A Weekly Meditation of Pastor Chang (October 11, 2009)

<The Greatest Statesman in Human History – Joseph in the Bible> (6)

 

After giving a perfect interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream and also providing a wise solution, the king of Egypt and his officers were amazed, impressed, and excited about Joseph. Pharaoh said, “Can we find anyone else like this – one in whom is the spirit of God?” Therefore, Pharaoh appointed and announced Joseph to be the second person in command of the entire nation besides the king himself. Namely, Joseph became the prime-minister of Egypt. Pharaoh gave Joseph his own signet ring, put him in garments of fine linen, put a gold chain around his neck, and had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command. Furthermore, Pharaoh gave a new name, Zaphenath-paneah, for Joseph and gave him Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Joseph started his job.

 

Amazingly in the human history, one may call it, “more than marvelous” -- a prisoner suddenly turned around and became the prime-minister of the most powerful nation, Egypt, in his time. It is only by the Providence of God that could make this miracle happened. But in fact, this happy result was because of Joseph’s past 13 years of obedience in training and discipline. In his past 13 years, he experienced of being sold by his own brothers as a slave, being betrayed and charged as a criminal by his master and mistress, and being forgotten by a friend who once received a very special favor from him. Now God promoted him. However, it was not the end of this amazing story, but just begun. God was going to use him to accomplish greater works.

 

The Bible says, when Joseph met Pharaoh, he was 30 years old. After being appointed as the prime-minister, he went through all the land of Egypt. During the first 7 years the earth produced abundantly. Joseph stored up grain in every city beyond measurable. Recently, some archaeologists discovered some underground storage which is about 5 to 10 floors lower than the ground level. People need travel more than 100 steps to reach the underground barns. It was really marvelous to see such a work for storing grain. No wonder, Joseph was called, “a saving start” of the nation. And from the uncovered witness, it was about the same age of Joseph – 3800 to 4000 years ago.

 

One can image how busy Joseph could be in the first 14 years as the chief executive of the office in the Egyptian government. The first 7 years, he was busy in managing the storage of grain; and the second 7 years, he needed to arrange and manage the distribution of grain because of famine. And he made everything in good order and fair.

 

Before the famine came, Joseph’s wife gave him two sons. He named his first born son, Manasseh, meaning: God has made me “forget” all my hardship and my entire father’s house. If one may complain about any shortcoming of Joseph, one may say, he intentionally forgot his father’s household. But, sometimes, “forgetfulness” is a good medicine of healing because it was too painful to Joseph; he intentionally let it go and forgot about it. Then, he named his second son, Ephraim, meaning: God has made me “fruitful” in the land of my misfortunes.

 

Because of God grace, Joseph experienced the love and blessing of God: He almost forgot the pain which was given to him by his brothers – the household of his father; also, he now experienced a great fruitfulness, so that he could enjoy. He was stabilized in terms of everything. If the story ended here, it would become meaningless, because Joseph was only a savior of his age or he was famous as a great prime-minister of Egypt, and that was it! But by God’s grace, the story continues moving on. Something good keeps going…