Trusted Empowered Gifted

Trusted Empowered Gifted

Genesis 41: ⁴² 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. ⁴³ 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. ⁴⁴ 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.” ⁴⁵ 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.

 

============

 

Immediately, Pharaoh trusted Joseph because of the interpretation of the dream. Pharaoh had a formal way to create rules which required documentation with his signet ring stamp. He gave control to Joseph by giving him the signet ring. He paraded Joseph around Egypt so people would know who he was and he gave Joseph a wife.

 

My Observations:

• Pharaoh trusted Joseph implicitly because Joseph did not try to get anything from Pharaoh.
• Pharaoh worshipped the sun god Ra, so he thought he was doing Joseph a favor by giving him the daughter of the priest of On.
• Pharaoh welcomed Joseph into the Egyptian culture and tried to rename him Zaphnath-Paaneah, which could mean GOD speaks and HE lives.

 

Joseph was trusted by Pharaoh, empowered by him and given gifts by him. He could do as he please without consulting Pharaoh. But Joseph did not turn his heart away from GOD. He accepted the gifts, wore the clothes and did what he was supposed to do with the power he was entrusted.

 

But Joseph also knew that Pharoah was not worshipping the one and true GOD. Pharaoh believed in many gods and classified GOD as one of them. Pharaoh gave Joseph a wife of the smartest, wisest person he knew. Even Poti-Pherah could not interpret Pharaoh’s dream. So Joseph was allowed to go out all over Egypt without being watched over. Joseph’s integrity was in GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about what Pharaoh gave to Joseph?
• What is your perspective about receiving something that looks worldly, but is a gift?
• Can you accept the world’s things without having them change your relationship with the LORD?