Genesis 42:29-34

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29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: 30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.’ 33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. 34 And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’" ~ Genesis 42:29-34

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 42. Today's verses are a restatement of the story that we have already heard. One principle to remember when we are studying the Bible is the principle of repetition which is a key part of our spiritual formation. God repeats Himself for many reasons, one of which to verify the truthfulness of the story. In the court of law, we conclude something to be true when we find the narrative to be consistent each time it is recounted. With the Bible, there is no difference and this is the case in today's passage. 

In today's narrative it is made obvious that Joseph's brothers had adopted the "victim's mentality." A victim's mentality is when we see our lives as having been victimized by others. Victimization is seeing things in life as negative, as something we should be given sympathy for having experienced. This way of living causes us to believe that we "deserve" better than what we received. At its heart, a victim's mentality is actually a way to avoid taking any responsibility for oneself. It also is one of the biggest signs that we have a very small view of God and that we have been feeding the flesh quite a bit. People with a victim's mentality never succeed on their own and their dignity has been destroyed.

In v.29-30 of today's passage we read, "29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying: 30 'The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.'"

The name "Jacob" is mentioned five times in this chapter. Jacob means deceiver. Even though God had changed his name, he was still Jacob to his sons. When they returned to Canaan and addressed Jacob this was the way they viewed him. For the majority of his life Jacob struggled at being defined by God which is evidenced by our obedience to Him. This is why it is so important for us to be defined by God. As in the case of Joseph, people looked up to him because he was the recipient of the culture of God. 

Once Joseph's brothers returned to their father Jacob, they took the time to explain the details of their long trek south to the land of Egypt. In recounting their story, Jacob's sons emphasized their feelings concerning the harsh treatment they received from the man who was lord in Egypt. In their minds they were victims. This was caused by their habit of feeding the flesh. The victim's mentality distorts our view of reality and ourselves. When we adopt this expression of the flesh, we develop the bad habit of viewing life through a negative lens. We magnify the bad things that happen to us, and attribute them exclusively to others and forces outside of our control. It is then that we lose our perspective on reality and our faith in God is exposed to be very little thus our God is found to be quite little. There is no such thing as big faith when we have a puny view of God.

In v.31-32 of today's passage we read, "31 But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies. 32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.'"

The significance of Joseph's brothers' inability to satisfy the man of Egypt pictures the way many think they are able to please God through their good behavior. When I ask most people if they are going to heaven, the majority of them reveal to me that they are hoping that they had been good enough. But, this belief is not acceptable to God because perfection is His standard. As a group, the brothers were unable to satisfy Joseph. Once we stand with and acknowledge Christ as our Savior, it is then that we can be pleasing and therefore acceptable to God. Thus, there was the need for Joseph's brothers to return with their brother Benjamin, the Son of God's Right Hand. Without the One who died in our place whom Benjamin pictured here in today's passage, we cannot measure up before God on our own.

In v.33-34 of today's passage we read, "33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, 'By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone. 34 And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.'"

In these two verse Joseph's brothers failed to tell the whole story. They left out what originally happened. When they first arrived in Egypt all of them were to be imprisoned and one was to be allowed to return to Canaan. After three days in prison, only one was left and the rest were allowed to go back to their father in Canaan. And they only said that the brother was left in Egypt, not that he was bound in prison. Instead of giving all of the bad details, they told their dad the truth without giving him all of the information.

Joseph's brothers' story teaches us that we must be careful to not try to bury our sin. Joseph’s brothers buried their sin for 21-22 years but they did not get away with it. They could not run from their sin forever because God knew what they had done. God always works through a number of situations and circumstances in our lives to bring our sin to the fore of our thinking. He uses tests and trials to put pressure on our souls, to bring our sin to the surface. Due to this it is impossible for us to bury our sin especially when God wants to bring it to the surface so that we can deal with it. Unconfessed sin eats away at our souls reducing our ability to relate to others properly.

That is the bad news but the good news is that God Himself has accomplished for us what we could never do for ourselves. God sent His only Beloved Son into the world to pay the penalty created between us and Him by our sin. God loved us so much that He sent His Son to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This means we mustn’t bury our sin. The gospel says that in fact we must bring our sin into the light. We do this by confessing it and choosing to believe that Christ’s shed blood on the cross was and is efficacious enough for us to be forgiven.

Having said all of that, we must not live our lives in captivity to our fear. God knows and is aware of our fears. More than that God knows why we are afraid even if we don’t know why we are afraid. The one who knitted together the intricacies of our souls knows how to heal our fears. This is why He puts pressure on points of fear in our lives at various times. He knows that this will bring about a remedy for our healing only if we look to be defined by Him. When He does this, He is not tormenting us, rather He is teaching us to trust Him and to see Him with our hearts as our Heavenly Father.

Genesis 42:24-28

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24 And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes. 25 Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them. 26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 27 But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. 28 So he said to his brothers, "My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!" Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, "What is this that God has done to us?" ~ Genesis 42:24-28

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 42 where the brothers of Joseph are standing before him and they did not know even who he is their brother. They just thought he was an Egyptian with whom they must deal to get food for their families back in Canaan. Joseph dealt with his brothers decisively and justly in hopes that God would have His way in their hearts. Joseph had gone through many trials that prepared and equipped him with how to best deal with his brothers. Not lost in Joseph's story is the great principle: The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom.

In v.24 of today's passage we read, "And he turned himself away from them and wept. Then he returned to them again, and talked with them. And he took Simeon from them and bound him before their eyes."

