Last week's study explains the events of this chapter. In the earlier verses of Genesis 41, Pharaoh recognised that Joseph was a spirit-filled person. Simply, Joseph's life was filled so much with the presence and hand of God that even a nonbeliever like Pharaoh recognised it.
(A) Joseph's Great Position (Gen 41:38-46)
Pharaoh gives great authority to Joseph. Gen 41:39-46 records it for us in great detail.
Joseph's discernment and wisdom received the recognition of Pharaoh (Gen 41:39). What is wisdom? It is different from mere knowledge! Wisdom is to be competent at life.
Executive authority was given to Joseph by Pharaoh, over his house, and his people (Gen 41:40)
Joseph received dominion (Gen 41:41). This is slightly different from Gen 41:4 as it connotes a comprehensive coverage over all the lands.
Joseph received symbols of power and homage -- signet ring, clothing, gold chain (Gen 41:42-43). This is similar to the treatment Mordecai received later in the book of Esther. Joseph also received a public ceremony of empowerment, as he was brought about in front of the people. Contrast this with a chapter ago, where he was restricted to his prison and had no freedom and rights. What a world of difference!
Joseph has complete control over the people of the land (Gen 41:44). By declaring "I am Pharaoh", Pharaoh was just emphasising his power, before empowering Joseph.
Joseph was given an Egyptian name (Zaphenath-paneah, which means "the one who furnishes the sustenance of the land") though he was a Hebrew (Gen 41:45a). This was Pharaoh's way of assimilating him. His name was now his title; his identity was bound up with his position. Every time people referred to him, they would be remembered of his role in furnishing the sustenance of the land they live in.
Pharaoh also gives him a wife, the daughter of the priest of On, an Egyptian god (Gen 41:45b). This is Pharaoh's attempt to establish Joseph in a position of power.
With all these, Joseph "went out over the land of Egypt" (Gen 41:45c)
Why did the writer of Genesis go into so much detail? We are meant to see the contrast and juxtaposition from one chapter ago. Joseph has come so, so far from his days as a prisoner. And yet, everything is not by sheer luck or chance, but by the will of God Almighty. This is the God who gives and takes away. Why is this a comfort for us? Gen 41 not only helps us to see a God who can give everything (and, maybe take away). It helps us to see a God who gives and takes away with purpose. Things do not happen by accident, or because God did not plan them to be so. And, through the life of Joseph, we are meant to also marvel at the abundance of His blessings and restoration even after He takes away.
Verse 46 concludes a chapter of Joseph's life. Now, as he went out over all of Egypt, he went as one with immense power and authority. This was a stark contrast to the moment when he lay in prison completely forgotten at the end of chapter 40.
(B) Joseph's Great Plan (Gen 41:47-49)
Joseph had a detailed plan of saving (Gen 41:47-49). Everything was regionalized, signifying a strong, central bureaucracy. Joseph was a great leader. Joseph's wisdom and discernment was recognised by Pharaoh himself. Through these verses, we see that Joseph was competent for the realities of life, and was effective in his problem solving. Joseph had common sense and he worked hard.
How does one get this kind of common sense? A wide variety of life experiences helped his job. He learnt his lesson from his interaction with his brothers. He learnt how to deal with people and life circumstances through his slave days in Potiphar's house and in the prison. Joseph was wise, because he knew how to deal with life as it came along. Joseph had learnt through living life itself. There was no shortcut.
What does this mean for us? As Christians, firstly, we are reminded that we have the book of Proverbs in the Bible for us to learn and understand biblical wisdom for life. Biblical wisdom is not the same as biblical law. The law spells everything out clearly, but the law is not wisdom, even though it may overlap. The law tells us what life ought to be but wisdom tells us what life is. Do you seek wisdom? Are you reading the Bible? Joseph also reminds us of one important thing -- that wisdom takes time and it needs to be learned and refined.
(C) Joseph's Great Purpose (Gen 41:50-56)
The narrative goes on from Joseph's work to his family. We are told about his two sons, Manasseh ("God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house", Gen 41:51) and Ephraim ("For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction", Gen 41:52). Interestingly, he names his sons in Hebrew, though he lived in Egypt and had an Egyptian wife. Once again, we realise how Joseph was a person who remembered where he came from. He did not forget his roots, and what has happened to him. Notice also how God is the reference point for both of his sons names. God has restored and blessed Joseph abundantly. He entered Egypt alone, rejected by his brothers, and over the years, endured much hardship alone. Yet, at this point in Gen 41:52, years later, God blessed him with a wife and not one but two sons. Joseph now had a family, and he recognised God's hand of blessing in all these.
The remaining verses of this chapter detail the fulfilment of Pharaoh's dreams. The seven years of plenty came and went, and ushered in seven years of famine. A particular word recurs 8 times in the ESV from gen 41:53-57 -- the word "all". This highlighted the magnitude of the famine. It extended beyond the domain of Egypt, and was far greater than what we originally thought it would be. The famine was so bad that people had to move for survival. This ushers in a new chapter in the life of Joseph, and God has prepared him and brought him for this.
Why is this so exciting? Recall Gen 12:1-3, where God made an agreement with Abraham, that through him, the world will be blessed. Remember also Gen 22:16-18, where God reiterates the promise that through Abraham, the nations will be blessed. This promise made to Abraham comes to partial fulfillment in Joseph, chapters later! All the earth comes to Joseph because of his wisdom for discernment, for material salvation.
Is that all? Things get better!
Years later, another son, Solomon, the son of David, the ruler of a great kingdom welcomes the Queen of Sheba. She made the journey because she has heard of his wisdom, and sought his help. The wisdom of God's people and king were recognised and affirmed by those around, and were a blessing to them.
But all these are a shadow compared to what happened even further down the line of Abraham, the line of David. In the great Christmas story,
Three wise men from the east, learned and knowledgeable men, made the journey to look for and worship the baby Jesus, Jesus who is filled with the Spirit of God and the epitome of wisdom. Genesis 41 is but a shadow, pointing forward to the time when the man of God brings wisdom and salvation to the nations. Genesis 41 is a testimony of God's invisible hand working through the ups and downs of Joseph's life. Each event was carefully orchestrated and was meant to accomplish God's plans. This is exactly what is described for us in Acts 2:22-24, in the New Testament. Jesus was brought to the cross through the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, though the means was by human hands. The God who worked in Joseph's life, is the God working behind every single event in human history for the sole purpose of bringing lost people back to Him, back to where they belong. Acts 2 reminds us that this is why Christians call it "Good Friday", because a bad thing to Jesus meant something good for us. Jesus brought something better than material salvation and provision of physical needs -- He made a way back to Eden.
How does this all apply to us? The life of Joseph in these chapters in Genesis reminds us that we don't see the big picture. As readers, we sometimes think we do. But if we pause and consider the various events that fell into the place so wonderfully, we realise that like Joseph, we live in God's world, not our own. We move and act not independently of the hand of God. Both good and bad things come by the grace of God.
The words of a children's song sum it up simply and powerfully:
Our God is a great big God
Our God is a great big God
Our God is a great big God
And He holds us in His hand
He's higher than a skyscraper
And He's deeper than a submarine
He's wider than the universe
And beyond my wildest dreams
And He's known me
And He's loved me
Since before the world began
How wonderful to be a part
Of God's amazing plan
The God of Joseph's life is a great, big God who worked mysteriously to bring about the various events we've read about so far. But the God of Joseph's life, the God of Genesis, the God of the Bible, our God is not just great and big, He is also good and mighty. He has promised to love us with an everlasting love, and He loved us to the extent that it cost Him his Son.
What is this God saying to you today?
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.