This explanation is tempting, but it is perhaps scarcely probable that the proclamation should have been in any other language than Egyptian, or should have had reference to anything but Joseph's new office. Was Jesus an outspoken rabbi or was he God? Most Christians are familiar with the story of Joseph that we read about in the book of Genesis. Genesis 41:38-48. Historical Books But should not Joseph's religion have barred such a marriage? Men execute God's purposes, even when unconscious or rebellious, but are responsible, and often punished, for the acts which He uses to effect His designs. So well, in fact, does he do his duties that soon he becomes an . The Gospels Then Pharaoh had two dreams, and because of Josephs gift of interpreting dreams, was summoned by the king and his interpretations pleased the king so much that he made Joseph, now age thirty, his prime minster. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. John's Letters to the believers in Asia Minor, 20. So, we see that Joseph found favor with God because of his integrity. 43Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. In prison Joseph interprets the dreams of two of Pharaohs servants, who found their way there because they displeased the king. They were moved to Alexandria by the Romans shortly before the beginning of the Christian era, and finally left Egypt nineteen centuries later during the rule of Khedive Ismail the Magnificent (1863 1879AD). Gen 41:1-40 Two years later, Pharaoh has a series of dreams. There would be no summer unless winter had gone before. Maybe you need to be a better steward of what God provides in order to cover your needs. The Letter to the Jewish believers in Antioch, The General Letters: James, Jude, Peter & John, The Letter of James to the Jewish believers, The Letter of Jude to the Jewish believers, The 1st Letter of Peter to the Jewish believers, The 2nd Letter of Peter to the Jewish believers, 19. 37Josephs suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. Prophets Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. This was the main purpose that God had for Joseph's life. Elaine. He demands that they return with Benjamin (Josephs only true brother), but Jacob will not allow Rachels son Benjamin now his favourite son - to travel to Egypt (see7 on Map 42). But he spent at least 12 years there before he suddenly became Prime Minister. makes him appear to be at least two fries short of a Happy Meal. Gen 44:1-34 Joseph sends the brothers back home with more grain, but as they leave, a silver cup (hidden by Joseph) is discovered in Benjamins sack. The naturalising was completed by his marriage to Asenath (supposed to mean 'One belonging to the goddess Neith'), a daughter of a high officer of state, Poti-phera (meaning, like its shortened form, Potiphar, 'The gift of Ra' the sun-god). Email / username or password was incorrect! He had come 'out of prison to reign,' and, as we all find, if we are God's servants, to reign means to serve, and the higher the place the harder the task. First - Inscriptions. What are all the persons concerned in the narrative but unconscious instruments of His? Every knee in Egypt had to bow to Joseph. 38So Pharaoh asked his officials, Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God? 39Then 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. Info and episodes Listen to us Online! Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed. (Proverbs 12:19 TLB), Wisdom Why Nothing Can Compare with Her. And 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: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.' And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. Wasteful consumption of the abundant crops had to be restrained, storehouses to be built, careful records of the contents to be made, after Egyptian fashion. From the Kingdom of Israel to the Exile, 5. Nearly a thousand years earlier, during the fourth dynasty in c.2500BC, the three great pyramids at, As Vizier, Joseph would have overseen the maintenance of the extensive system of irrigation channels which ensured that the waters of the annual Nile flood watered the fields of barley and emmer, the cereals grown to produce Egypts two great staples bread and beer. Joseph later became prime minister of Egypt, and when Joseph's brothers refused to abandon Benjamin, after Joseph put them to a test, Joseph realized his brothers had a change of heart and were willing to risk their lives for their youngest brother. The Divided Kingdom & Journey into Exile, Jezebel kills the prophets & Elijah escapes, Elijah organises the opposition to King Ahab, Jehu races to Jezreel to depose King Joram, King Joash repairs the Temple in Jerusalem, Jeroboam II restores the boundaries of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria invades Israel, Israel falls & the exiles are led to Assyria, King Hezekiah of Judah rebels against Assyria, Isaiah prophesies the destruction of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah, Jerusalem falls and the exile in Babylon begins, Biblical sources relating to Judah in exile, The later years of exile & the return to Judah, The completion of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, A third group of exiles returns with Ezra, A fourth group of exiles returns with Nehemiah, Mordecai uncovers a plot to kill the king, The origin of the Jewish festival of Purim, 37. After Joseph's brothers sell him to the Midianites, they take him down to Egypt. The Israelites face continuing opposition, The Israelites fight the remaining Canaanites, Israel under the 'judges': Othniel and Ehud, Gibeah is destroyed & the Benjamites punished, The Ark of the Covenant is captured at Aphek, 30. Pharaoh first consulted 'his servants,' and, with their consent, possibly not very hearty, appointed the proposer of the plan as its carrier-out, quoting to him his own words, 'wise and discreet.'