a prominent family.

(3) Why would a man of God marry a pagan woman?

(a) Before God restricted intermarriage.

(b) Joseph had to marry someone from that part of the world.

(c) We don’t know what kind of influence Joseph had on her, she is never mentioned again.

(4) A man like Joseph probably had a very persuasive impact on a woman he lived with the rest of his life.

c. The Lord also provided two children.

(1) Manasseh= “forgetfulness”– Joseph was looking forward not backward.

(2) Ephraim= “faithfulness”– Lord had proved faithful to Joseph.

(3) this gave a new sense of peace.

2. Food in the Midst of Famine

a. Jacob and his sons, settled far from where God had called them, caught in the problems in culture.

b. Joseph and his family, living in the will of God.

c. Famine comes, Jacob’s family was trying to stave off starvation.

d. Joseph’s family is standing in the midst of an immense storehouse of gran.

e. When we stay in the will of God, we discover His provision.

3. Faith in the Midst of Fear

a. Joseph never forgot the Lord during his time in Egypt.

(1) Pharaoh gave him a name that included the Egyptian word for God.

(2) Pharaoh had seen saw the Spirit of God in Joseph.

(a) probably why he chose the daughter of a priest.

(3) Joseph gave his children Hebrew names.

b. Joseph did not fear because he had faith in God.

III. God’s Providential Plan for Ministry

A. The Immediate Plan

1. Put Joseph in a place of administration and make him a leader.

2. Joseph was a great administrator.

a. Personally inspected the land.

b. Gave advice to Pharaoh concerning storing grain.

c. Disciplined conservation.

d. Set up local distribution points.

3. He made the government wealthy.

a. He sold the grain back to the people.

b. Only way government would have made it in time of little trade.

c. He was the only person who had any food to sell.

B. The Ultimate Plan.

1. To bring Jacob’s family out of Canaan and into Egypt.

a. There are thirteen famines mentioned in the Bible, but this one was orchestrated by God for one purpose: to bring His chosen family to a particular part of the world.

b. Jacob’s family numbered only 70 people. And in danger of annihilation.

(1) Canaanites were bigger and more powerful, and if all Jacob’s boys married into the Canaanite culture their identity would be lost.

c. The famine brought Jacob and his family to Egypt and the settle in Goshen.

CONCLUSION

Joseph was God’s chosen vessel for saving Jacob’s family, and thus the Jewish race.