Joseph Part 6

Genesis 41:41-57.

As we looked at last week, Joseph has now risen to a position of power over all of Egypt.

This morning we will see more of that and some of the happenings of Pharaoh's dreams

Next week we will see what happens with the dreams that started it all

Joseph’s dreams years ago.

But today, let’s look at what is next for Joseph and the king and all these others.

vs. 41

The New International Version Chapter 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, k 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, q 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.

As Joseph is placed in charge, nothing is held back from him

He is given all authority in the kingdom

He was even given the kings ring off of the king’s finger

the rings looked something like this

they were used like a signature is today, though it could not be forged as easily as a signature

this means, Joseph could send a letter seal it with this ring and it was just as if the king had sent the letter.

He was given a wife

in one day, he went from a prisoner to the highest in the land

and then we see, he got to work right away.

He stored up food to be ready for the famine

it even said he stored up so much that he stopped keeping record of it.

This shows how well he did at fulfilling his tasks

vs. 50

The New International Version Chapter 41

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 z 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 a and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Don’t look at these 3 verses a just a side note telling us that Joseph had kids.

Joseph was serving as an Egyptian leader

in an Egyptian kingdom

with an Egyptian wife

All while being 13 years removed from his family.

yet, he gives his sons Hebrew names

Manashey, which comes from a root word meaning forget and epawrawm, which sounds like the root word of Pawraw meaning to bear fruit.

Though Pharoah was physically the one who placed him into this place of privilege and power,

Joseph saw beyond that and recognized it was God who was guiding him.

Therefore, he had no intention of forgetting his Hebrew heritage.

vs. 53

The New International Version Chapter 41

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.

Everything had gone on as Joseph had said

just as God had planned and how he showed Joseph it would be

7 years of famine, then 7 years of plenty

Egypt became the place for the known world to come receive food.

People from every land, including the land where Joseph’s family lived, came to get food

because Joseph and the Egyptians followed the plan God gave.

We have talked a lot over the last few weeks of bad times sometimes preparing us for better times

This text shows that sometimes we go through good times to prepare for bad times.

This message shows us two things.

probably more than that, but two I want to focus on.

no matter what we do, we must stay focused on God and His plan for our lives

we must be wise with what He gives us.

Whether that is saving or being smart financially

whether that is utilizing His talents He gives to glorify Him

Whether that is taking that good work ethic He gave and using it to serve Him

no matter what we need to be wise and unselfish with the blessings we receive

Romans 15:1 NIV

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

God has the power to meet our needs

but as Joseph demonstrates, sometimes He meets those needs through His servants.

Close