Diplomacy

Genesis 50:5-14

John Mark and Zachary David, it may be many years before you read my thoughts on the book of beginnings, but it is my hope that one day you will.  Guys, chapter 50 has some great insights that if you learn from them, they will be of great value in all aspects of your life.  They will be of value to you as a parent, a husband, a businessman, and especially when working with people in your church.

As we look at these verses, it is important to recall that Jacob’s death was not a private occurrence, it was very public; the father of Joseph was dead, the father of the man who had saved Egypt from disaster.  It has been seventy days, and Scripture tells us that the Egyptians wept for Jacob seventy days.  I’m sure Pharaoh wanted his people back to work.  Today, he would tell CNN and Fox to find some fresh news, or do something to change the setting, as our President has done with the oil spill in the gulf.  I’m sure you can identity with this setting; let anyone who the world places value in die and it seems as if the new guys will never stop talking about them.

Now Joseph understands this has slowed down the productivity of the country and yet he and his brothers have promised to fulfill, and it will require Pharaoh’s approval, to carry out the promise.  So Joseph uses diplomacy to get Pharaoh’s approval, first he goes to and gains the support of Pharaoh’s officers and then he ask them to convey it to Pharaoh.  If we look at the surface, we will miss why this was such a big deal, the Israelites have become a very important part of Egypt’s economy and Joseph has become a national treasure.  How can Pharaoh be sure they will return?

I’m sure that Joseph laid out the promise he had made to his father, and then he tells Pharaoh’s officers that they will leave both children and flocks in Goshen.  He may have even closed the deal with an invitation to Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, that is not clear, but that is who went with them.  Joseph was wise in letting men who had the ear of Pharaoh make the request for him and by the time he came to Pharaoh to ask permission, it had become a decision by Pharaoh, to make this an official Egyptian state funeral, and that was a big deal.  

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice