Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt
Introduction:
Can Christians have effective roles in secular governments?
This lesson will show that the answer is obviously “yes”.
Joseph demonstrated clearly that a God-fearing individual can have a leadership position and serve a secular nation effectively without compromising his relationship with God in any way.
Genesis 41:37-57 (NLT)
Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt
37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. 46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.
47 As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. 48 During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. 49 He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.
50 During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
53 At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. 54 Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. 55 Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” 56 So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. 57 And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.
Examine the Scriptures
Genesis 41:37-57 (NLT)
Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt
37 Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials.
- Joseph did not need to compromise his values in any way to be well received by Pharaoh and his officials.
- Christians can be effective in leadership positions in a secular government.
Joseph was very much “in the world”.
38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.
Pharaoh recognized the fact that God was working in Joseph’s life.
(Without understanding fully who God was.)
We should all be living our lives in such a way that others will see Christ in our lives.
Matthew 5:15-16 NLT
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
- Pray that others will see Christ in your life.
40 You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.”
Genesis 45:26 NLT … he is governor … NIV & ESV “ruler”
Genesis 45:8 NLT … the manager of his entire palace and the governor …
41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”
Verse 43 So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt.
Verse 44 … in the entire land of Egypt …
Verse 46 … he inspected the entire land of Egypt …
Genesis 42:6 NLT … Joseph was governor of all Egypt …
Genesis 45:8 NLT … the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt
42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger.
This ring was used to “sign” documents and carried the authority of Pharaoh.
He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.
Emblems of the office.
Signified Joseph’s status as a ruler.
43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command.
Joseph was second-in-command in all of Egypt.
And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!”
This goes beyond what Joseph had dreamed.
So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.”
- Joseph had been faithful over all the little things God had sent his way; now he would become ruler over all the land of Egypt under Pharaoh.
Psalm 105:16-22 NLT (we looked at this passage in the previous lesson)
16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan,
cutting off its food supply.
17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them—
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18 They bruised his feet with fetters
and placed his neck in an iron collar.
19 Until the time came to fulfill his dreams,
the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
20 Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free;
the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
21 Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household;
he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
22 He could instruct the king’s aides as he pleased
and teach the king’s advisers.
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah.
Scholars are uncertain of the meaning of this name.
Speculation includes:
“The Nourisher of the Two Lands, the Living One.”
“God speaks and He lives.”
He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath.
An Egyptian wife.
She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.
On, a city which was a center of sun worship. (The sun god, Ra.)
- Joseph was integrated into Egyptian culture.
So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. 46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.
13 years after he was sold by his brothers.
And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.
47 As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. 48 During those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. 49 He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.
50 During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. 51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
Even though Joseph was being integrated into the Egyptian culture, Joseph did not forget his background and Joseph gave his sons Hebrew names.
Manasseh – forget (forgetful) – “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.”
Ephraim – fruitful – “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
- Even though Joseph was integrated into the Egyptian culture, Joseph did not forget his Hebrew heritage.
Jacob recognized his grandsons as Hebrews.
Genesis 48:5 NLT
5 “Now I (Jacob) am claiming as my own sons these two boys of yours, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born here in the land of Egypt before I arrived. They will be my sons, just as Reuben and Simeon are.
The tribe of Ephraim became one of the strongest tribes of Israel and the leading tribe in the northern kingdom after the division of the twelve tribes.
53 At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt came to an end. 54 Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but throughout Egypt there was plenty of food.
The interpretations of Pharaoh’s dreams were coming true.
55 Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells you.” 56 So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses and distributed grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout the land of Egypt. 57 And people from all around came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.
- Joseph continued to be the “go to” man as the severe famine spread throughout the land of Egypt.
Remember Joseph’s two dreams.
The interpretations of Joseph’s dreams were coming true.
Genesis 37:5-10 NLT
5 One night (when he was 17 years old) Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!”
8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.
9 Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!”
10 This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”
- God communicates through dreams and visions.