Despite the fact that Joseph's brothers had treated him so badly some 21 years earlier, Joseph’s heart never hardened toward them. Yet again, Joseph had the wisdom to see the lies behind feeding the flesh which always takes us down the road to our destruction. Now that Joseph had heard the remorseful words of Reuben as well as the other brothers, Joseph could no longer stand the emotions which arose in his soul. And so he had to turn himself away from them so that he could shed some tears. Six times in this story in Genesis, Joseph wept. 

We are trichotomous beings having a body, a soul and a spirit. Our emotions reveal the deepest part of who we are at the core of our being. Joseph’s longing for his family never ended and in the moment that God clearly was working in his brothers' hearts, Joseph was moved deeply. In Matthew 5:4 the Lord Jesus said, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." In that passage is described the process involved in the changing of a heart. While it was obvious that Joseph held onto no bitterness toward his brothers, his heart still needed the impact of the Holy Spirit while dealing with them.

Joseph's brother Simeon was the one who was bound and kept behind due to the fact that he was the oldest son of those who had agreed to sell Joseph. Reuben was the oldest, but he didn’t consent to the transaction. And Joseph heard Reuben’s words which had cleared him. I find it most interesting that "Simeon" means "He who hears." This provides for us a picture of the utter necessity of hearing the Lord more deeply than just with our ears. Over and over in the New Testament we hear the words "He who has an ear, let him hear." God always highlights in His word the utter necessity of us hearing His voice. Our ears, unlike our eyes, do not have lids, they weren't made to close. They are intended to remain open! In Romans 10:17 the Lord makes it abundantly clear that our faith grows as a result of hearing His voice. We hear Him best when we hear Him with our hearts.

In v.25 of today's passage we read, "Then Joseph gave a command to fill their sacks with grain, to restore every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. Thus he did for them."

Joseph not only had mercy on his brothers but he lavished grace upon them when he completely supplied their needs for every step of their journey. Even though he had been very harsh toward them, Joseph's care for his brothers was top notch. Joseph pictured the mercy and grace of our God that day. Without the grace of the Lord Jesus we all would have an hopeless end. With the grace of the Lord Jesus we all share an endless hope.

In v.26-28 of today's passage we read, "26 So they loaded their donkeys with the grain and departed from there. 27 But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack. 28 So he said to his brothers, 'My money has been restored, and there it is, in my sack!' Then their hearts failed them and they were afraid, saying to one another, 'What is this that God has done to us?'" 

In Romans 11 we are commanded to consider the goodness and the severity of God. Joseph was good to his brothers. He gave them grain and he gave them their money back. He was also severe to his brothers when he made them consider the idea that they could be put to death. The result of Joseph's goodness and severity resulted in reconciliation and restoration. We must be quick to remember this the next time God allows something to come in our lives that we particularly don't like. We must be quick to consider the severity and the goodness of the Lord and why He causes or allows such things. His design is always to deepen our walk with Him.

The guilt within the souls of Joseph's brothers turned the blessings from Joseph into distress. They couldn't enjoy the blessings. They were given a blessing by Pharaoh's second-hand man and they could not enjoy it because that's what guilt does to us. Guilt robs us of joy. It turns joy into misery. It was at that point that Joseph's brothers mentioned God. This is, by the way, the very first time in this whole narrative that these brothers are found referencing God. And due to the fact that they had so long been defined by their flesh, their view of God was warped. They saw God like themselves as vengeful and retributive. They viewed God through their view of themselves. That's idolatry. They concocted a god in their own image and they worshipped accordingly. What an unfortunate god they had imagined.

In Jeremiah 29:13, the Lord says, "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart." One of the greatest gifts that God has granted me was the death of my mom when I was five years old and the death of my dad when I was seventeen. Those two events made me deal with reality. Those two events were necessary for me to turn to God. In Jeremiah 33:3, the Lord says, "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and wondrous things you do not know." After I cried out to the Lord He welcomed me into a never ending journey whereby He has been revealing His heart to me. And, do you know what I have discovered? That He is totally good!

Genesis 42:14-23

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14 But Joseph said to them, "It is as I spoke to you, saying, 'You are spies!' 15 In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!" 17 So he put them all together in prison three days. 18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die." And they did so. 21 Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us." 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the boy;' and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us." 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter. ~ Genesis 42:14-23

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 42 where we are witnessing the unfolding of the two dreams that Joseph had when he was a teenager back in Canaan. In those two dreams God made it clear to Joseph that his brothers would serve him even though he was the youngest among them at that time. These brothers who had shoved him into a pit to die and who had sold him into slavery now stood before their brother and they didn't even know it. It had been at least 21-22 years since they had last seen Joseph and even though he recognized them, they did not recognize him. 

In v.14-15 of today's passage we read, "14 But Joseph said to them, 'It is as I spoke to you, saying, 'You are spies!' 15 In this manner you shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.'"

The fact that his brothers did not recognize Joseph gave him the opportunity to test them. I'm sure Joseph wondered in his heart if his brothers had changed since they sold him as a slave. Joseph accused his brothers of being spies, and he told them that they needed to bring their youngest brother as proof that they had spoken the truth about their background. Having been falsely accused himself, Joseph knew how to navigate this situation with his brothers. This is one of those small moments in the Bible where it is underscored that "All things work together for our good!"

In v.16-17 of today's passage we read, "'16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother; and you shall be kept in prison, that your words may be tested to see whether there is any truth in you; or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies!' 17 So he put them all together in prison three days."

