Exaltation

Well this morning we Hope to complete chapter 41 together we're making Quite some headway through the last portion of the narrative Within Genesis and as we complete chapter 41, we want to pick up some of the things we left off with last week.

But we also as we work through the text want to consider Ways in which this whole chapter and specifically the events that take place from verse 41 forward Really present to us a Typology of the Lord Jesus and so we've talked about typology in the past.

I'll try to refresh our memories a little bit when we get to that point and then also if there's time Lord willing we can Draw some significant application. I Been considering the application in light of this major event Joseph's exaltation.

So what about our exaltation? What would the Lord have us glean from Genesis? Chapter 41. Last week we saw Joseph quite literally raised from the pit. Brought up out of prison out of that place of metaphorical death.

That's how a Hebrew and Old Testament ancient Near Eastern would have understood a pit a prison anything Subterranean its metaphorical death. Joseph's quite literally raised up out of the pit in order to interpret Pharaoh's dreams as we saw He he's forthright.

He has a faithful character. Though he's a young Hebrew. He has not lost his identity as a Hebrew. The interpretation does not belong to me. He tells Pharaoh but rather to God. God will give Pharaoh an answer as to his peace as to his welfare.

So he does not use the opportunity of standing before Pharaoh as a means of being sprung from prison. He actually uses the opportunity of standing before Pharaoh to glorify God to make known the living God to testify to God and he must have had every Expectation that when he gave the interpretation to Pharaoh it was perhaps going to be something that would free him.

Maybe it would just be a firm handshake a pat on the back and back to prison you go. He certainly was not expecting what takes place for the rest of the chapter. When Joseph spoke to Pharaoh he not only interpreted the dream.

But then using the wisdom that God had given him he urged Pharaoh with what must be done. Seven years of Harvest and plenty are coming, but it will be followed by seven years of devastation and your kingdom will not survive.

Therefore this is what you must do if you would escape the judgment of God that is to come. Joseph was aware of this imminent vision. But he had wisdom and faith that God was giving the revelation. So that steps could be taken to overcome it.

In other words Joseph sought to bring blessing where a vision of curse had been revealed and Pharaoh said to his servants Can we find such a one as this a man in whom is the spirit of God? And as much as God has shown you all of this there is no one so discerning and as wise as you.

You shall be over my house and all of the people shall be ruled. According to your word only in regard to the throne will I be greater? So we pick up in verse 41 this morning Pharaoh said to Joseph see I've set you over all the land of Egypt and he took his signet ring off his hand and put it on his finger.

And he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot, which he had and they cried out before him bow the knee. So he set him over all the land of Egypt.

Pharaoh also said to Joseph I am Pharaoh and without your consent. No man may lift his hand or foot in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh's not just giving out new clothes and jewelry to Joseph this is a public and a very formal act of Installing him in this position.

He is now being put forward as a vizier as a viceroy vice-regent Whatever term you'd like to use over all of the land of Egypt. And so there's a solemn formal public Dedication of this authority. This is a big upgrade from the neon orange jumpsuit that Joseph had been taken away from.

Signet ring is placed upon his hand. The signet ring would be so significant throughout antiquity. It would be that which a dignitary would press upon a wax or a clay seal. And it was sort of like a notary signature.

And so to have that was significant just for your own Identification, but if it was royal it was a way of saying this is the presence of authority. By this signet ring, it's sort of like the King's crown.

This is a emblem of the authority that Joseph has been given fine linen. This is more than just fine linen. This is actually Egyptian imperial clothing. There's a specific loan word that's brought into the the Hebrew shesh and it speaks of royal Wardrobes, so he's been given the dress in the ring of authority the gold chain.

Which again is probably something emblematic not only of nobility and wealth. But also of official status within the royal court and then he's given the second chariot. So Pharaoh has I'm sure more than two chariots.

But he's given the second chariot the idea here being the second best Chariot at Pharaoh's disposal. This would be in our terms Air Force two. So Joseph is cruising around Egypt in Air Force two in Every way Joseph has been granted authority beyond his wildest Expectation.

Freedom would have been something to hope for but he got more than freedom. He got authority over all of the land of Egypt.

This journey.

From pit. To prominence. From prison to privilege has taken the course of a decade filled with long nights of Tears. Fasting frustration hunger affliction despair and yet glowing beneath that resolve perseverance faith hope.

We saw the plea in his voice in the last chapter when he said to the cupbearer get me out of this house. Get me out of this prison. We know what was burning and vexing him night by night and day by day.

But we saw day by day that character of resolve. He was not just keeping the faith as though faith was positive thinking. Well here I am in another pit this time. It's a prison and I just need to find the bright lining.

