IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

Date: Jul. 8, 2015

Passage

Genesis 41:37-57  (ESV)

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over 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 the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”

56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 41:37b

This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.

First, Joseph elevated from prison to palace (37-49). Pharaoh recognized Joseph's connection to God, made him the national economic advisor, and honored him with a robe, a gold chain, a chariot and a wife. Joseph's fate turned around radically in one day. He could've sought revenge upon his enemies or partied in the palace. But he did not. He did his job well, again, collecting grain during the bumper crop years. As a slave, as a prisoner, and now as a prime minister, Joseph was faithful to God and a responsible, wise worker.

Second, Joseph's two sons (50-57). Joseph married at age 30 and had two sons: Manasseh, since God made him "forget" his troubles, and Ephraim, since God made him "twice fruitful" in this land of suffering. God's blessings did not make Joseph proud, but thankful, humble and obedient to God. Joseph had become a wonderful, mature person by God's blessing and presence. Suffering need not create bitterness; it can create perseverance, character and hope (Ro 5:3).

Prayer: Lord, help me be responsible and wise where you have placed me and with what you have given me. I pray to be a humble, diligent and thankful servant.

One Word: One in whom is the Spirit of God

Daily Bread

Joseph and Potiphar

Genesis 39:1-12

Key Verse: 39:9

He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

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