The requirement that Joseph placed upon his brothers was demanding. For them, time was of the essence because back in Canaan there was a dire need for food. The amount of time that it would have taken for one of the brothers to travel back to Canaan and retrieve the youngest brother would have been quite a bit. And, if Benjamin didn't come to collaborate the brothers' story, they would have been sent to prison and possibly to death. But more so, without Benjamin being sent, there would be no more food to sustain the family. Everything was against them at this point. Without Benjamin, "the son of my right hand," they had no hope at all. They were as good as dead. Yet again, we see another hint at the coming Messiah. There is no other name by which we may be saved than that of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The irony of it all! The very same brothers who threw Joseph into a pit to be sold off in a foreign land, now found themselves in prison. The Scriptures are clear, whatever we sow we reap. When we are selfish, proud, unjust, vengeful, and bitter, we are "sowing to the flesh," and destruction awaits. But when we are selfless, humble, generous, kind, and forgiving, we are "sowing to the Spirit" and will reap life of the eternal kind. Faith in the Lord Jesus and the pursuit of godliness is "sowing to the Spirit." Sowing to the flesh, depending on ourselves and our ability to find our own way without God’s help, will reap nothing but a dead end. But when we place our trust in Christ, we reap life with the touch of eternity on it. 

In v.18-20 of today's passage we read, "18 Then Joseph said to them the third day, 'Do this and live, for I fear God: 19 If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses. 20 And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.' And they did so."

It had now been three days since Joseph had left his brothers bound in prison. By now Joseph's brothers had time to reflect while confined. Through retrospection they gained a proper perspective. It was at that moment that Joseph highlighted the fact that he not only believed in God, he also feared Him. That which we fear will define us most. Of course, there is a fear that drives us away from God that is obviously not good. But there is a fear that drives us to God causing us to grow in intimacy with Him. This type of fear germinates in the heart of the humble and sensitive of heart toward God. And, of course that which softens our heart is the grace of God which is most often discovered best in the dungeons of life.

In Proverbs 28:14 we read, "Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity."

Joseph said to his brothers, "If you are honest men..." He knew they weren't and he also knew their lives would go no where with such discard to the truth tucked deeply away in their souls. It was at that point, on the third day they had been in prison that Joseph said nine of them could go back home and one would stay in prison. Then he told them they could carry grain to their families because of the famine. There’s no doubt he intended to let them go all along because he knew his family would need food, but by keeping them in jail for three days, Joseph knew it would impress on them that they were completely at his disposal.

We are told in the Scriptures that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Joseph had garnered all of the wisdom that he exercised through his fear of God. This is the type of fear that leads to awe and worship of God. And, that which we worship is that which defines us best.

In v.21-23 of today's passage we read, "21 Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us." 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the boy;' and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us." 23 But they did not know that Joseph understood them, for he spoke to them through an interpreter." 

In the entire book of Genesis which covers 2500 years of history, this is the only time that sin is personally acknowledged. This underscores that personal acknowledgement of sin before God is rare. The brothers of Joseph short time in prison had served them well for it led to one of the most prominent examples of the power of the conscience in the entire Bible. At that point in time, it had been between 21 to 22 years since the day they had sold Joseph into slavery. The conscience God gave us is a powerful force. 

Throughout the Bible, there are examples of people who are conscience-stricken over guilt. Then there are people whose consciences are seared to the point where nothing, no matter how wicked it is, bothers them at all. In them the conscience will have all eternity to sort out the actions left unattended in this life.

When we are put into the same position as those we have harmed, it can lead to an understanding of what they went through and a remorse in the conscience. The brothers of Joseph threw him into the pit and then abandoned him to his fate. They have now been thrown into prison themselves and one of them will be abandoned to a sad fate if they don’t act rightly. The tables have been turned and now they see the error of their ways.

Interestingly, Reuben never agreed to the deed of harming Joseph. While the others sold Joseph off to the Midianites, Reuben was in the fields tending to the flocks. He specifically told them not to harm Joseph because he knew that the justice of God would be measured out upon them. All the while Joseph understood every word his brothers spoke to one another in that prison that day. The grace of God shows up on the doorstep of our lives in some of the most unusual ways. May we be sensitive enough to be defined by God best in those moments.

Genesis 42:6-13

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6 Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth. 7 Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?" And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” 8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!” 10 And they said to him, “No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.” 12 But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.” 13 And they said, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.” ~ Genesis 42:6-13

Today, we return to our study of Genesis 42 where the day has arrived for the dreams of Joseph to be realized in their fullest. Joseph's life proves that pain when properly used can be the very means by which we are exalted. The key for Joseph was that he decided to be defined by God rather than his pain or his flesh. At every turn Joseph chose to give in to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This meant that he was quick to forgive and he was quick to resist revenge. Since Joseph feared God, he had the wisdom of God to recognize that even the ill-treatment that he received from others was a tool in the hand of God for his good.

In v.6 of today's passage we read, "Now Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth."

By this point in time Joseph had been given the title of governor. The Hebrew word translated "governor" is the word from which we get our English word "sultan." Joseph was given this title because he had submitted to the Lord and he had chosen to be defined by Him who exalted him to the second most powerful position in the world. To "bow down before him" would have been the customary greeting of anyone who was coming to him for food at that time. This posture was a sign of the people's submission to Joseph and without Joseph's favor and the sale of the grain, they would not have had food to eat. And so Jospeh's brothers came like all others; humbly submitting for their sake and for the sake of their families.

In v.7 of today's passage we read, "Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, 'Where do you come from?' And they said, 'From the land of Canaan to buy food.'"

It had been at least 20 years since his brothers last saw Joseph. He was 17 when they sold him to the Ishmaelite traders who brought him to Egypt. He was 30 when he stood before Pharaoh. This accounts for Joseph's first 13 years in Egypt. Then there were seven years of abundance before the famine started. That accounts for 20 years. And, then even more than a year had elapsed since then. By the time Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, it would have been two full years into the famine. So, it had been some 21-22 years since Joseph's brothers had last seen him. 

