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37 So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to 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.” ~ Genesis 41:37-41
Today, we return to our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph is about to be placed in the second most important position in the world. Not bad for someone who was the runt of the litter. Joseph was somewhat like King David. He was the second youngest of a big family and David was the youngest. Both were raised as shepherds. While Joseph’s brothers rejected him and sold him off as a slave, David’s brother Eliab mocked him when he inquired about fighting the great champion Goliath. Both rose to be great rulers who would lead and shepherd their people. These two were great men of God because they looked to God through their trials and they were defined by Him.
Pharaoh was wise to receive the advice that Joseph offered him. Surrounded by his counselors, wise men, magicians, and leaders, Pharaoh surprisingly placed his finger on the reason they were encountering such success: the Spirit of God. It was then that Pharaoh recognized Joseph as “a man in whom is the Spirit of God.” This is the very first time that this term, "the Spirit of God," is used in Genesis since the creation of the world as is recorded in Genesis 1.
Here, Joseph, yet again, perfectly pictured the Lord Jesus. In fact, the same term “Spirit of God” is used in Matthew 3:16 of the Holy Spirit descending upon the Lord Jesus at His baptism by John the Baptist. It was then that God the Father spoke of how well pleased He was of the Lord Jesus. The Trinity is clearly seen harmoniously tied together at the baptism of the Lord Jesus.
Amazingly, Pharaoh credited Joseph’s ability to God. In his address, Pharaoh uses the words "discerning and wise" to describe Joseph. This is the first time in the Bible that the word "discerning" is used and the second time the word "wise" is used. In 1 Corinthians 1:19-21 we read, "For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe."
The message of good news was in fact preached and Pharaoh accepted it. The wise, the scribe, and the disputers of the age of Egypt were made foolish to demonstrate the superiority of the discernment and knowledge which comes from God. And now, Pharaoh’s words of Joseph’s exaltation came, each pointing directly to the future Christ. Just as Potiphar had promoted Joseph over his whole household, so now Pharaoh promoted him over the whole land
At the end of a long and arduous road, we find Joseph being given complete rule over Pharaoh’s house. This happened because Joseph resisted feeding the flesh. The flesh desires and wants things that go against the Lord Jesus and His will for our lives. Joseph, as a result was never the victim. This happened because he kept his eyes on the victor, the Lord Jesus Christ. When we read God’s Word desiring to see the Lord Jesus and we behold Him in the Word, something special happens. LIFE is supernaturally imparted to us. You see, God is in the business of supplying life to every area of our lives.
The more Joseph was defined by God, the more he reflected Him. The title "Pharaoh" meant "Great House," picturing all of God’s creation, including heaven itself. Joseph ruled over the "great house" of Pharaoh similar to the Lord Jesus who rules over the Great House of God, including heaven and earth. It is the Lord Jesus who sits as the final authority over everything.
In Philippians 2:9-11 we read, "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Pharaoh left no one who was not subject to Joseph’s authority. Joseph's rule was complete and without limitation in person or in practice. An interesting phrase is used here by Pharaoh. In v.40 we read, "All my people shall be ruled according to your word." The literal translation reads, "At your mouth do all my people kiss." In that culture, it was customary to kiss something that was given by a superior, or possessed by that person. In context, Pharaoh's edict specifically referred to his written proclamation which would then have been kissed by all who received it. Their kiss symbolized their adherence to the edict.
In Psalm 2:12 we read, "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him." This Psalm is one of a number of messianic Psalms that looks forward to the coming of the Messiah. How someone concludes this is speaking of none other than the Lord Jesus Christ I cannot understand. Psalm 2 contains no less than three distinct voices: the voice of God, the voice of the rulers of the earth, and the voice of God’s anointed king. When Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel he kissed Saul. It was a symbol of homage and allegiance. Like Samuel, we must bow the knee to the Lord Jesus. In so doing, we must end our rebellion against Him and His Word and be defined by Him.
