Genesis 41:38

JOSEPH EXALTED. -- Genesis 41:38-48.

GOLDEN TEXT. -- Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. -- Psalms 37:5. TIME. --About B. C. 1812. PLACE. --Egypt. LESSON ANALYSIS. --1. Favor in the King's Eyes; 2. The Servant Made. Ruler; 3. Joseph Over the Land of Egypt.

INTRODUCTION.

The divine Providence which watched over Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, watched over Joseph even in the land of the stranger. The slave rose with. rapidity surprising, though by no means unparalleled in Eastern kingdoms, to be the all-powerful vizier of the king of Egypt. He was first bought by Potiphar,. chief officer of the king, the captain of the guard, by whom he was speedily promoted to the care of his whole household. The entire confidence of the master in the prudence and integrity of the servant is described in these singular terms:--"He left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he knew not aught that he had save the bread he did eat." The virtue of Joseph was in other respects equal to his integrity, but not so well rewarded. Falsely accused by the arts of his master's wife, whose criminal advances he repelled, he was thrown into prison. The dungeon opens the way to still further advancement. Wherever he is he secures esteem and confidence. Like his former master, the keeper of the prison entrusts the whole of his responsible duties to the charge of Joseph. But the chief cause of his rapid rise to fortune and dignity is his skill in the interpretation of dreams. Among his fellow prisoners were the chief cup-bearer, and chief purveyor of the king. Each of these men was perplexed by an extraordinary vision. The interpretation of Joseph was justified by the fate of both; one, as he had predicted, was restored to his honors, the other suffered an ignominious death. Through the report of the former, the fame of Joseph, in. character so important among. superstitious people, reached the palace, and when the king himself was in the same manner disturbed by visions that baffled the professed diviners of the country, Joseph was summoned from the prison..... The information we obtain from the Mosaic narrative, concerning the state and constitution of Egypt during this period, is both valuable in itself and agrees strictly with all the knowledge that we acquire from other sources. Egypt had long been the great corn country of the ancient world, now in. high state of cultivation, but dependent for its fertility on the overflow of the river on whose banks it lay. Should the annual increase of the Nile be interrupted, the whole valley would remain. barren and unvegetating waste. The cause of the long period of famine is nowhere indicated, but it was by no means. local calamity; it extended to all the adjacent countries.. long and general drought, which would burn up the herbage of all the pastoral districts of Asia, might likewise diminish that accumulation of waters which, at its regular period, pours down the channel of the Nile.-- Milman.

I. FAVOR IN THE KING'S EYES.

38. Pharaoh said,... Can we find. man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Joseph had interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh in such. manner that he was convinced that the interpretation was correct. He had declared that it was not his skill, but the wisdom of God, that gave the interpretation. He had then advised the king what ought to be done to avert the famine predicted.. wise and prudent man should be appointed to the general superintendence, and through agents he should gather and store away in granaries one-fifth of the produce of the seven abundant years that were promised before the famine. One-fifth of the product would be. tax upon the land, Intended for the highest general good, and would not be excessive in. country where seventy per cent. has often been taken with no excuse, such as that which existed in the time of Joseph. The bearing of the Hebrew had so impressed Pharaoh that he had resolved to choose him to the important trust of superintending the preparations; Joseph had affirmed that it was God who interpreted through him; hence Pharaoh designated him when he spoke of "a man in whom is the spirit of God." Some have thought from these words that Joseph preached Jehovah to him more plainly than is related. There are indications in the monumental history of Egypt that before and beyond the Egyptian idolatry there was. belief in the one great God. Hence it is not surprising that at this early age Pharaoh should make. partial acknowledgment of Joseph's God.