“41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command,[b] and people shouted before him, “Make way[c]!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On,[d] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.” Genesis 41: 41-49
If you read the Book of Genesis, you will notice that Joseph took thirteen chapters of the book. Genesis begins with the story of creation and ends with the story oj Joseph – so much to think about.
Our passage today centers on Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt. I would love for you to read the entire, intricate story of Joseph. Because Joseph could interpret Pharaoh’s dreams about the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine, the country could prepare ahead of time. Later om, Joseph’s brothers bought grain from him-although they didn’t know it was him. Joseph reveals himself to them on chapter 45 -quite a happy reunion for Joseph and his brothers and his father, Israel.
Through every situation, God showed faithfulness to Joseph. And Joseph trusted God to be faithful. God is also for us. May we trust in God to be faithful to us.
Dear God, may I live my life as your faithful servant. Amen!
The Word in Season
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