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Weekly Message | May 16th, 2010
Passage: Genesis 41:1-45:28
Key Verse(s): 41:51-52, 45:5
This is about Joseph’s stewardship in his mid-life period (at least 30-44 years). The key verse of this lesson is Joseph's confession of faith. He praised God who made him forget his early troubles and prosper in a foreign land. As Pharaoh’s second in command, he worked hard to save many lives. He engaged in the labor of love for the repentance of his brothers. He then reminded them of God’s purpose in his life. Here we see a clear pattern of Joseph’s growth in the middle period of his life.
First, Joseph’s remembers God in his sufferings and prosperity. (41:1-57)
This chapter is about how Joseph moved out from the prison and became a man in charge of Egypt. One day the Pharaoh had dreams. One was about seven fat cows and seven other ugly cows. No one could interpret the dream. At this moment the cupbearer recommended Joseph. Upon seeing Joseph, Pharaoh said, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." (15) But Joseph said," I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." (41:16) Joseph honored God first. Joseph then correctly interpreted the king’s dream. He recommended how to save during the seven years of abundant harvest to prepare for the seven years of famine. The Pharaoh was happy with Joseph and entrusted him with the whole land of Egypt. In this way, Joseph experienced a huge promotion (i.e., from a prison manager to becoming Pharaoh’s second in command) in the land of Egypt.
Biblical historians speculate that Joseph lived sometime between 2000 and 1600 BC. During this time Egypt was unified and prosperous. The most important king of the 12th Dynasty was the Pharaoh named Sesostris III (1878–1843 BC). He was an effective ruler─just like President Truman who allowed General Marshall to do the work of rebuilding Europe under the name of the “Marshall Plan”, not the “Truman Plan.” The Pharaoh saw Joseph as a man with the spirit of God. With the full support of Pharaoh, Joseph traveled throughout Egypt. Joseph effectively managed a global supply chain management network. He first devised huge inventory plans by which he stored all the seven years of abundant foods. Then, he effectively distributed them in the seven years of famine.
Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. Two sons were born to Joseph by his wife. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering." Joseph planted faith in his two sons: Manasseh meaning “God has made to forget” (which is not about memory loss but the constructive resolution of past life issues) and Ephraim (God has made to prosper). In that way, Joseph’s two sons—Manasseh and Ephraim—grew up as people of faith.
What is the secret of Joseph's blessed life before God? Joseph walked with God in every place—home, Pothiphar's house, prison, and Pharaoh's palace. He remembered God. One truth we learn from Joseph’s life is this: it is God who makes us forget about our troubles (this requires humility) and prosper in this world (this requires courage) as well. Why is this important? People fail to get good jobs for two reasons—lack of hard work habits and responsible stewardship. Many fail to keep their job because they panic and are unable to focus in their important positions. In brief, the ability to focus on God’s goodness is the critical aspect of a blessed life. Joseph's sudden success could have ruined his life. With his vengeful spirit, he could have sought out Pothiphar and his wife and punished them for his pains. Or he could have sent for his brothers and made them pay the price of their sins. All those could have become wrong focuses of his energy. But Joseph had a very clear focus on God. Joseph did not waste his energy with such petty matters. Rather, Joseph worked for Pharaoh. He was diligent, responsible, and hard working. He walked with God. So he was humble and courageous. Humility and courage were the two pillars of success in Joseph’s life. This is true with our lives as well. Humility and courage—these are two pillars for success for any man or woman in this world. Those who remember God become people of such character.
Second, Joseph remembers his dreams. (42:1-44:34)
Joseph in his high position in Egypt did not immediately bring his family—particularly his father and his dear brother Benjamin. Rather, he was waiting for God’s right time. As the famine spread throughout the entire world, Joseph’s ten brothers also came to Egypt to buy some food for survival. Look at 42:8 and 9: “Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. Then, he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, ‘You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.’” Joseph remembered the dreams that God had given him a long time ago. It was about his ten brothers bowing down to him. But Joseph did not reveal his identity. Through a series of events, Joseph made his brothers resolve their past and start a new life. Why? Joseph had already resolved this matter himself. Full relationship resolution requires reconciliation. Reconciliation demands facing the truth and becoming different. Joseph gave his brothers, especially Judah a second chance to live a different life.
So Joseph first accused them of being spies. Then, his brothers told him about the family details—about Joseph and Benjamin. Then, Joseph made Simeon stay in Egypt until they proved the accuracy of their report about their family. Joseph clearly told them to bring Benjamin back to Egypt.
Initially, Jacob opposed this because he did not want to lose Benjamin just like he had Joseph. After using all the grain, Jacob finally agreed to send Benjamin to Egypt. Judah assured his father of Benjamin’s safety putting up his own life as a ransom if needed. Upon seeing his brothers again, Joseph treated them well—particularly Benjamin. Then, Joseph put his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. With its discovery, Joseph demanded Benjamin to stay as a slave in the land. Here, the brothers had a similar choice to the one they made about him. They could have been happy to get rid of Benjamin. They could have said, “Well, it was Benjamin who stole the silver cup.” At that time Judah came forward and appealed to Joseph on behalf of his father Jacob. He was willing to become a slave for life to save Benjamin. He was no longer the cold-hearted man who had sold off his brother Joseph for twenty silver coins. This was the sign of the real repentance of Judah.
