Genesis 41:46-57

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. During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 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. 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. (Gen 41:46-49)

I’ve put the verbs in this passage in bold font, because I want us to see that once Joseph received his promotion, he did not sit at a big desk with his feet up, calling for coffee while others did the hard work. Joseph was a hands-on, servant leader! He immediately got busy traveling around Egypt preparing for the coming famine. God does not call us to “easy!” When He gives a call, it is to put us into action, whether in ministry at the church, the workplace, or the home.

So Joseph did the job he’d been called to do - he collected the food produced during the seven good years, and stored it for the lean years. He had two sons prior to the famine, and the names he chose are significant in what they tell us about Joseph:

Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (vs.51-52)

Jon Courson and Beth Moore have different takes on the purpose in the name of Joseph’s firstborn. Courson believes that Joseph was truly honoring God, because He had made Joseph forget the suffering, much like Paul when he exhorted the Philippians to forget the past:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13-14)

Beth Moore finds irony in the fact that by naming his firstborn Manasseh (Forget ), Joseph assured the fact that every time he called Manasseh’s name, he would remember what he was trying to forget! The truth is, in order to get beyond a hurtful past we really do have to come to terms with it. Joseph seems determined to get over it, but we’ll see in the next chapter, the pain is still just below the surface. However, Joseph does recognize the sovereignty and blessing of God in bringing him to “the land of my suffering,” the place where God made him so fruitful. In fact, Ephraim means “twice fruitful.”


All of us yearn for and cherish our “mountaintop” experiences with God, when we’ve had a truly special spiritual encounter or feeling of true closeness with God. But have you ever noticed that the higher up you go in elevation on a mountain, the fewer the trees? Mountain tops are mostly rock! Very little actually grows on the peaks. The real growth is down in the valleys, where the rain falls. That is where are the fruit grows! And I’m certain that, if we look back on our valley moments, our places of suffering, we will be able to point to the fruit God produced in our lives during those times. He desires that we bear much fruit (see John 15:8), which is probably why Jesus made that great promise that “in this world you will have tribulation!” (John 16:33)

Joseph had these two boys before the famine, and I’m sure he enjoyed every bit of those seven years of abundance! Don’t you wonder how he determined to be a father after his own experience? Don’t you suppose that his dearest wish would have been that these two boys be very close and loving toward each other? I’m sure he did not want to make the same mistakes as Jacob did. However, there was much good in Jacob, at least in his love for God and his love for Joseph, that he would have wanted to emulate. 

When we look back at our own childhoods, I’m sure there is much we can all find to regret and to criticize about our parents, yet we have to acknowledge that we would not be the people we are today if it weren’t for them. We need to honor our parents for they surely had a part in our coming to Christ!

Joseph, who wanted to forget his past hurts, was about to come face to face with all of it! The famine finally came, and we see in the last verse of this chapter that God is setting up a divine appointment: And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world. (vs. 57) Stay tuned!

 

Genesis 41:41-46a

God baptized me into the criticism of man to inoculate me against the approval of man. - Beth Moore

I love this quote from Beth as it relates to Joseph - and US! Joseph had years of suffering under the hatred of his brothers, being sold into slavery, then being falsely accused and imprisoned. God needed to work humility into the cocky teen who had strutted his stuff, proudly wearing his coat of many colors. Joseph was given a vision from God that one day his family would bow down to him. But first he had to have the pride weeded out. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (I Peter 5:6) Apparently the “due time” had come for Joseph! At last, he was ready to assume authority in the land of Egypt, with a heart fully submitted to his God.

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 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. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, “Make way!” [or “Bow down!] Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.


Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 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.


Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. (Gen 41:41-46a)

This was heady stuff! Joseph had just been plucked from prison, dressed to the hilt, and paraded before the people in a chariot! Is this an illustration of the “Peter Principle?” Had Joseph been promoted to the level of his incompetence? Well, that would be the case if God had not been with Him.

God can gift and skill people for public service and business in ways the exceed formal education. - Beth Moore.

One of the main points that Beth Moore makes in this portion of her study, The Patriarchs, is that God does not just put Christians into ministry within the church. He needs the light in the darkness, so He positions His people in places of authority within the corporate and political world, within the public school system, etc. Besides Joseph, we have the examples of Moses, Deborah, David, Esther, Nehemiah, and Daniel. Even Paul was also a tentmaker! We sometimes think that only the pastor can be used by God. However, whether it is in the board room or the family room, God can and does use His people wherever they will submit to His authority and call.

So, if you have been called to a place of greater authority at work or in public service, ask God to give you the intelligence you don’t have, and the discernment and wisdom He gave Joseph. Beth Moore defines discernment as “the ability to know something I couldn’t possibly know.” Only God can give us this!

