From Jail to the Throne.

From Jail to the Throne. Genesis 41:37-57.

So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Genesis 41:37-38(NKJV)

Joseph not only was able to interpret the dream of the Pharaoh, he did it with style. All the trials he had experience through life made him into a man of poise and gave him confidence. What others meant for his harm, God meant for his good.

As a young boy, he was shunned by his brothers; however, that was good for him because he did not need their influence in his life.

When they sold him into slave traders, he was caged like an animal and had to learn to trust in God for his safety for the very first time in his life.

Then having been bought by Pharaohs captain of the guard, Joseph would have to learn to speak Egyptian and Egyptian educates, along with their manors and customs. He would learn how to serve in a royal fashion; how to dress the part, and how to address the Pharaoh.

When Potiphar's wife put the moves on him he learned that it is not good to be alone with a woman in the same room. Through Potiphar and his wife, Joseph learned how to have a bad Egyptian marriage, which would prepare him for a good one.

In Jail he learned that if you serve God by serving others, you will be blessed. He also learned what the Egyptian criminal mind was like. What they looked like and what drove them to be their way.

Now standing before the Pharaoh, Joseph was fully equipped to portrait himself with confidence and understanding. All of his trials made him the man right for the job. It was God's sculpting hand that did the work in Joseph's life.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 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." Genesis 41:39-40(NKJV)

In Egypt, they knew of a greater God named Yahweh. In a land that had many gods, Yahweh was now in charge and Joseph would be the representative. He was faithful and sincere; deliberate and intelligent. He was fully equipped for the job and the Pharaoh had complete confidence in Joseph.

This is the work that God wants to do in all of our lives. It may not be to this great extent; however, God wants to raise up legislators, congressmen, presidents, and still has desires for teachers, principles, foremen, executives, and professional people. Christians are needed in every part of the world and each of our jobs in life is important. So important that we must have the integrity and attitude of Joseph; he is the perfect example to us.

And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 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. 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. Genesis 41:41-43(NKJV)

It would have been nice to hear Joseph talk candidly about the relationship of his childhood dreams and his rise to power. He dreamed his family would bow down to him and now he had every Egyptian bowing as his chariot passed.

Inside Joseph was beaming, yet he had to look eye to eye with every man, woman, and child. He had to have a serious eye, showing no emotion. Joseph had to look and act as a Pharaoh.

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. 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. Genesis 41:44-46(NKJV)

His new name meant "Treasury of the glorious rest" and was significant to his role in the Egyptian leadership. Joseph was to be a savior to the Egyptians and protect them from the famine to come.

Given a wife, Joseph was expected to make a dynasty of rulers that would lead Egypt into the new challenging future. Family was an important part of their culture and one sadly neglected in ours.

Children are to inherit our values and strengths. They are future leaders and will run the Church of Jesus Christ long after we are gone. If Christianity is to survive and thrive we must be busy about our business of growing families.

Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly. 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. Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable. Genesis 41:47-49(NKJV)

It is amazing when you can get to the point you stop counting. Everything we own we measure. We measure the amount, the value, its effectiveness; however, God had blessed them with enough that many other countries would survive on the stores.

There was only seven years of harvest and during those seven years, the harvest was stocked and not spent. It was put away for a coming famine. This was the actions of a purposeful person; one who looked into the future and saw reality.

In today's societies and with most people, when given supplies of plenty, they trigger a spending spree of plenty. Not looking at the future, they take trips, buy cars, jewelry, and things that perish. But what about what life holds in the future? Is there a day coming when the harvest will be over and you will have a time of famine?

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. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house." 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(NKJV)

Joseph was outwardly an Egyptian, but inwardly he was still the son of his father Jacob. Looking at his children, he found joy that he could have a family and carry on his heritage in a great way. The only thing left was uniting his Hebrew family and as always, Joseph trusted in God to do the work.

Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 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. 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 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. So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands. Genesis 41:53-57(NKJV)

What is amazing is not only did Joseph store the food, he sold the food. He was building the riches of the Pharaoh's kingdom and money was coming in faster than the food went out.

When you see the treasures of the Egyptians you can attribute them to this time when Egypt would become the center of the known world; a giant, rich, nation with a great future.