Genesis 41:46-49
One day in prison and the next day you are the “man,” number
one in all of Egypt, whatever you say people do, and you’re only thirty years
old. I’ve known a few men who have
been given the big promotion and in the recorded history of man, only a few
have been exalted like Joseph and only one other who God has exalted more than
Joseph. Joseph came from an affluent
family and ends up in a foreign country with no status, no papers, and he was
sold to the highest bidder. It is
thirteen years later and he is the leader of Egypt; he has been given a wife
and he has had two sons by her.
After his marriage to Asenath, the daughter of an Egyptian
priest, Joseph went through out the land of Egypt doing a survey of its
resources and people by regions.
The seven years of prosperity had begun for Egypt and also for Joseph,
because his sons were born during these seven years. His first son was named Manasseh, meaning “Forgetting,” it
seems that God has given Joseph the ability to forget and forgive all the years
of suffering and rejection and not hold bitterness against his brothers. The second son was named Ephraim
“Doubly Fruitful,” a thankful heart to God who had prospered him in the land
where such darkness had surrounded his first thirteen years in Egypt.
The other person I alluded to was announced by the angel Gabriel,
he was not forced or stolen from his kingdom, but in agreement with his
Father’s will, he came to earth in a most unique manner, the Holy Spirit of God
placed the Son of God in a virgin named Mary. As a baby, both angels and shepherds visited him and soon
after wise men came and brought gifts to this newborn king. He spent thirty-three years on planet
earth, the earth he had spoke into being, and He came as a servant and not as a
king, and John records Pilate’s questioning Jesus about being the “King of the
Jews.” The following is in John 18:36, “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my
servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the
Jews. But my kingdom is not from
the world.” Then Pilate
said to him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a
king. For this purpose I was born
and for this purpose I have come into the world – to bear witness to the
truth. Everyone who is of the
truth listens to my voice.” Pilate did not listen!
Pilate is nothing like Pharaoh, Pharaoh could see God was
all over Joseph, but this arrogant, prideful governor Pilate was too full of
himself to understand that Joseph’s Creator was standing in front of him. If you are a Pilate and not a Pharaoh,
the God of Beginnings has brought you to this site today, so that “Truth” might
once more confront you. I pray you
are wiser than Pilate.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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