When Joseph addressed his brothers he spoke roughly to them. He wasn’t being vindictive because of what they had done, but to see if they were repentant or not. He used a harsh demeanor towards them to find out what was happening in their hearts. It was then that he asked them from where they had come. Their response included from where they had come but also why they had come. It is obvious Joseph's brothers did not recognize him, they did not expect him to be the second most powerful man in the world. 

In v.8-9 of today's passage we read, "8 So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. 9 Then Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them, and said to them, 'You are spies! You have come to see the nakedness of the land!'"

It was in that moment that Jospeh remembered the dreams that he had shared with his brothers. Joseph then accused them of being "spies" who came "to see the nakedness of the land." As spies do, Joseph suggested that they were looking for vulnerabilities in Egypt that would aid them at going into battle against them. Joseph knew this not to be the case, but by making his brothers squirm for the moment, he knew that it would serve them in the end. As we will see, Joseph was reeling his brothers in to see if they would pass his series of three tests that were yet to come. 

In v.10-11 of today's passage we read, "10 And they said to him, 'No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food. 11 We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men; your servants are not spies.'"

In their defense, they made an impossible claim because it would have been unheard of for ten brothers from the same family to spy like this. If one son got caught then all ten would get caught and there would be no one left to execute their supposed plan. It would have been beyond logic for 10 brothers to all be spies working together to undermine Egypt at the same time all together, even if they had other servants who came along with them.

In v.12 of today's passage we read, "But he said to them, 'No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.'"

On display in this response was the wisdom of Joseph. Rather than accepting their explanation, he continued to accuse them. The brothers were 10 born of 3 different mothers. And, in order to get them to offer more information, which he knew would be forthcoming, he once again said they had come to search out the land and its weaknesses.

In v.13 of today's passage we read, "And they said, 'Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more.'"

In an attempt to explain their situation, Joseph's brothers claimed that the youngest was with their father. In so doing, they muddied the waters because there were only 10 of them before Joseph. With an inability to state that Joseph was dead, they simply said, "And one is no more." In that moment, unbeknown to his brothers, Joseph pictured the Lord Jesus yet again. It was the Lord Jesus who was believed to be dead, but in fact, He lived. 

Only He who created life can resurrect it after death. Only God can reverse the results of sin which is death itself, and only He can remove the sting of death and gain the victory over the grave. In resurrecting, the Lord Jesus rose from the grave to pay the penalty that man's rebellion created in the first place. The Lord Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life," and in that statement He claimed to be the source of both. There is no resurrection apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore there is no eternal life. As history tells us, when the Lord Jesus came out of the tomb in a physical body, it was God’s definitive stamp of approval on Him and His work on the cross to conquer sin and death on our behalf.

Genesis 42:1-5

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1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" 2 And he said, "Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die." 3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "Lest some calamity befall him." 5 And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. ~ Genesis 42:1-5

Today, we transition into Genesis 42 where God is yet again showing Himself faithful to His promises. If it were not for the faithfulness of God, no one would have substantive faith. Someone who is unfaithful is unknowable. The unfaithful are deceitful, thus we innately know that we cannot trust them. God's faithfulness makes it possible for us to know and to trust Him. He has opened the door to a personal relationship with Himself through His Son's work on the cross of Calvary. It is and has always been His faithfulness that makes it possible for us to grow in an intimate personal relationship with Him.

In v.1-2 of today's passage we read, "1 When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, 'Why do you look at one another?' 2 And he said, 'Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.'"

Back in the promised land Jacob and his family found themselves in great discomfort due to the famine which had swept throughout the entire world. This famine provided a subtle opportunity for all alive on the earth at that time to evaluate what is truly real and substantive. This led to the ultimate point that God makes through the yielded life of Joseph: the need for forgiveness of sin. Jacob saw that there was food in Egypt and so he sent his sons there to provide for the family. What they didn't know was they had to experience the fulfillment of their brother Joseph's dreams to receive the food they desired.

Moses used an unusual word here translated "grain." It comes from a word meaning "to break." Once broken, the kernel of  grain was acceptable. The context in today's passage was one of misery caused by famine. The existence of Jacob and his family was a life lacking hope or direction. When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he was given a glimmer of hope and the prospect of eating a full meal again. And so in that hope, he directed his sons to head to Egypt so that they would not die. He was about to learn that the son that he had thought had died was alive and he would become the savior of his family.

In v.3-4 of today's passage we read, "3 So Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, 'Lest some calamity befall him.'"

In v.3 Moses used a different word for "grain" than he did in the previous two verses. The Hebrew word used here comes from a word which means "to purify," "to select," or "to test." This grain was threshed and winnowed grain as opposed to the grain that would have been in the shell. Threshing and winnowing is a process of separating grain from the chaff that surrounds it. 

Threshing or winnowing are mentioned in at least forty different Bible passages. In the ancient world, before harvesters and combines and other heavy machinery, farmers cut the fields of grain with sickles. Then, they bound the grain into sheaves for transportation to the threshing floor. A "threshing floor" was a level circular space in the countryside, usually about fifty feet in diameter which had been pounded solid. There, the sheaves of grain were spread out for threshing. A special sled was often used, about three feet wide and six feet long, with rows of stone or metal studding the bottom. Oxen were used to pull the threshing sled over the sheaves, with the driver standing on the sled for additional weight. As the sled was dragged over the sheaves, it separated the grains from the husk.

