Daily Thought for: 11th February
JOSEPH (4)
Genesis 41
We now come to Josephs exaltation. He had to languish in prison another
two years before the events of chapter 41 take place, but such is the strength
of his faith that he remains true to the Lord. Even if the butler had forgotten
him there is One who would never forget; Yet will I not forget thee. Behold,
I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands, Isa. 49. 15-16. The hopelessness
of men to interpret Pharaohs two dreams causes the butler finally to remember
him, v. 9. We see more of the greatness of Josephs character when he confesses
before Pharaoh that it is not he himself but the Lord who will give the
answer, v. 16. He reminds Pharaoh of this again in verse 25, never losing
an opportunity of testimony for his Lord.
The humiliation and exaltation of Joseph is but a picture of the heavenly
Joseph, the Lord Jesus Christ: who being found in fashion as a man, humbled
himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every
name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father,
Phil. 2. 8-10.
There is a dispensational setting in these events (a dispensation being
a period of Gods government over the affairs of men). The years of famine
might illustrate the future time of Jacobs trouble, Jer. 30. 7, the
Great Tribulation. After the second advent of Christ the nation will be
delivered and the millennial reign be ushered in. Through the years of His
reign of peace and plenty there will be no end of His resources; cf. v. 49.
Another dispensational foreshadowing is Josephs taking of a Gentile bride
prefiguring Christ and His bride the church, v. 45. Joseph is called by
Pharaoh Zaphnath-paaneah which could mean either Saviour of the world
or Revealer of secrets; both names speak again of the Lord Jesus. Finally,
Joseph calls his first son Manasseh which means travail, and his second
son Ephraim which means fruitfula further reminder of the Lord Jesus,
for He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied,
Isa. 53. 11.