Genesis 41:42

What A Ring May Mean

Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand. Genesis 41:42.

Rings are the most old-fashioned things in the world. They were worn thousands and thousands of years ago, and yet they are as fashionable today as ever. Why? Perhaps the chief reason is that rings have generally been worn as the sign of something. There has generally been some special meaning attached to the wearing of them. Let us have a look at the meaning of some of these old rings this morning.

1. A ring sometimes means authority. The first finger-ring mentioned in the Bible was a ring of authority. It is the ring of our text.

In ancient times, when very few could write, it was the custom for a man who was in any position of authority to wear a ring with some special badge or design. This signet ring was used to seal letters or documents. It was used to show that the person in authority really had given the orders contained in the letters or documents. If that person was a king and handed over his signet ring to another it meant that this other, when he used the ring, had all the power and authority of the king himself. So you see it was a tremendous honor for Joseph to be given Pharaoh's own signet ring.

In Egypt, in earliest times, signet rings such as that of Pharaoh were very much worn. You can see some of these old rings today, for they have been dug up out of the Egyptian tombs and ruins. They are usually of pure gold. They are heavy and massive, but their design is simple. What jewelers call the “bezel” the flat bit which bears the design is oblong, and on it are deeply graven the name and title of the owner.

But it was not only in ancient Egypt that the ring of authority was known. It was worn also in ancient Rome. There only ambassadors were granted the right to wear a gold ring. This right was called the jus annuli aurei. Later it was extended to other officers of the state, and later the soldiers and the free citizens of the great republic were allowed to share the coveted privilege of wearing a gold ring.

But we have rings of authority today. A Bishop's ring is the sign of his authority as a Bishop. In early days the Bishop's ring was of plain gold. Later it came to be set with a sapphire. The early rings were very large, for they were intended to be worn on the fore-finger of the right hand over the glove. The Bishop's ring was considered so much his that it was buried with him.

Then the reigning Pope has a famous ring of authority. Its form is always the same. It is a ring with a device of the apostle Peter in a boat drawing a net from the water. So it is known as “the fisherman's ring.” When a Pope dies his ring is broken. Then when a new Pope is elected a new ring with a blank for the name is brought into the Conclave (that is, the council which has just elected him). It is placed on the finger of the newly-made Pope. He then declares what name he intends to take, and hands back the ring that the name may be engraved on it.

2. A ring sometimes means slavery.

During the days of the later Roman Empire an iron ring was the mark of a slave. It meant that he was not his own master, he was somebody's property.

Some of you have read Ivanhoe. Do you remember the serf's ring there? Only it was not a ring for the finger. It was a brass ring like a dog's collar soldered fast round the man's neck. You remember that on it was the inscription, “Gurth, the son of Beowulph, is the born thrall of Cedric of Rotherwood.”

And a ring can mean slavery still. Some years ago a little Indian lady came to pay a visit to this country. She was married, and her hostess asked her why she did not wear a wedding ring. “I do,” she answered. “I will show it to you.” She raised her sari and showed, far up on her arm, what looked like a very strong golden hoop. “It is gold on the top,” said she, “but it is iron underneath. When I was married this ring was welded on to my arm. It will never be taken off in this life; it will remain on when I am dead.”

Boys and girls, do you know anything like that strange wedding ring? I do. Its name is sin. Sin generally seems so pleasant to begin with. It is the golden hoop. But it holds with the strength of iron. We cannot free ourselves from it. God alone can break its band.

3. But a ring oftenest means love.

That is the meaning of your mother's wedding ring. It signifies a pledge or promise that will not be broken, a love that hopes to be as endless as the ring itself. For you can go round and round a wedding ring, but you will never come to an end of it. And, because it means love, such a ring is the most sacred and beautiful and precious of all rings. The rarest of sapphires and diamonds and emeralds cannot compare with it in value, although it is only a little circlet of plain gold. An engagement ring means love too. So does the ring which we call a mourning ring, for it is worn in memory of someone loved and lost.

Are there no rings of love in the Bible? There is one in particular. Do you know where to find it? You will find it in the story of the Prodigal Son. You remember how the prodigal's father welcomed him and called for the robe and the shoes and the ring. These were not necessary articles of clothing. They were special marks of honor. The young fellow had come back daring to hope only for the position of a servant. But the father gave him the best that was in the house. He did more than merely forgive him. He showered on him the gifts of love.

And that is God's way still, boys and girls. We may be wearing the iron ring of slavery to sin. If we go to Him and ask Him to loose it, He will not only do so, He will not only forgive, He will welcome us with rejoicing and the golden ring of love.