Surely, there's a silver lining in the situation somewhere I should just focus on the good filter out the bad and and this will be how I keep my faith. I keep my spirits up. I have a positive outlook on life.

That's not the story of Joseph that should not be the way we look at keeping the faith or persevering in trusting God. We're reminded that Joseph was enduring the roller coaster of very difficult Providence in his life by keeping faith in God's Revelation.

In other words, he was not keeping faith by just trying to find the good or focus on the good. He was keeping faith by fixating his mind his heart his hope on all that God had revealed to him years in the past and though it did not seem possible That the family would come and bow before him and he would have this kind of authority this kind of prosperity.

He remembered that God had revealed that to him and though it seemed so distant so impossibly distant He lived by faith and what God had revealed. That's what it means to keep faith. Not positive thinking.

But trusting no matter how at odds it may seem in your life trusting what God has revealed. Joseph not only kept faith in God's Revelation. He worked out his faith with all integrity with all diligence.

Whether he was over Potiphar's household at the very top or underneath Potiphar's household in the prison Joseph sought to work with integrity to show forth a righteous character to give a testimony to the Living God.

To remember who he is and what has been promised to him and however unlikely that seems he's going to seek the righteousness Of God in God's kingdom first and let God add and take as he sees fit. So he's not seeking his ambition.

He's not even seeking his own comfort or safety. He's fully entrusting himself to God and he does that rather than neglect the path of righteousness. Very tempting when we become uncomfortable. When we feel that our own provisions our own needs are not being met.

We're tempted to stray from the path of righteousness. We might have a good end in mind. Actually, this is a good and godly thing. I'm desiring but we start to flirt with unrighteous ways of obtaining it and Joseph will not do that.

Joseph fully entrusts himself to the power and providence of God. Whatever my God ordains is right. That's where Joseph will find his rest and his peace. He works hard by faith. He lets God give increase he waters.

He says he builds he serves he toils. He has a godly work ethic and as always a godly work ethic will be blessed. Maybe not in the moment. Maybe not in the immediate season, but a godly work ethic will be blessed by God and.

Yet that godly work ethic does not become Joseph's solution. He's not working so diligently because he's relying on his own strength. He's trying to provide for himself. If anything we see Joseph is working hard out of a humble and gracious spirit.

He's humble and filled with gratitude and we find this reinforced in a few significant ways. Notice Joseph's exaltation reinforced to his mind in his heart. The almighty hand of God was upon his life.

He had known that all along though. There probably were many long stretches where he had Serious doubts and wrestling matches with the Lord where a lot of the laments and the Mascules of the book of the Psalms would be true of his own life in his own testimony.

But this experience in chapter 41 Would have drilled into his mind into his heart that the Living God had an almighty hand upon his life. And that because he had trusted God God had now exalted him. He had put his trust in the right place.

Not in himself not in his work not in a toil of his hands. But in God and in God's power. Notice what Pharaoh says to him in verse 41. See I have set you over all the land of Egypt. That's certainly how Pharaoh would view it.

But how does Joseph recall in chapter 45 verse 8? This is what Joseph says. God made me ruler over all the land of Egypt. Joseph understands. It's not my work my toil not even my faith. Not even my perseverance that has brought me to this place.

It's not Pharaoh and his power and the authority and the wisdom that he showed in exalting me. The reason I'm in this place is because God put me in this place. That's the faith of Joseph. He recognizes that God works in his own time.

He works at his own pace in his own mysterious way for his own glory. Joseph seeks to glorify God. Because he recognizes the work that God is doing and has done in his life is A work that God is doing to bring glory to his own name.

We have to understand brothers and sisters when it comes to our own work when it comes to our own faith when it comes to the things that we're seeking and striving after we have an eye toward God's glory so that we can Harmonize and enter into the work that God is doing in us and through us.

God is doing that work in us and through us so that he can be glorified. So if we enter into that work into that Providence in a way that we're seeking God's glory we'll find peace.

Fullness hope.

Satisfaction.

Refuge strength will find resolve and perseverance because we're Understanding the reason that God has brought us on this path. God expects us to be faithful to be patient to trust in his power in his purpose and Joseph was faithful patient trusting in God's power Understanding God's purpose.

He was humble. Waiting for God's plan to be revealed day by day week by week month by month. Year by year even past a decade. That's faith. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zafnath Pania and he gave him as a wife Asenath the daughter of Pontifera Priest of on sounds a lot like Potiphar, but two very different names two very different people.

Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt he was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh the king of Egypt and Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and Went through all the land of Egypt. So at the throne of the king Joseph has been given a new name a name that really is above every name in Egypt.