Once the threshing was complete, there was still the matter of separating the nourishing grains from the worthless chaff. A large "winnowing fork" was used to scoop up a mass of grain from the threshing floor so that it could be tossed it into the air. This was usually done in the evening when there was a substantial and reliable wind. The heavy grains would fall right back down to the ground but the wind would carry the light chaff off to the side. The chaff was then quickly burned. 

Since threshing and winnowing is a grinding, pulverizing and separating process, it serves as a picture of the discipline God provides for man. If we allow Him, His threshing removes the needless chaff and reveals His blessing in our lives. 

In Matthew 3:11-12 John the Baptist said of the Lord Jesus, "He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove his sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. And his winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

Jesus Christ is both Savior and Judge of all! He has come to provide salvation for all who would believe on Him. His word divides mankind into two groups, the grain and the chaff. So, here we have a contrast symbolically illustrating the hardness of one man's heart toward God and the softness of another man's heart toward God. All the while, Joseph continued to be a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ who was sold off to the Gentiles. Joseph's brothers pictured Israel and now they were going down to get grain from Egypt where they will meet their brother. There is coming another day when Israel will again meet the Lord Jesus when He returns to the Mount of Olives at the end of the Tribulation. 

Many years before today's passage Jacob lost his favorite son Joseph. So, he kept Benjamin the only son left from Rachel back at home. Benjamin also pictures the Lord Jesus Christ in an unique way. His name means, "Son of my Right Hand." You will remember that before Jacob named him Benjamin, Rachel had named him "Ben-Oni" which means "son of my sorrow." Yet again, God provided a clue about the work of redemption that He would provide us of the Messiah long before He came to this earth. The Lord Jesus came into the world to be a man of sorrows, to whom God gave the Name above all names. He is the Son of Authority who is now at the right hand of God on high. 

In v.5 of today's passage we read, "And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan."

The famine was so widespread other travelers from all over the world headed to Egypt along with Jacob's sons. The famine echoed mankind's need for a Savior for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Unlike other recorded famines which were at times localized, this one covered the whole land. 

Just as they had to go to Joseph for physical sustenance, all of mankind must go to the Lord Jesus for spiritual sustenance for He is the only way into heaven. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is the winnowing fork of God, separating people into two piles. What we do with the Lord Jesus' invitation to believe on Him will determine our eternity. When we place our trust in Him alone for our salvation we will endure His threshing and winnowing. If we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to Him we will not endure His threshing and winnowing. The choice is ours.

Genesis 41:53-57

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53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” 56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands. ~ Genesis 41:53-57

Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 41 where we have seen Joseph ascend the second most powerful man in the world. Joseph arose to such a lofty position because God gave to him favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh. The favor of God means to be acceptable before God with the ability to receive His will for our lives. In the Bible God's favor is likened to a battle shield which surrounded those engaged in a battle. This shield was as long as a man was tall and they were built together to provide protection in all directions. One day I asked the Lord, "Lord, why do you bless me so?" His answer was to the point, He said two simple words, "My Son!"  As children of God, we experience His favor due to the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. When God favors us it is that He is favoring the Lord Jesus who has shared with us His blessing and position.

In v.53-54 of today's passage we read, "53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread."

Seven years of plenty were given to Joseph to prepare for the famine that God told him was ahead. If the storehouses were mishandled, or if Joseph was negligent in his duties, then everyone below him would have suffered. Everyone's success was based upon Joseph's success. The Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and He died a perfect death on our behalf so that we could realize His success in our walk with God.

The famine began right on schedule according to the dreams of Pharaoh and the interpretation of Joseph who had proven himself to be the prophet of God, seeing beyond what could have otherwise been expected. To guess a few years of bumper crops was possible, but to guess seven years of blessing would be followed by seven miserable years could only be revealed by God. And so we see the prophet, the priest, and the king represented in Joseph and thus picturing the Lord Jesus Christ.

The phrase "In all lands" in v.54 means that this was an immense and wide-ranging famine. Twice in Genesis, there were localized famines in Canaan with food remaining available in Egypt, but this time the famine encompassed the whole region. And, as it turned out only Egypt had food and only because they prepared in advance. There will come a day when you and I will stand before God and He will ask us why He should let us into His heaven. If we have prepared properly we will be admitted. The only ticket for admittance into heaven is the Lord Jesus. Simply trusting Him to be our Savior will seal our eternity forever.

In v.55 of today's passage we read, "So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.'"

The people of Egypt cried to Pharaoh because food was in short supply. Physical food is good for the body but spiritual food is good for the soul. One impacts the temporal while the other the eternal. The Lord implores us to store up His word in our soul as we store up food for our body. If bread which satisfies for a day is important, how much more God’s bread which He sent from heaven, the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Pharaoh pointed the people to Joseph. Just as there was only one man to look to for help, there is only one Source of life, and He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Soon, those who have trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior will be raptured up into heaven to be with Him for eternity. It will be at that moment the Great Tribulation will begin. Another famine will take place during that time, life on earth will be hard for all. For those who did not believe on the Lord Jesus as Savior will have to endure those wicked days which will someday cover the whole earth as is pictured in this story. To avoid the Tribulation, I urge you to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior right now. Confess to God that you know that you are a sinner and you cannot pay the penalty for your sin. Invite the Lord Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior.

In v.56-57 of today's passage we read, "56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands."

The seven year famine that hit Egypt that year was rare due to the influence of the Nile River. With the famine in full gear all over the earth and with Joseph in charge of the food for all the people, his newly given name, Zaphnath-Paaneah, was fully realized. Through the wisdom that God gave to Joseph, he became known throughout Egypt and the whole world as "the savior of the world."