Joseph was about to take over one of the most powerful jobs in the world. Pharaoh had recognized Joseph’s discernment and wisdom as being due to the presence of God in his life. (vs. 39) Do people see His presence in our lives? Does this distinguish us from others as it distinguished Joseph? We’ll see tomorrow how Joseph handles his new job!

 

Genesis 41:8-40

Pharaoh had two disturbing dreams, and for some reason he required an interpreter. Verse 8 tells us that “he sent for all of the magicians and wise men of Egypt.” Seriously, NONE of them could figure out what these dreams meant?? They seem pretty straightforward to me! Seven fat cows swallowed up by seven “lean, ugly cows”, and seven good heads of grain swallowed up by seven “worthless heads of grain?” None of the wise men could figure that out?? Beth Moore conjectures that they knew what the dreams meant but did not want to be the bearers of bad news, and possibly end up in the dungeon or worse.

So Pharaoh sought the help of Joseph, after the forgetful cupbearer recommended him. Joseph, who understood his place before God, refused to take credit for his interpretation:

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”


“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Gen 41:15-16)

And Joseph, unlike the fearful magicians and wise men of Egypt, had no trouble telling the truth, as God revealed it to him:

Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.


“It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe. The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. (vs. 25-32)

Joseph recommended that Pharaoh begin to immediately take action and plan for the famine by appointing commissioners to store up the food during the good years to be ready for the bad ones. Pharaoh recognized a good administrator when he saw one, and, even more importantly, he recognized where the talent came from [just so you know, as an English major it pains me to not write, “. . . from where the talent came,” but it just sounds so stuffy!]:

So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”


Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. 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.” (vs.38-40)

Now, had it been me who had been put in this position of leadership, I’d be thinking, “Oh no! Wait until they find out that I have no clue!” Joseph had just been exalted to a very high position in Egypt. Could he possibly be ready for such authority? Of course he was ready! Not only had God been preparing him for exactly this kind of work through his administrative duties in Potiphar’s household and in the prison, but, by this time Joseph had to be thoroughly convinced that God was with him and would guide him, and that God would never call one of His children to do something without also giving him everything he would need to complete the task. Next, we’ll see just how important Joseph became to the nation of Egypt, and the entire known world of his time.

 

Genesis 41:1-14

It’s amazing how a small phrase in scripture can say so much! Look at the beginning of chapter 41:

When two full years had passed. . . Oh my gosh! Two FULL years! Beth Moore reminds us that is 730 days of waiting! Remember that Joseph had already been in prison for a long time before the cupbearer was sent there, so the two years is just how long he had been forgotten. I love what Beth says about this: . . . we can almost hear the echo in the hollow of a clock’s relentless tick, “Nothing yet! Nothing yet!” Time can be a liar. Heaven is replete with angelic activity as God faithfully completes in the spiritual realm what He will release in the visible realm when the time is right. (The Patriarchs, P. 187)

It may LOOK like nothing is happening, but God is working in the spiritual realm at all times! This made me think about the many times in my life that I have had to wait for something, and looking back I can see God’s timing has always been just right. So often He makes us wait just so we KNOW that the eventual answer is from Him and so that only HE will get the glory. Always, He is working out something in our lives. So, I’m also wondering if any of you have stories of your own that you would share with us about waiting?? I would LOVE to hear them!

Now, let’s get on with Joseph’s release already! :)

When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.


He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. (Gen 41:1-7)

This finally reminded the cupbearer of his promise! I can see him hitting his head, thinking, “Oh, my gosh - Joseph!!” He related to Pharaoh how Joseph had correctly interpreted his dream and that of the chief baker.

One important thing that Beth Moore notes about this cupbearer: we know that God was sovereign in the timing - He could have given Pharaoh the dreams at any time - but that does not negate the responsibility of the cupbearer who forgot his oath to Joseph, who had encouraged him in his time of need in prison. And, in fact, the cupbearer takes full responsibility in verse 9. Let’s look at three different translations of what he said:

I do remember my faults this day. (KJV)

Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. (NIV)

Today I have been reminded of my failure. (New Living Translation)

I have been focusing on the idea of our waiting, but this story is also about how we may have kept others waiting, too. Can you identify with the cupbearer here? Have people ever depended upon you and you let them down by forgetting them? Did you casually promise to pray for them, and then forgot? Think about the years your parents spent caring for your every need. Have you neglected them in their old age? One of my biggest regrets in my life is a time when I disappointed my mother when she needed me most!

So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. (vs. 14)

Really? He was “quickly” brought?? It couldn’t have been fast enough! I’m imagining how good it must have felt to get cleaned up and shaved! Like being at a spa! Tomorrow we’ll see how God, having fully prepared Joseph for this moment, finally used him to bless millions!