It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue as you all Ably demonstrate it in public reading. It's certainly not huzz and buzz, but it's got its own ring to it. Zapnath Pania it has a debated meaning. There was an article by a German scholar Gerhard Steindorf and he translates it as God has said he will live.

The relationship of those two phrases is Uncertain. It could be something causal because God has said he will live. It could rather simply be a statement all as a piece. God has said that he will live.

So the relationship is hard to understand between Zapnath and Pania. Others have suggested God speaks and he lives. So there's sort of a Sort of what we call a bi-colon. John Currid notes that the name may reflect this event that has brought Joseph this position in Egypt.

And so he translated translates that God has spoken through him and now he lives. The idea is now it's not that God speaks and he lives but God speaks through Joseph and that's why Joseph lives. But it also may signify he not as Joseph.

But actually as as Egypt as sort of the possession of Pharaoh often nations are Personalized in in the Old Testament. So God will speak through him or God will speak and he Egypt will live. Egypt will survive it.

All of these are possibilities to this name as was often the case in the ancient world. Not only does he receive this new name As one that has been brought into a new kingdom and a new position within that kingdom.

Daniel if you remember in Babylon the same experience. I Have more to say about Daniel when we when we get to it or actually at least a note about Daniel. I don't have a whole lot to say about Daniel.

I wish I wish we had more time for that. Notice also he's married as was often the case in the ancient world. Marriage seals a political advance. This is true of all cultures in antiquity. Joseph is married to Asena.

She's an Egyptian woman. She's from nobility. He's moving up from slave now to upper crust in Egyptian society. Some have been troubled by the fact that he marries an Egyptian. What have we seen throughout the patriarchal narrative?

Marry within the tribe marry within your own people. We saw the difference between Jacob and Esau in this very regard. We saw the concern of Abraham for Isaac in this very regard. Well, what about Joseph here?

Is he jeopardizing that covenantal lineage by going outside of his own people group in order to marry? I don't think so. Certainly. He's not marrying a Canaanite, which is what was forbidden to the Israelites in Deuteronomy.

But some are still troubled by this marriage in fact.

Older.

Rabbis connect the fact that there is an ass and F that is born to Dinah and they say well actually this is Dinah's daughter. And she was raised somehow by potty Farah. And so he is actually marrying his own people group and that's just simply not the case.

We'll see in a moment that though he marries an Egyptian woman. This is not a step back in his faith. This is not him pulling an Esau. He has not abandoned the way of the Hebrews or that covenantal calling upon his life.

Also, I don't think Pharaoh in seeking to honor and bless and enlarge Joseph would now give him a wife that would go against his convictions and even offend him or trouble him. That wouldn't be fitting to what Pharaoh is trying to do for Joseph.

And we also know what kind of man Joseph is if he can flee. With the garment still in Potiphar's wife's hand. He's certainly not gonna just go. Oh, what can I do? I guess I'm gonna have to marry her. We know he has that John Knox spirit.

He certainly would say no if he felt that she was not an equal yoke as a wife. Interestingly, there is a Jewish novel believe it or not Novellas existed in the Greco-Roman world and it's called Joseph and Asenath and it was a very popular work scholars think it probably began early in the first century maybe just prior to it and the whole plot basically is how Joseph falls in love with Asenath and and basically woos her over to become a proselyte and so Asenath becomes Jewish as a result of Joseph's conduct and religious observance.

And you can see why this would be such a popular account in the Greco-Roman world. Jews were spread all throughout and they were constantly being tempted to abandon their own ways and distinctions. So here's this account that says hey be like Joseph, you know win your wife over to that Hebrew influence.

Don't abandon your identity or your calling before God. For our purposes, this is the last thing I'll say about the wedding. It's probably significant that Joseph marries a Gentile bride. We're thinking typologically here.

It's probably significant that Joseph marries a Gentile bride. We're reminded of Joseph's age. He was 30 years old when he stood before Pharaoh. Some of you are not quite 30. Many of us are past 30. That's pretty impressive.

If you're under 30 think in a few years, would you be fit to rule over in a world empire? Prepare for imminent Famine and devastation. Would you be equipped for that work? If you're over 30 still that question remains could you tonight be flown to Washington DC?

I don't know if you'd want this to have Biden Install you as vice-president. It's quite a significant shift. It's quite an act of faith on Pharaoh's part. That this 30 year old convict ex-slave Prisoner is going to be fit to rule directly under him over all the land of Egypt.

But he recognizes the Spirit of God. He recognizes the wisdom of God and He submits to it. You now have this authority and as I said last week we have this picture again because Pharaoh has blessed Joseph because Pharaoh has listened to the Word of God that proceeds from Joseph's testimony.