Yet again, Joseph was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this just underscores that the answer for man has always been the Lord Jesus Christ. Man’s redemption is tied up in this one Man who came doubly fruitful, saving all humble enough to believe His words, both Jew and Gentile. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the hinge upon which all of history rotates. It opens the door of heaven and it also shuts the door of heaven. The door into heaven is open now through His shed blood but there is coming a day when the door will be shut. For all who resist the free gift of forgiven sin, they will be shut out like those who pounded on the door of Noah's ark. I implore you if you've not to come through the door of the Lord Jesus do so today while there is still time because when the door shuts, it will be too late.

Genesis 41:50-52

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50 And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.” 52 And the name of the second he called Ephraim: “For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” ~ Genesis 41:50-52

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph has been summonsed by Pharaoh and he has successfully interpreted his dreams. As a result, Pharaoh exalted Joseph to the second most powerful position in the world, second only to himself. And yet, even though Joseph was exalted to such a high and exalted position, he never exacted revenge upon anyone who had earlier treated him badly. The naming of his first two sons reveals the deep work that God accomplished in Joseph in just 30 years of his life.

In v.50 of today's passage we read, "And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him."

Here again, like so many times before, we have a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ through the yielded life of Joseph. It was the Lord Jesus who came to save sinful man from the affliction of his sin. Joseph would not have been able to reflect the image of his Maker as he did if he had fed the flesh. No, Joseph resisted revenge, bitterness and the many other expressions of the flesh that could have defined him. As a result, God used Joseph to save many.

Since Joseph saw the wisdom of being defined by God, in another picture of the Lord Jesus, he obtained a gentile wife. Asenath was given to Joseph as wife. Having rendered sin and death null and void at the cross at Calvary, the Lord Jesus Christ was given by His Father a gentile bride of which you and I are a part. 

The Priests of On worshipped the sun god "Ra." By marrying an Israelite, Asenath escaped the pagan practices of the Egyptians. And, since Joseph was such a strong man of God, we have reason to believe he had a strong influence on leading her to learn more about the God of the Bible. Asenath provides a picture of you and me who once were dead hearted toward our Creator. But, this is where the Lord Jesus came seeking us and because He did, we were rescued from our pagan stance before God.

In v.51 of today's passage we read, "Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.'" 

The firstborn child of Joseph was named Manasseh which means "God has made me forget." Joseph, instead of holding on to his grudges, he chose to forget about the ill-treatment and the pain it caused. Joseph decided to even name his firstborn son "Forget About It." Forgiving and forgetting is a great policy when someone has hurt us. Adopting the victim's mentality never serves anyone well at all. And, we live in a world that plays to the adoption of the victim's mentality and it only takes us to the way of the self which only destroys us.

In Hebrew, and thus in the Bible, to forget something doesn’t mean that something was forgotten due to the fading of one's memory. In the Bible to forget brings with it the idea of the choice of forgetting in the way of taking something away. And so Joseph, who was named from the words "to take away," was able himself to take away the bad memory of the awful moments that he had to endure at the hands of those he cared about a lot. In like manner, when God said he will forget our sins, He didn’t develop amnesia, it meant that He actively made a choice to take away the memory of our sin. When He remembers someone, it doesn’t mean He ever forgot them, but that He was drawing them nearer to Himself to help them to know Him.

As soon as he started to rip out the pages of his life and shred them, God said, "Wait a minute, I’ve got a lot of good purposes for those bad stories." This is when we come to the place that we are truly being defined by God, when we are able to be fruitful through our suffering. God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable. No, He comforts us to make us comfort-able, able to comfort those with the comfort we have received from Him through our suffering. We must be careful not to rip out those painful stories and forget them. We must be diligent to allow God to heal them and then use them for His glory in the lives of others. 

In v.52 of today's passage we read, "And the name of the second he called Ephraim: 'For God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.'"

Joseph’s second son was named "Ephraim" which means "double fruitful" or "twice fruitful." God brought out of Joseph's afflictions a really good story. Joseph, in advance, could not have known that God would bring about so much spiritual fruit through his sufferings. However, we do know that the suffering Joseph experienced and the good that brought about in the process was completely consistent with the teachings within the Bible.

In John 12:24 we read, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit." 

Dying must occur in order for the fruit to be born, and unless this death occurs, the grain of wheat would remain only a single seed, bearing no fruit at all. The Lord Jesus used this analogy to symbolize His life and the suffering that He was about to endure at Calvary in order to bear the fruit that God had ordained for Him. Then in the verses immediately following, He revealed that the same principle of spiritual fruit bearing that was at work in His life, would also be at work in the lives of all those who follow Him. 

Watchman Nee once said, "God’s means of delivering us from sin is not by making us stronger and stronger, but by making us weaker and weaker. That is surely rather a peculiar way of victory, you say; but it is the divine way. God sets us free from the dominion of sin, not by strengthening our old man but by crucifying him; not by helping him to do anything, but by removing him from the scene of action."

Genesis 41:46-49

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46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. 48 So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. 49 Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable. ~ Genesis 41:46-49

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41. God very often uses agricultural themes to teach us eternal lessons. The context of many chapters in the Bible is that there is either abundance or famine. In today's passage we see that there is the abundance of grain. In Proverbs 18:16 we read, "A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men." This verse was definitely applicable to Joseph who knew that his wisdom was a gift from the Lord. Joseph understood that any man who wants to lead the orchestra he must turn his back on the crowd.

In v.46 of today's passage we read, "Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt."

