Joseph - From the Pit to the Pinnacle - Reflections on Genesis chapters 40 and 41

 JOSEPH - FROM THE PIT TO THE PINNACLE

REFLECTIONS ON GENESIS CHAPTERS 40 AND 41

7 May 2024

Today I am using the Enduring Word Commentary in preparation for the Precepts Bible Study this week on the life of Joseph and in particular Genesis chapters 40 and 41. I have been reminded yet again if how sometimes the most simplest of understanding is so important when reading God's word. Here is what I have learned ...

Joseph prospered in his circumstances - even in prison. He had been accused of trying to rape his master's wife and placed in prison as a result. In these circumstances he could have and probably should have lost his life but he was spared. In prison Joseph was given great authority and responsibility. The butler and baker were probably what we would term political prisoners. They were there possibly because they had attempted to kill the Pharaoh by poisoning.  Joseph could have used his position to make others serve him but he actually used his position to serve others. What a very different management skill was being demonstrated by Joseph. What a lesson to learn personally.

Joseph could have been very angry and bitter because of what had happened to him - sold into slavery, taken from his home, loved by his father more than anyone else and then to face a false accusation by a woman who should have know better but no, he was concerned for 2 individuals. He took pity on them.

"Joseph shows us Jesus. He was innocent who came into our prison and lived our hardships and temptations, suffering worse than any of us and he looks for our pity. As Jesus lives his life through us we will also care about the needs of others even when our needs are apparent."

Joseph wasn't asking for the details of their dreams because he was curious. He saw they were very disturbed by their dreams and Joseph wanted to speak to their troubled souls.

What a challenge. Am I just passing the time with people or am I genuinely interested and concerned for them and what they may be facing at this moment in time?

Joseph was so confident that God knew what the dreams were about. He had 2 dreams about his own future remember and yet they had not been fulfilled in his life time. Joseph recognised that God was speaking through these dreams. Do I recognise God speaking too?

I read a post earlier by @walkinginexile who talked about "seeing ourselves in scripture" or contextualisation. When I was reading The Enduring Word Commentary on Genesis 39 and 40 I can see the relevance of what she was saying - thank you!  

We often say "I am Joseph - God can use me to reveal his word or his mysteries to others" (such as the interpretation of the butler and the bakers dreams) - there is a place for that but not here! We are the butler and the baker. Jesus is like Joseph to us in this picture.

An innocent man came into our prison and shared our condition.

This innocent prisoner revealed God's message to us

The innocent prisoner was proved true in 3 days.

Joseph shows us Jesus whose message from God brings life or death.

If you are looking for a message from God look to Jesus today!

There is also the contrast - Joseph's word only rescued the innocent prisoner not the guilty one. The good news, the greatest news is that the message and rescue of Jesus is for the guilty also.

I am in tears just thinking of the greatest gift of Jesus - his life was given for me. What a gift today!

For Joseph the time was not then. He had hoped to be released when the butler was reinstated but no. God was preparing Joseph for a future.

God was in both the steps and stops of Joseph's life.

What a reminder today. The steps are what we climb on but occasionally we need to stop for breath - it's then that God can use us!

Imagine having to wait a long time for something good to happen. That was Joseph's story. He waited another 2 years for the butler to remember him. Why? Well if he had been released from prison the butler would never have know how to find him. God's hand is written all over this story. When the time was right the butler knew where exactly Joseph was to find him. 

Joseph must surely have been discouraged during that period. But he trusted God nonetheless.

What lessons can we learn from Joseph?

Sometimes the good we do seems unrewarded.

Waiting is a common theme in the Christian life.

God often appoints us to wait much longer than we would like.

God appoints our starts and stops.

God's hand was evident every day Joseph remained in the prison.

What a challenge and encouragement there is in reading the story of Joseph for me personally today. For everyone of these lessons I could put a tick against them and say 'true" for that has been my own experience in life.

Now I am looking at Pharaoh's dreams - yes 2 more dreams again! His dreams woke him up with the craziness of them. 7 fat cows eaten by 7 thin cows was dream 1 and dream 2 was 7 thin heads of corn eating 7 plump good heads of corn.  Pharaoh knew in his spirit there was something very important in this dream. 

As I thought of this I remembered Andy Dalrymple speaking in his sermon on Sunday about how there is within every soul a longing for something more in life. People attempt to find it through various pleasures in life but that longing can only find its satisfaction in God. He promises life with a capital L and it is ours by accepting or trusting in his son Jesus as our own and personal Saviour  it will mean an acknowledgement of our sins, a repenting or turning away from them and acknowledging and accepting that Jesus died for our sins on Calvary's cross. He died that we might know assurance of salvation and the promise of eternal life.

