The Life of Joseph - From Prison To Prime Minister - Part 13
Salvation Calls For Service - Genesis 47 verses 13-31
He was born in 1879 in the small town of Rangpur in Pakistan, and had a distinguished academic career, being educated at Oxford University, and was Master of University College Oxford from 1937-44. But his memory is honoured by millions of people, whose lives have been changed and enhanced, not by his academic career, but by his short term as a Liberal Member of Parliament from 1944 when he introduced the Beveridge Plan, a blueprint for social security and the welfare state. Great Britain would surely have been the poorer were it not for the great work of William Henry Beveridge who was created Baron Beveridge of Tuggal in 1946 for his outstanding contribution to the welfare of this nation. Nearly 4000 years ago Egypt was a major world power, with an unequalled record in its culture, literature, the arts, mathematics and military prowess, yet it was facing total extinction. Famine had hit it as never before and had it not been for God's gracious provision in raising up Joseph, the history books would have had to be re-written. Millions of people owed their lives to this outstanding man, who was known as their saviour. The nation was facing...
Starvation Verses 13 - 15
... No Food! Verse 13 tells us that "There was no food in the whole region because the famine was severe". Joseph was their only hope and if he got things wrong they were on their way out! We are also told in verse 13 that...
... Countries Wasted Away! Both Egypt and Canaan were really up against it; they had their backs to the wall! What a picture of civilisation today. There is a spiritual and moral famine in the nations of the world like a threatening cloud. We have seen national leaders accused of bribery and corruption, and even in the so-called Christian country of England there has been a decline of moral standards which has been frightening. Immorality and sexual abuse is widespread with paedophiles being found in positions of authority and responsibility. The suicide rate of the under 24's has doubled in the past 10 years and news that would have hit the headlines of the national press only 20 years ago is now treated as normal. Members of the British Cabinet are reported as saying that they want all children to be taught that homosexual relationships are as normal as heterosexual! Today marriage is generally regarded as an outdated institution; it is called a meaningless ceremony with an equally meaningless bit of paper! Before we criticise the politicians, we need to ask ourselves what kind of example do we, as Christians, give to the world? Do we commend Christian marriage, or is there constant bickering and quarrelling. These are questions which demand an answer!. In Old Testament days, at the end of the period of the judges, it was recorded that "everyone did as he saw fit" (Judges 21 verse 25) and shortly afterwards we read that "the Word of God was rare in those days" (1 Samuel 3 verse 1). There was no "spiritual food" to strengthen their moral fibre, no God-given word to guide and correct them and today is an echo of that scene. Too often the Church is weak, even impotent, offering no solutions to the problems of life and having no influence in the world at large. Many people see it as a total irrelevance. The Bishop of Edinburgh has said "God knew when He made us that He has given us a built-in sex drive to go out and sow our seeds. He has given us promiscuous genes. I think it would be wrong for the church to condemn people who have followed their instincts". With such a lead it is small wonder that according to Newsweek magazine, in the USA sexually transmitted diseases strike 3 million teenagers every year.
In the land of Egypt at the time of Joseph the prospect was bleak and starvation threatened the people….
... Death was Imminent. But let us make no mistake about it, there is a far more serious threat than physical death. Eternity is as real today as it was when Jesus warned his hearers to "flee from the coming wrath". We might well ask “is there no hope?” Is there no spiritual food to feed the starving multitudes? Thank God that when Egypt faced death and even extinction, in a desperate situation He had provided a Saviour and...
... They Came to Joseph! He was their only hope. Would he let them down? Would he make impossible demands upon them or even refuse them because of their poverty? Their very lives hung on the answer to such questions. How could he handle such an impossible situation? There had to be…
Surrender Verses 16 - 26
... Joseph Brought Salvation. Thankfully Joseph was God's deliverer to meet the needs of the hour. We, too, can thank God that He has not left us without hope. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Unchangeable One. Do you and I really take advantage of the free and full salvation available in Christ? New political leaders may bring relief to some, but only Christ is the real answer! Joseph appointed commissioners to help him, and in a similar way we are called to spread the news of salvation in Christ.! In verses 18 and 19 we see that...
... They Came to an End of Themselves. There was no pretence, no offers to pay if they were given time. They were destitute and they knew it. Spiritually this is man's greatest need; we must realise that we are lost without Christ; that He alone can satisfy the deep hunger of our hearts; that only Christ can quench the thirst of our souls! If you don’t know Christ as your Saviour then this is your greatest need. We can no more provide for our spiritual needs than could the people of Egypt provide food for their bodies! Joseph alone could meet the physical needs of the people of Egypt, and when he had done this he told them...
... "I Have Bought You". He had saved them, so their lives now belonged to Pharaoh, whom he represented and served. This is a powerful picture of the way in which Paul reminded his readers that they were "not their own; they were bought with a price", therefore they should honour God with their bodies which belonged to Him. When writing to the Christians in Rome Paul challenged them to "offer their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God".
These are important issues which we should all take to heart, for they apply to Christians of our day as much as to those to whom they were originally written! Finally we see…
Sadness Verses 27 - 31
... Seventeen Wonderful Years. It is remarkable that Jacob enjoyed Joseph for the first 17 years of the boy's life and finally for the last 17 years of his own life! His son had cared for him and provided for him. In the midst of a terrible national famine Joseph had made sure that his father and brothers had everything they needed (verse 27) and as well as Joseph being Prime Minister, he had five sons in Government service (Genesis 47 verses 1-6)! Now the time has come for Jacob to leave this pleasant scene, and he has important business to transact! So he calls for Joseph, as his executor, and tells him...
... Israel Must Die. The wording of verse 29 in the Hebrew is strong, with an emphasis on Israel MUST die. This is a timely reminder to us that "it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgement (Hebrews 9 verse 27)". We should all live our lives in view of the Judgement Seat of Christ, so that, as John says, "we may not be ashamed before Him" (1 John 2 verse 28)). The Bible is a book of life and rarely deals at length with deathbed scenes. Abraham's death is described in a few verses, Isaac's death is told briefly; so is the death of Joseph. In the New Testament the deaths of most of the chief characters are not even mentioned. In the light of this it is somewhat surprising to find that the death of Jacob occupies 73 verses, covering part of four chapters.
... "When I Rest with my Fathers". This was a clear witness to his faith in a life to come. He knew his life did not end at death. There was a glorious future awaiting him! He was going to be re-united with his father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham.
... "Bury Me Where They are Buried". He wanted his body to be "in the Promised Land" to which he knew Israel was going to return! He relied on the promises of God - Hebrews 11 counts him as one of the men of faith!
We need to determine by God's grace to stand up and be counted. To be His representatives in a desperately needy world!