What can we learn from Judah's repentance? It is quite possible for sinners to change. In his youth Judas did not care for anyone. He hated his brother Joseph. He came up with the idea of selling Joseph as a slave. He pretended as if he were deaf when Joseph cried out for mercy. Afterward, out of a sense of guilt, he moved far away from his father, married a Canaanite woman, and lived as he pleased—as an immoral man. Then, he came back to his senses and returned home. Judah remembered his old father Jacob who would go down to grave with sorrow. He also loved his brother Benjamin. So, Judah volunteered to take Benjamin's place and serve as a slave in Egypt for his lifetime! Judah's unselfish act was the fruit of real repentance.
Jesus said, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Lk 5:32) Over the years I observed that God greatly uses people who have experienced real change in their lives. On the other hand, some people act like little butterflies, moving around to avoid the moments of real change.
Here, let’s consider Joseph’s labor of love. When his brothers bowed down to him for food, Joseph did not think that his dreams were fulfilled. Rather, Joseph helped his brothers to bow down before God in repentance and faith. Repentance is not the work of a stranger. Repentance is the result of real love. In order to lead his brothers to repent before God and be forgiven, he made them suffer much anguish for a short time. For this real change in his brothers, Joseph suffered with them. Joseph wept with many tears. Joseph was personally involved in every detail. Joseph was helping his brothers, step by step to repent of their sins and become men of God. Joseph did not trust his own effort. Probably, Joseph prayed a lot for God's work in his brothers.
Repentance is before God. It affects the way we treat our neighbors. Our family members are the nearest neighbors of all. We put away our childish ways and grow up as we learn to face our wrongdoings and live a different life. But too often many are not able to make real changes alone. That’s why there must be a good shepherd like Joseph who helps sinners to repent and change. Such life is about having a dream in life. The real dream in life is not about having people pay respect because of our talents, positions, or wealth in this world. The real dream in life is to help people to bow down before God. It is to help others to pursue godly, healthy, and influential living. Such people are the true leaders, rulers, and mentors in this world. Such is the way of living a real life with a dream (vision).
Third, Joseph reminds his brothers of God’s purpose. (45:1-28)
Let’s read 45:1-11. Here let’s observe what Joseph did. First, Joseph wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. He said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. Then, Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”
Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." Joseph continued, "For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (6-7) Joseph came to Egypt because of the mischievous and evil pranks of his brothers. Yet, it was the act of the Holy, Sovereign God that made him a ruler of Egypt and prepared him to save many lives. Joseph testified to the greatness of God and to his redemptive purpose. Joseph continued, “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.” (8) Joseph did not write off the real story as if it never had happened. His brothers sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Yet, God worked in spite of their evil act. Joseph clearly stated the evil work of his brothers and at the same time presented God's good work. Joseph spoke about God’s larger purpose to save many lives. God made Joseph very successful. God saved the lives of many through Joseph. God also restored their broken family relationships. In brief, God accomplished multiple purposes through interrelated events.
The relationships between Joseph and his brothers was being restored. But that was not the end. Then, Joseph communicated to Pharaoh about his family situation. He sought Pharaoh’s blessings to bring all his family members. Joseph included his father in this restoring process. For more than 20 years Jacob had been held in the dark about Joseph. Joseph's brothers never told their father the truth. But now, they could tell the truth to their father—all the evil they did to Joseph. They added, "Yet, Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. But when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of Jacob revived. He said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die." (45:28)
Through Joseph's labor of love, his brothers repented of their sins. Through Joseph's faith they came to know God's great purpose of saving many lives. Now, Joseph's generosity made all of his family come together. May God raise many Josephs among us and use them to do the great works of God–the work of repentance, the work of understanding God's purpose, and the work restoring broken relationships.
When do we come to know God’s larger purpose in life? This life includes achieving personal happiness in this world. Joseph was a happy soul because God was with him. Beyond happiness and success in this life, we need something bigger—life’s larger purpose. It is to live as a steward of God’s purpose in this world. It is about fulfilling God’s larger purpose of saving many lives. It is to be a blessing in this world. Such realization of God’s larger purpose may not come quickly. In our 20s or 30s we may not know about God’s purpose. We are all too preoccupied with our own personal issues. We all need God’s help to forget about our troubles and learn to prosper in this life. However, in the right time we come to know God’s larger purpose—particularly if the extent of our success is great. If God puts us in influential positions in this world, we must think about God’s larger purpose in this life.
God is good. God is faithful. God's purpose is to save and bless the world. For this grand purpose God raises up his people as his stewards. We all must learn to be stewards of our own souls through hard work and a faithful walk with God. We need to become responsible stewards through meaningful work in this world. For this we must learn how to serve others through good work habits. God causes us to suffer and helps us to forget and move beyond the painful events in this life. God prospers us in his ways to bless the world. Such life is a good life that God blesses. May God help each of you to be able to learn the right kind stewardship in order to be a blessing in this world.
May 16, 2010; Dr. Paul Hong; Toledo UBF.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