. So here was a divinely sent messenger, whom it would be impiety and madness to reject. His name was changed, in token that he had completely become a subject of Pharaoh's. 44. Per his recommendation to Pharaoh, for the next seven years, Joseph collects 20% of all of the grain grown in Egypt. Whatever our task, let us do it, as Joseph did his, with strenuous concentration, knowing, as he did, that the years in which it is possible are but few at the longest. Genesis 45:8 states that Joseph was made Lord of all of Pharaoh's House. Potiphar was pleased with him and put him in charge of his house and everything he owed. Joseph assured his brethren of his unchanging love, and so does the Lord Jesus - look up Genesis 45:15, and compare Ephesians 2:7. How to get right with God: Sacrifice or Faith? The long years of waiting had nourished powers which the seven years of busy toil tested. This website uses cookies to monitor usage (see Privacy Statement in drop-down box under 'Contact Us'). And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: 40. Linking the story to Christ enhances that beauty. Was there any point in the history of Israel, down to an impossibly late date, except the time of Moses, at which Jewish writers were so familiar with Egypt as to have been capable of producing so true a picture? The story begins in Egypt, in the marketplace of Avaris where Joseph is sold as a slave to Potiphar, the Pharaoh's Chief Steward. He went through major trials because God wanted to teach him valuable lessons. They would have no prejudices against Joseph on account of his being a foreigner. 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. Then for the next seven years, Joseph sells the grain back to the people of Egypt. Joseph had not only interpreted Pharaoh's dream, but had suggested a policy in preparation for the coming famine. About two hundred and thirty years before Joseph, in c.1900BC, Pharaoh Amenemhat I had built a new capital at Itjtway in Faiyum in Lower Egypt, and only recently, Amenememhat III had embarked on building two new pyramids at Dahshur and Hawarah. 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. The family of Jacob was not so fenced off, nor was its treasure of revelation so complete, as afterwards. The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, He was risking a great deal; that is certain. It has been taken for a Hebraised Egyptian word, meaning 'Cast thyself down'; and this interpretation was deemed the most probable, until Assyrian discovery brought to light 'that abarakku is the Assyrian name of the grand vizier' (Fr. The Old Testament Joseph was in prison in Egypt, and the Pharaohs cup bearer and the baker were in prison with him, Joseph interpreted their dreams, one was hanged and the other was freed. The Gospels Poetical Books Such an alliance placed him at once in the very innermost circle of Egyptian aristocracy. After interpreting Pharaohs dream, he is put in charge. Joseph was very much loved by Jacob because he had been born to. Many of us have to fight our way through analogous difficulties at the outset of our career; and we are apt to lose heart and get restive when success seems slow to come, and one hindrance after another blocks our road. During the time of Pharaoh Amenemhat III (who probably appointed Joseph as Vizier), an artificial canal was built to link the River Nile to the Faiyum Basin, a short distance south of Memphis. How Joseph Became Governor of Egypt Now when the traders took Joseph to Egypt, they sold him as a slave to a man named Potiphar, who was a captain over the king's guard. Whether the venture ended well or ill, we know not. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. Observe that Pharaoh and Joseph both speak in this chapter of 'God.' And Joseph, by not being an Egyptian born, would be all the fitter an instrument for carrying out the policy which he had suggested. We have here a full-length portrait of the prime minister, or vizier, which brings out three points -- his elevation, his naturalisation, and his administration. A dynasty of alien conquerors has generally an open door for talent, and cares little who a man's father is, or where he comes from, if he can do his work. Joseph is carried by the Ishmaelites into Egypt and is purchased in the slave market by Potiphar, a captain of the guard. The sudden installing of an unknown prisoner in high office has often been thought hard to believe, and has been pointed to as proof of the legendary character of the story. The New Testament There is a bud or a fruit for every snowflake, and a bird's song for every howl of the storm. God calls His children to be good stewards of His riches. The proclamation made before him as he rode in the second chariot has been very variously interpreted. The road we need to travel on, like Joseph, however, may not be what we had in mind. Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. One final lesson, I would like to touch upon, is how forgiveness was a key in keeping Joseph grounded in the Lord. Young men thrown into city life far away from their homes, and whispered to by many seducing voices, have often to suffer for keeping themselves unspotted; but they are being strengthened by rough discipline, and will get such promotion, in due time, as is good for them. It was not as seer that he was to be obeyed, but as Pharaoh's representative, even though he had become the latter because he had proved himself the former. The Romano-Jewish world of the New Testament, 22. A modern interpretation might say, "He is God's gift.". Johannine Writings After the dissolution of the United Arab Republic, a union between Egypt and Syria, Mahmoud Fawzi became the first Prime Minister of the present-day Arab Republic of Egypt.Fawzi spent much of his life as a public officer, serving as Egyptian Consulate to Japan in the 1930's, Consul-general to Jerusalem in the 1940's, Ambassador to the UK in 1952, and Foreign Minister of . And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph was an important biblical figure in the history of the Jewish people. 2And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. Minister Aryeh Deri attends a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on January 15, 2023. . So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities.
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