Pharaoh needed to know what his dreams meant and there was a man who could help. He was lying in a prison forgotten by the world but God hadn't forgotten him. He was in the right place at the right time and God was preparing him for such a time as this.

Timing is everything as we see in Joseph's story. What a lesson to remember - God acts quickly and we need to be ready to respond.

Maybe we think God isn't doing anything but he is in fact developing our character and transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8 verses 28 and 29

 

What a change we can see in Joseph as he comes before Pharaoh. He could have glorified himself but he refused  he didn't use the opportunity to boast or brag about himself. He gave God the glory. He seems to have changed in his attitude. He is wiser and perhaps humbler now. Prison has changed Joseph. Joseph knew that God alone had the answer to anything that Pharaoh had to ask or say including the understanding of these dreams.

Joseph thought nothing was happening when he was in jail but God was working behind the scenes for his own purposes.

What a reminder to me - even when I think nothing is happening I need to trust God to know the end from the beginning.

As I read of Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream, I was reminded of 2 things. Joseph needed to know the full details of the dream before he could interpret it. He then gave Pharaoh an understanding of the dream. He gave Pharaoh knowledge telling him what was about to happen. Now he begins to apply wisdom to the knowledge. 

Knowledge tells you what is going on - wisdom tells you what to do about it.

It is similar to attending a doctor - the doctor needs to know what is happening before they can help you and hopefully provide the wisdom to know what to do next. Knowledge is the diagnosis but wisdom is the cure.

Often we can see what the problems are in our world today but rarely do we appreciate that Jesus is the answer.

Joseph came to the fore now in showing how Pharaoh could prepare for the coming crisis.

The problem had to be understood.

The goal and vision to meet the goal had to be formulated.

The right people had to be out in place.

They had to understand the big vision and their role in it.

Someone had to make sure everything was operating according to the plan.

The work had to be measured.

God would use one man - Joseph - to put everything into place.

Preparation before they would perish.

It would be very easy to think that Joseph was lining himself up for the task ahead but that was not the case. He really did not see it in that way. He had been given the task of speaking on God's behalf to help Pharaoh understand his dream. What Joseph hoped to achieve was never part of the deal.

However Pharaoh saw something in Joseph's character, in his message , in his knowledge, in his wisdom and in his humility that helped make his mind up very quickly.

Did you know that this is the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the bible? Pharaoh had plenty of priests, magicians and other holy men but he saw something different in Joseph. He had the Spirit of God. How amazing that God gave him this discernment. And you know it is not much different for all of us - we know right from wrong and we can see differences in the people we come in contact with every day. Joseph didn't have to preach a sermon or lead a prayer for Pharaoh to see the Spirit of God in Joseph. What a reminder to those of us who know Christ personally - our lives speak volumes to those who might never open a bible or hear the gospel message. 

Pharaoh had a choice to make. He didn't just thank Joseph for his advice and send him back to prison. He gave Joseph not only authority over his personal affairs but also his political affairs.

It took 13 years for Joseph to rise from the pit to the pinnacle. But it was all from the Lord. Yes we need hard work, preparation, good habits to contribute to success but all our gifts and abilities come from God. Are we humble enough to realise that today? Are we thankful to God for everything he has given to us?

I love the contrasts seen in Joseph's story before Pharaoh.

He was given Pharaoh's signature ring - once he wore the shackles of a prisoner.

He was clothed in garments of linen - once he had the rags of a dungeon.

He was given a gold chain for his neck - once he had the chains of a slave.

He rode in the second chariot, travelling in style - once he walked as a slave.

In Jesus we are given authority, apparel, adornment and affluence.

Joseph is a picture of Christ in who he is, what he has done and in the place he should have in our lives.

In the bible names mean more than we can imagine. For Joseph he was given a new Egyptian name. Jewish legends say the meaning of his Egyptian name meant something: 

Seer

Redeemer

Prophet

Supporter

Interpreter of dreams

Clever

Discreet

Wise

More than likely the name means God speaks and he lives.

A reminder that we are given a new name in Christ when we accept him as our own and personal Saviour and that name is written in glory (Revelation 2 verse 17). We are also told that our names are engraved on his hands (Isaiah 49 verse 16).

Joseph's sons also have meaning - Manasseh meaning forgetfulness. God made Joseph to forget all the previous pain and trial in his life. His second son Ephraim means fruitfulness because God made Joseph fruitful in Egypt. We can't be doubly fruitful until we are also forgetting.