Genesis 41:42-45 – God is our source in life

Joseph was exalted and made the second man to Pharaoh. No one deserved it more than he. He was faithful to God throughout his trying days. Nothing shook him, neither the pit, nor the luring temptation of Mrs. Potiphar and certainly not the prison. His focus on God made him truly consistent whether in the pit, the prison or the palace. His words to the cupbearer, the baker or Pharaoh remained constant, he never wavered. Unswervingly, he maintained that Elohim would give them the answers to their dreams. Joseph had a deep understanding of his God. The very moment he came out of the prison and stood before Pharaoh, he had made such a huge impression on the king. That’s why he asked in wonderment, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?” Though he considered himself a god, Pharaoh had to yield to the Sovereign Lord. He acknowledged the God whom Joseph served was far more superior. So in verse 39 he said, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.” So on the spot he made Joseph his second in command, saying, “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.” 

Verses 42-45 describe Joseph’s investiture as Pharaoh’s second man. The king removed the signet, the symbol of authority and power, from his finger and slipped it into Joseph’s. This was the seal that would be affixed on all official and court documents. He endowed Joseph with authority to act on his behalf. Then he adorned him with fine linen garment, those worn by officers of the court. And he also put a gold necklace around his neck to show how much he was honoured. This was likely a reward for interpreting his dream. Having appropriately dressed him up, the king took him on an inaugural parade where he rode in the second chariot. Forerunners went before him to herald his way, calling on the people to bow their knee. For the last thirteen years he had been bowing much to others and now the table had turned, others were bowing to him. So Joseph was installed to his position. To him Pharaoh said, “Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” In other words nothing could be done without Joseph’s approval. 

To make him more Egyptian, Pharaoh then named him Zaphenath-paneah, meaning God speaks and lives. What a testimony to have in life! Pharaoh also gave him …Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as his wife. Ordinarily, such endowments would have set anyone up for another testing. Joseph had been faithful at the lowest point of life, now would he be faithful at the zenith? Unwittingly, he had been thrusted into the place of life’s greatest temptation. He was dressed as an Egyptian, had an Egyptian name, married an Egyptian wife, even had a powerful Egyptian father-in-law, our question is , would he succumb to the plenty he now had and bow to the gods of Egypt? We saw how he kept trusting God while in the pit as well as in the prison, would he continue to do so now at the apex of greatness?

In life, when one reaches the summit, whether in career or position, there is always the temptation to be more self-dependent and prideful. Joseph was now in a position where he would be more accustomed to getting his servants to do his bidding than to depend on God to get him through. He would be exposed to the temptation to forget where he came from and where he could have been.  His meteoric rise to greatness had put him in danger of thinking of himself more than he ought to. Isn’t this true of most people? At thirty and in the prime of life, with the luxury, the power, and everything at his disposal, could Joseph succumb to the pressure of pleasure?  We all know he didn’t because the next few chapters of Genesis tell us so. But let’s turn to look at ourselves for a while. Where are we at in life? It’s certainly easier to trust God when we don’t have much. But when God has endowed us with plenty, will our heart remain steadfastly faithful to Him?

May our constant prayer each day be: Dear God, will you roll back the curtains of my memory every now and then? Will You show me where You’ve brought me from and where I would have been? Remember that I’m human, and human forgets. So remind me, remind me dear Lord.