The age of Joseph was highlighted by Moses at the beginning of his rule for several reasons. First, it gives us a reference for how long Joseph was in slavery. He was sold off to Egypt when he was 17 years old. And so now we know that he remained as  a slave for 13 years. Second, it provides the details concerning His life and how long he would be in this position until his death at the age of 110 years. He held his position of authority in Egypt for 80 years. Third, this gives us the dating of the world from creation. Today's passage was set in the year 2289 BC. Since Joseph was born in the year 2259 BC, today's events took place about 1700 years before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Last, Joseph's age was given to show the parallel between him in his exalted position and that of the beginning of the ministry of the Lord Jesus. 

In his high position, Joseph had access to stand before the king. His position was earned through His wise choices. He also had the right to go into and out from, the presence of the Pharaoh. Yet again, we see Joseph being used of God to point all aware to the coming Promised Messiah. Those who have ever believed in Him were prepared in advanced by the wonderful word of God. It is aways God's word that alerts us to His person and His activity in our lives.

In v.47 of today's passage we read, "Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly."

During this seven year period, Joseph collected food from throughout the land of Egypt. The food for you and me is analogous to the word of God. It is the veracity of God's word that causes our faith in Him to grow. His veracity is best seen through His faithfulness to the promises that He has given. This explains why Joseph was such a consistent and faithful believer. This verse in the Hebrew literally reads, "The earth brought forth by abundant handfuls." This is a unique way of saying that God was faithful to the promise that He had made to Joseph, and, since Joseph had come to see the veracity of God, he laid his life on the line before the Pharaoh. Joseph had tremendous faith. Someone once said, "Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right."

In v.48 of today's passage we read, "So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them."

"All the food" here was the one-fifth which Joseph had earlier counseled Pharaoh to collect. That one fifth was gathered up over seven years and stored in store houses which had been constructed for this very purpose. It was incredibly wise of Joseph to put the food in each major city which all had these store houses. This helped in the distribution of the food to the people because it was closest to the people. Eventually, the amount stored was so immense that it was beyond description.

In v.49 of today's passage we read, "Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable."

There is that phrase again, "as the sand of the sea." This phrase is used 20 times in the Bible and it is always expressive of an uncountable number. Just as it would be impossible to go and count all the grains of sand on the sea, so was the abundance of the harvest stored up by Joseph. There came a point where it was evidently enough for any contingency that was anticipated to arise. We have to remind ourselves though that it was God who said this would happen, and that it was God who brought the flooding waters down into the Nile delta. And it would be God who would stop the floods. By using the weather in the upper Nile to control the river, and the lower Nile to control the heat and wind, there would be an immense famine coming. And all of this was for the purpose of leading those of faith in the God of the Bible to the Lord Jesus through one select group of people whom God had chosen.

In God’s redemptive plan, Joseph endured some very hard moments, being rejected by his brothers and falsely accused and forgotten while in prison. But, it was while Joseph was in prison that Joseph's walk with the Lord was forged deeper than it would have been otherwise. The Lord did not expect Joseph to overcome those hard times in his own strength. As Joseph bowed his will before God, God granted him the insight he would need to be the leader of the people. 

Today, when we cooperate with God in His work, He gives us insight and stamina sufficient for the situation. When following God presents us with hard times, we can be assured that those hard moments will render a fuller weigh of glory enabling us to overcome the pressures caused by the trails. It pays to patiently rest in the all-sufficiency of the God of the Bible. This is largely why He has given to you and me such stories as Joseph's. Once day you will tell your story of how God enabled you to overcome and it will become a part of the survival guide of someone else.

Genesis 41:42-45

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42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. ~ Genesis 41:42-45

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where the last of the four patriarch's written about in Genesis demonstrates how the kingdom of God expresses itself in the life of a yielded man. Joseph responded to suffering with faith in the God of the Bible, meekness, and humility, and. As a result, God molded and shaped him to be the leader that the people needed. Joseph continued to picture the Lord Jesus as he not only ended up saving his betrayers’ lives, he also forgave them and provided abundantly for their needs. Such is the potential when a man chooses to reject the empty revenge of the flesh and embraces the life that is being defined by God.

In v.42 of today's passage we read, "Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck."

While the signet ring and the gold chain given to Joseph by Pharaoh highlighted the office of a king, the fine linen garments given to him were priestly garments. They were of the very finest linen. As a result, Joseph was given power by God to help the people get through the famine. But, more importantly, Joseph pointed them to faith in the God of the Bible. In like manner, as King and Priest all rule and authority belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ and all powers and authorities are subject to Him so that He could make it possible to bring anyone willing of heart to enter into a personal relationship with God.

In v.43 of today's passage we read, "And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, 'Bow the knee!'"

Earlier Joseph was made to go down to Egypt at the hands of the Ishmaelite traders, not as an exalted prince, but as a humiliated slave. In today's passage we see that Joseph’s trials served him well. Joseph did not choose to be fixated upon his trials. No, he through his trials chose to be fixated upon the God of the Bible. As a result Joseph was defined by God which enabled him to be exalted to second in all of Egypt. Joseph's chariot, yet again, points us to the Lord Jesus as He many years later rode into Jerusalem and the people cried out, "Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!' Hosanna in the highest!" 

In v.44-45 of today's passage we read, "Pharaoh also said to Joseph, 'I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt."

This passage marks a significant turning point in the life of Joseph. Until now, Joseph had faced numerous trials and tribulations, including being sold into slavery by his own brothers, wrongly accused and imprisoned, and he endured years of hardship. At this point, there was a profound shift as Joseph was elevated to the second most powerful position in the land of Egypt. Joseph had been separated from his family for 13 years at this point and similar to the Lord Jesus, he was thirty years old when he entered into public service.

