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In the previous article I mentioned how Pharaoh was himself a foreigner when it came to the land of Egypt. Being that he was part of the invasion that had taken place in the Egyptian Empire around 1700 BC. After the invasion, this Pharaoh would end up forming the infamous fifteenth royal family dynasty. Keep in mind that 1700 BC was also around the same time that Joseph had been taken to the land of Egypt as well. What this means, is that when Joseph was promoted, he wasn't promoted by a Pharaoh that held and obtained his royal position through the traditional process of inheritance. But he was promoted by an Egyptian ruler that was not of the same blood of the land that he ruled over, but a foreigner that came to power through nontraditional means. It's believed that this Egyptian king might have been from an Arabian tribe that was known as the Bedouins. If this is true, this would have placed the Egyptian king closer to Joseph's ancestry, instead of the Egyptians that he ruled over. Also, if this is the case, this would also explain why Pharaoh was sympathetic and open-minded when it came to Joseph. Because of Pharaoh's attitude towards Joseph, this would also explain why the Egyptian king was willing to make such a drastic move when it came to elevating Joseph to second-in-command over the entire Egyptian kingdom. Being that Pharaoh held the throne through nontraditional means, and was himself a foreigner -- we could also assume that there weren't very many people around him that he could trust. Understand that I'm not pointing these things out, in order to take glory from the One True God. I'm pointing these things out, in order to connect and track God through Joseph's ordeal not only in the spiritual, but in the natural as well. After all, this Egyptian king would not have held the throne if it weren't for God in the first place. Is this notion really that too far-fetched to propose? Make no mistake that it was God who had allowed Egypt to go through this season of disarray for the sake of Joseph and the destiny that God had bestowed on him. I like to think that this is vital information, for it helps us to understand how God causes and uses natural situations and circumstances to teach and prepare us for our season of abundance (increased responsibility). We must not make the mistake of limiting God to a certain time period or person. Know this, God never changes and since He turned Joseph's bad situation into good, He can do the same for us as well. Now let's turn our attention back to the Sacred Record, for we are now told that Joseph was thirty years old when he was elevated to the position "prime-minister of state." Understand that the age is given in order for us to appreciate the ordeal that Joseph had just gone through during this period of his life. That might read a little crazy, but be aware that the ordeal that Joseph had went through in his life, didn't just provide a way to track God but it also created a way for us to better understand that although Joseph had to endure a season of affliction and hardships, his season of prosperity would end up lasting much longer. With his age being mentioned, we are able to see the time difference between the different stages of Joseph's life. Now stick with me here, and I'll try to break it down and make it a little bit more clearer. Okay like I just stated, Joseph was elevated to "prime-minister of state" when he was thirty years of age. This means that he had spent thirteen years in the land of Egypt before he was elevated to this position. But keep in mind that Joseph will live to be 110 years old. This is important to know, because Joseph was seventeen years of age when he was first sold by his brothers. What this means, is that he'd spent the first thirteen years of his life after he was betrayed and sold, being afflicted. And he would spend the next eighty years of his life after he was promoted to prime-minister living in prosperity. Now do you see my point? These are the things we need to keep in mind while we're experiencing and traveling through the dark valleys of life. Don't make the mistake of falling into the trap of thinking that your suffering and the time that you spend in obscurity is all for naught, because you didn't compromise your position or beliefs when it comes to the Lord Jesus Christ. The account of Joseph has just shown us that God will compensate and reward us for staying true to Him, both spiritually and naturally. Now I know that the Holier-than-thous' hate this type of talk, because when you do things for the Lord it should be out of love. And you know what, they're right! But I'll tell you this... there's nothing too hard for the Almighty God. And when it comes to knowing that it will also profit you greatly to stay true to Him no matter what. I'm sorry, but I just don't see the harm when it comes to having such expectations. But let's move forward... The Sacred Record has now confirmed that the first seven years of abundance seemed to have started, being that Joseph was now storing up the extra grain that the land of Egypt was producing: "During the seven years the land produced plentifully. Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure." -- (Genesis 41:47-50) Next we are informed by the Sacred Record that during these seven years of abundance that Joseph too, would experience the gift of abundance when it came to his own household: "Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph and Asenath daughter of Poti-phera, priest of On. 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.'" -- (Genesis 41:50-52) And although the Sacred Record is very clear, there are some things that I want to touch on for a moment when it comes to the names of Joseph's kids. The statement that Joseph made after they were born, tells us what each name signifies.
Also, the statement: "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." This basically deals with the hardship and betrayal that Joseph had experienced, when it came to how his brothers treated him. The seven years of abundance has ended, and now the famine of seven years enters in the land or perhaps to all parts of the known world. Not just Egypt? If this is the case, will there be enough grain to supply all those who need food? Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE** 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt 86) Joseph the Revealer of Secrets 88) <-CURRENT PAGE-> 90) Joseph the Egyptian Prime Minister 91) Joseph's Temptation of Revenge 93) The Confessions of the Ten Tribes  |
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