God's Plan In Motion: Genesis 41:33-45

The world is far too interested in its own agenda and its own worldview to genuinely bow to God and accept Him as God.  The world wants what it wants, it is not interested in wanting what God knows is best for it.  The world thinks it knows what is best without needing to submit to God’s ways.

Joseph does more than interpret dreams.  Joseph gives a suggestion about how to manage the coming years.  He tells Pharoah to appoint a wise man who can take food from the years of plenty and store it up for the years of famine.

This is a very bold move.  From Pharoah’s perspective, Joseph is an unknown element who quite literally came from prison.  He’s not even an Egyptian.  He doesn’t follow the same gods, he probably doesn’t speak the language without some sort of foreign accent, and his Mesopotamian heritage no doubt makes him look different than the Egyptians.  Other than the interpretation of the dreams God gave him, Pharoah has no reason to listen to Joseph’s thoughts.

Even so, Joseph remains obedient to God.  God had given him the interpretation, but God also gave Joseph a plan moving forward.  The whole reason God kept Joseph in prison was to eventually save His people in Canaan when the famine hits.  God brought Joseph to Pharoah now to get the plan going.  The time is now.

Pharoah hears the plan and is pleased.  If God is generous and giving an abundance, storing it makes sense.  Pharoah does more than commend Joseph’s plan.  In Joseph, Pharoah sees a leader.

How cool is God’s provision?  Pharoah should have seen an odd-sounding odd-looking Mesopotamian slave trying to give advice to one of the greatest leaders of the ancient world.  Instead, Pharoah sees a man with a plan backed by divine power.  Because of God, Pharoah looks past social boundaries, class boundaries, and even racial boundaries to see someone to be valued.

Observe how the world values God.  When Pharoah sees God in Joseph, Joseph receives a signet ring.  Joseph gets a fancy robe.  He gets a chariot and servants.  He gets a wife, a daughter of a priestess of the sun god Ra [We don’t know Potiphera was a priestess of Ra, but the city On was known for its devotion to Ra].  Because of God, Pharoah places Joseph above everything in Egypt except the throne.

While all this is great, Pharoah does not humble himself to God.  Pharoah appreciates God.  Pharoah values what God can do for Egypt.  Pharoah does not seek out Joseph’s God for himself.  Pharoah is interested in reaping what God is willing to sow, but he is not willing to follow God.

The world happily accepts the good God throws its way.  The world does not readily accept the call to submission.  The world is far too interested in its own agenda and its own worldview to genuinely bow to God and accept Him as God.