The name given to Joseph by Pharaoh has been translated "The Savior of the World." In the uniting of his kingly and priestly roles, Joseph was given a wife from the priestly class. Joseph was given a Gentile bride. Even as the Lord Jesus is being given His Gentile bride. Asenath means "She who is of Neith." Neith refers to wisdom. Asenath was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On which means "light." Potiphera means "He whom the Ra, the sun god gave."

Following these events, Joseph was given authority over all the land of Egypt, signifying a dramatic rise to power and prominence. This consolidation of power provided Joseph with the opportunity to exercise significant influence and to enact meaningful change within the kingdom. The overarching theme here is the providence and sovereignty of God. Throughout Joseph's trials and tribulations, God was working behind the scenes, orchestrating events to ultimately bring about His divine plan. Joseph's journey from a position of lowly slavery to a position of power and influence demonstrates God's faithfulness and ability to use even the most challenging circumstances for His glory and the fulfillment of His purposes in our lives.

In this final verse of our study today is revealed another picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Although Joseph was used of God to bring temporary salvation to the world at that time, his work paled in comparison to that of the Lord Jesus Christ who came to redeem us from the clutches of the evil one. In 1 John 4:14 we read, "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world." Without Joseph's correct interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, the people of Egypt would have been swept away in famine. In acknowledgment that God sent Joseph to save them, Pharaoh gave unto Joseph the title "the savior of the world." Once again, as a result of Joseph being defined by God, he pictured for us the most important person to have ever and will ever enter into our lives, the Lord Jesus Himself. The Lord Jesus was sent by God to save the world when there was otherwise no hope at all. He was promoted to the highest position of all, to rule heaven and earth and to provide salvation to all willing enough to believe on Him.

Genesis 41:37-41

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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.

Genesis 41:33-36

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"33 Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine." ~ Genesis 41:33-36

Today, we continue our study of Genesis 41 where Joseph is now standing before the Pharaoh of Egypt to whom he is giving advice. Joseph faced three different types of trials that God used to develop and eventually exalt him to the second most powerful position in Egypt. Those trials were his abandonment by his brothers, the allurement of Potiphar's wife, and his advancement in the land of Egypt. And, he passed all three tests. 

Deep and contended joy only comes through seeing God with our hearts and that only happens through the trials of life. From the place of desperation we find ourselves looking in total dependence upon God who through the trials reveals Himself to us. It is from that place that we are granted the security and confidence needed to endure through the trials. In 1 Peter 5:6 we read, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." This verse illustrates the life of Joseph about as well as any verse could. Joseph started his time in Egypt as a slave and now he is about to be exalted to the second most powerful position in the world.

In v.33 of today's passage we read, "Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt."

Without a hint from the Bible as to whether he was asked for advice or not, after Joseph gave God's interpretation of the Pharoah's dreams, he went from interpreter to counselor to Pharaoh. Joseph was the revealer of disaster and now he was the imparter of hope. This is what a leader does, he sees the impending danger but he has enough vision to navigate the disaster by imparting hope to those who follow. That day before all in attendance, Joseph showed himself to be a man whom God had endowed with His wisdom. Joseph gave Pharaoh a roadmap not to control the crisis, but to navigate through it. He was able to do this because he believed in the Lord of the Word and the Word of the Lord. 

In v.34 of today's passage we read, "Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, to collect one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven plentiful years."

Here, the wisdom that God granted Joseph comes into full view. Under the governor of the land, Joseph recommended officers to be appointed. These would be subordinates who would handle given areas and tasks within those areas in order to secure one fifth of the crops needed. True leaders never get bogged down in the minutia of the day. The idea that Joseph put forth was that they should benefit by the coming seven years of abundance. So, one fifth of this superabundance would be enough to cover each of the seven years of famine that was yet to come. 

In v.35 of today's passage we read, "And let them gather all the food of those good years that are coming, and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities."

Yet again, we see the wisdom granted by God to Joseph who suggested specific preparations for the coming famine. He did this because he believed in the veracity of God's word given to him in the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams. Rather than a central location Joseph suggested they should store up the grain in each individual city. This put the people’s mind at rest so that once the famine came, they wouldn’t have to go very far to get the needed food. 

In v.36 of today's passage we read, "Then that food shall be as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may not perish during the famine."

Similar to Joseph, we must be diligent to look to God for His will to come to fruition in our lives.  Living within the will of God is quite dangerous in a world which is daily rejecting God. But, living according to God's will actually gives the only way for us to really know the Lord for ourselves. Instead of focusing on the lurking dangers, a life of faith in God leads us to focus on Him and the incredible miracles which await. But, we must be careful to remember that It is not the miracles that feed our faith, it is the word of God which feeds our faith. That which captures our attention the most is most often that which defines us the most. This was true for Joseph. After all, no man in the Bible pictured for us the Lord Jesus Christ more than Joseph.

For many the circumstances are too difficult. Most are focused upon doing whatever it takes to avoid the famines in life. God desires to navigate us through these trials that we might arrive at Him in a far more intimate way. Oh that we each find ourselves more like Joseph who put God first in his life. The God of the Bible is absolutely sovereign and everything is truly under His control. And, within that is incredible freedom to live out our lives in creative and expressive and exciting ways. Ultimately, the purpose of all of this is not that we arrive upon being the masters of our lives but that we live as servants to the Master.

The late Mike Yaconelli once said, "I want a lifetime of holy moments. Every day I want to be in dangerous proximity to Jesus. I long for a life that explodes with meaning and is filled with adventure, wonder, risk, and danger. I long for a faith that is gloriously treacherous. I want to be with Jesus, not knowing whether to cry or laugh." This is the ambition of a man who has faith that is informed by both the written and the living Word of God.