‘It is not in me’ - Part 3, The Response
2004 : Week 25  |  Printer Friendly Version  

Today we will look at Pharaoh’s response to all that has happened, and once again we will see God glorified and lifted up. Pharaoh quietly listens to all that Jospeh says. He hears Jospeh preach about God’s power to interpret the dream; then God provides the interpretation. He hears Joseph tell him that Egypt would face a horrible famine in seven years; then God provides a plan to get through the famine.

God’s plan for the survival of Egypt called for a wise man to be put in charge and execute the commands of the Lord. God provides for us in abundance, and God had placed the answer before Pharaoh; Joseph would be in charge of God’s plan. Pharaoh knew that the person standing before him was different then the wise men of Egypt. This man had something that the others did not; Joseph had a wisdom that was given to him from God. One of the powerful moments in this story is that God reveals this to Pharaoh and Pharaoh believes it,

	38 Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is a divine spirit?" 39 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.
	Genesis 41: 38-39 (NASB)

Pharaoh puts Jospeh in charge, because he could see God at work in Joseph’s life, and Pharaoh believed in the power of God. The scriptures show that Pharaoh believed what God prophesized would come to pass, so he picks Jospeh to execute God’s plan,

	40 "You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you." 41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put the gold necklace around his neck. 43 He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Though I am Pharaoh, yet without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
	Genesis 41: 40-44 (NASB)

The focus of this series has been the glory and power of our God. Jospeh knew it was God who brought all these things to pass, and he was merely and instrument of the Lord. This is why Jospeh does not take the glory for what God does. The false god’s of Egypt had failed Pharaoh, but our God had provided the answers through a willing servant. How amazing that Pharaoh proclaims the power of God over Egypt, and how amazing that he does so publicly.

This story brings glory to the name of God, and it also teaches us the great impact one willing, humble and obedient servant can have. If God can use one man, Jospeh, to carry out a plan that saved people in an entire region, what can God do with our lives if we are obedient? What can God do with an entire church that is obedient?

God is and will be glorified. The question is do we want to be used by Him to bring Him glory and praise? Is our goal in life to glorify God or to glorify ourselves? The things we do in our own power, for ourselves, will pass away one day. What will remain is our God and those He has chosen to be with Him for eternity. Wise people, like Joseph, will give glory to God and use their lives to glorify Him. In the end, nothing else will matter.

May the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you today and always…



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