Joseph's Promotion

Joseph’s new position of governor gave him the responsibility of managing financial matters for Pharaoh who was in turn responsible for managing the entire country.

Joseph not only received the signet ring, but Pharaoh “dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command…thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41-43).

I guess you might say that Joseph moved right up the corporate ladder of success. He went from having nothing to being in charge of Egypt. He was placed in a number of undesirable circumstances by God and each of these circumstances enabled him to grow in the wisdom and knowledge of God. With his faith and obedience, Joseph was able to serve God by serving others.

When we find ourselves in undesirable circumstances, we need to remember that we are in a training program to serve God better. Everyday day we live, we are being groomed to serve the One who gave us the breath of life. Each day of life gives us the opportunity to step forth and help someone in need.

Joseph obeyed God by appearing before Pharaoh and interpreting his dream. He gave God the credit for the interpretation which gave Joseph a closer relationship with God and also a closer relationship with Pharaoh. Pharaoh was convinced that Joseph was the man to carry forth the revealed plan.

We should keep in mind that Joseph was a Hebrew and not an Egyptian. Since he would have control over Egypt, Pharaoh felt he should do something to make Joseph more receptive to the Egyptians. What did Pharaoh do?

First of all, he changed Joseph’s name. He gave him an Egyptian name. Scripture tells us that “Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah” (Genesis 41:45). The name change was necessary because the Egyptians did not really like the wandering shepherds. Also, Egyptians were more geared to remembering Egyptian names than Hebrew names.

Then next event in Joseph’s life was to receive an Egyptian wife. “Pharaoh gave Joseph Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On” (Genesis 41:45). Potiphera was a very prominent Egyptian official, so this was another way to bring Joseph into the royal family.

It interesting to note that On was a well-known and respected religious center in Egypt. The only issue was that these people in On worshiped the son-god. Joseph, a man of God, had a pagan or heathen marriage. This did not affect his relationship with God because Joseph knew God was directing his steps.

Joseph was thirty years of age when he became governor of Egypt. During the first seven years, the years of abundance, huge quantities of grain was stored and would be sold to people during the next seven years or the years of famine. Grain was a universal product that was used in almost everything the people ate. It could be dried and it would not spoil.

When the famine did come, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold the grain to the Egyptians and people from surrounding countries.

Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain because the famine had spread to Canaan. As the brothers approached Joseph, who they did not recognize, “…bowed down to him with their faces to the ground” (Genesis 42:6).