Joseph’s Rise to Power – Genesis 41:37-57

Jesus taught, “Whoever humbles himself will be exalted,” and the exaltation of Joeph is certainly spectacular.  He goes from slave and prisoner to second only to Pharaoh.  Walton notes, “Placing Joseph second-in-command may mean several different things. The second-in-command in all administrative matters in ancient Egypt was the Grand Vizier, also called the “Overseer of the Royal Estates.” It is not impossible that Joseph is given that position. But there are other posts that could make the claim of being second-in-command in the area of their responsibility. This is similar to a company today that has a President/CEO and a staff of vice presidents: Vice President of Production, Vice President of Marketing, Vice President of Legal Affairs, and so on. Each of these individuals can legitimately claim to be second-in-command in his or her particular area…It is not unusual to find accounts of officials elevated from lowly status to high positions of authority.”  It may not be unusual, but there is little doubt that God engineered this meteoric rise to greatness.

[37] This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. [38] And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” [39] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. [40] You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” [41] And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” [42] Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. [43] And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. [44] Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” [45] And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

[46] Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. [47] During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, [48] and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. [49] And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.

[50] Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. [51] Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” [52] The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”

[53] The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, [54] and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. [55] When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.”

[56] So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. [57] Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. (Genesis 41:37–57, ESV)

Pharaoh and all his servants see in Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams and his recommendation for action as extremely valuable, and as inspired by God, so they are disposed to elevate him.  In addition to his new job, Joseph is also given a wife from the powerful priestly house of On, deepening his respect among the leadership of Egypt.  Giving Joseph an Egyptian name helps him become “fully integrated into the royal court” (ESV Study Bible), as does giving him his signet ring, clothing and a kind of “secret service” detail to travel with (Walton).

Before the lean years predicted by the dream come, Joseph is blessed with two sons, Manasseh (so named because he has helped Joseph forget his suffering) and Ephraim (because God has made him fruitful).  When the lean years come, Joseph is able to feed the “world” from the excess he has stored during the prosperous years.  Though Moses says “all the earth” came to Egypt, we should not suppose that Indians or Chinese or Greeks came, but rather the middle east area.

What God has promised to Abraham, that in him all nations of the earth would be blessed, is coming to fulfillment through his offspring.  It will reach its fullness of fulfillment in his greatest offspring, Jesus, whose blessing has truly reached the entire world.