By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis
Focal Passage: Genesis 41:28-32, 47-54
The greatness of God is seen in Joseph’s character.
I. Joseph, the interpreter (vv. 28-32) In interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph explained that Egypt would have seven years of abundant harvests followed by seven years of famine.
Because Pharaoh saw the power and wisdom of God in Joseph’s life, he promoted him to second in command over all of Egypt, giving him the responsibility of executing the plan for storing the excess grain during the seven years of plenty as well as distributing it during the seven years of famine.
Joseph made it clear to Pharaoh that God gave him the interpretation. He wanted Pharaoh to see God’s greatness through him. Likewise, we should purpose to live our lives so that people will see God’s greatness working through us.
Joseph told Pharaoh that the famine would be so severe that the seven years of abundance would be forgotten (v. 31). When we face adversities we, too, can forget past blessings. That is why we need to keep a prayer journal recording all the times God has blessed us.
II. Joseph, the prime mnister (vv. 47-49). As prime minister of Egypt, Joseph may have been tempted to hoard the excess grain during the extreme abundance for only the Egyptians. When we are blessed with an abundance of money or possessions, we may be tempted to store them up and not share with others or spend it extravagantly rather than saving for the future.
God blessed Egypt with such abundance that it was compared to the sand of the sea. The harvest was beyond measure. God promises in Malachi 3:10 to bless us with overflowing blessings if we will tithe. He also assures us in Ephesians 3:20 that He will do more for us than we could ask or think. Furthermore, He guarantees us that He will more than meet our needs (Philippians 4:19).
III. Joseph, the father (vv. 50-54) Pharaoh had given Joseph a wife, Asenath, and two sons were born to them. They named their firstborn Manasseh which means “to make one forget.”
God had taken away the sting of what his brothers and Potiphar’s wife had done to him. Even though God tells us to forget the past (Philippians 3:13), He does not want us to forget Him (Jeremiah 18:15) or His benefits (Psalm 103:2). He does desire for us to forget past sins He has forgiven.
The devil will remind us of those sins, but if we resist him, he will flee from us. (James 4:7). If we dwell on what we are to forget, we will be controlled by our past rather than the Holy Spirit and hindered from living a fruitful life in the present.
The name of Joseph’s second son Ephraim means “doubly fruitful.” Joseph had remained faithful during the years under the authority of Potiphar and the chief jailer.
God had used those years to prune Joseph so that he not only bore fruit, but bore much fruit. Likewise, God has chosen us, and He prunes us that we may be doubly fruitful in our service to Him (John 15:5, 8). B&R