Joseph's utterance as it were because Pharaoh heeds the word of the church. Pharaoh's Empire is preserved. It's saved. If Pharaoh rejects the testimony the utterance of the church Pharaoh's Empire will be Devastated.

So again, we see the significance of be wise. Oh Kings Kiss the son lest he be angry. Submit yourself bend the knee to the one who has revealed the Word of God. Calvin thinks there's more than one reason that his age is mentioned here.

First he says it's to truly show us that God had placed him in this position as we said not many 30 year olds Rise to this kind of power so suddenly but secondly he says we're reminded just how long Joseph had Suffered he had been a slave a prisoner an exile from his own family and from the promised land.

Now he's 30. He left his home when he was 17. He's 30 now 14 more years. Need to come before the fullness of what God is doing becomes revealed. God is very patient in his work. What I love about Joseph in this very Encounter think of him wasting away for years in the roundhouse like I said a Gaunt POW taken out of the Burmese jungle and now he's standing.

You know all hollowed in sunken eyes. Complete lack of nutrition who knows what diseases and what kind of pestilence he had and now he's standing there clothed Signet ring gold chain fine linens. He has all this authority.

He's riding around in the second chariot all are bending the knee and making way for him. And what's the first thing that he does? He's finally free. What's the first thing that he does? Ten months paid leave a trip to Fiji.

I just need some me time. He gets to work. After this whole ordeal. The first thing he does is he gets to work? Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went throughout all the land of Egypt. He immediately goes and says it's time to start Taking stock of of what we need what we have what needs to be built and how we're going to collect thing.

He gets to work right away again, this Sterling integrity is shining through his conduct. He's not focused on himself at all. He's always focused on the tasks that God has put before him verse 47. The famine finally comes seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly so he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt and laid up the food in the Cities and he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them.

Joseph gathered very much grain as the sand of the sea been a while since we've heard that phrase. Emblematic for the Patriarchs until he stopped counting it was Immeasurable. You remember God's revelation to Abraham along these very lines.

So we're being keyed in there's these themes that are now Revolving through the life of Joseph the diligence of Joseph meets the abundance of God's provision at least for these seven years. Across seven years most likely he's seeing Egyptians who are saying we've never had harvest like this.

You know we just keep thinking it can't keep going up next year can't be better than this and the next year is in the next year is the next year is and In times like that where the people are fat people are comfortable as God warns his own people in the Exodus account.

You will forget me.

Joseph cannot be led astray by the abundance that he sees for seven years. He has to stay on task. Yes, it's abundant now, but you don't know the judgment that is coming. He has to be almost like Isaiah and keep preaching.

Get ready for the famine. Get ready for the judgment. Get ready to be starved. Even as people are eating and saying tomorrow will be like today. What is this old fool wrapping on about? So Joseph has to maintain his faith again not positive thinking.

But walking by faith in what God had revealed to him. And he keeps diligently preparing and working in light of that revelation and. As he's doing that God sees fit to give him a family now. He's a father of two boys.

To Joseph we read verse 50. We're born two sons before the years of famine came whom Asenath the daughter of Potiphar a priest of on bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh meaning The one who brings about forgetfulness, I would probably be the best.

It's a participle for God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house and. The name of the second he called Ephraim for God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Ephraim being a way of saying fruitfulness.

The plenty of the fields. Corresponds with plenty in the household of Joseph. This really is a growing season. This really is a season of abundance. Most significantly. We were kind of weirded out that he marries a Gentile bride.

Most significantly. Joseph gives his two sons Hebrew names. He might look like an Egyptian he might walk and talk like an Egyptian. He might have an Egyptian name. But when it comes to his own household, he names his sons according to his Hebrew Identity his Hebrew culture and notice how he names them.

Not only does he not forget his culture his faith his covenantal heritage. He still is seeking to glorify God. God has done this. God is doing this. Look at what God has done now this dignitary whenever he has ambassadors from vassal kingdoms come over and stay with him.

Representing as he as it were the whole kingdom of Egypt. He can say I want to introduce you to my boys. Not zap not Panea, but Manasseh and Ephraim. What are these names? They're Hebrew names. Let me tell you about my people.

Let me tell you about my God. Let me tell you about how God has blessed me. Let me tell you about God's vision to me. Joseph recognizes that God has blessed him beyond belief. These names are filled with the blessing of God.

You have made me forget my father's house all the affliction I face there you have made me fruitful in the face of that affliction. Not only does it tell us of God's blessing. These names also tell us about Joseph's suffering.

It's almost melancholy, isn't it? These names God gets the glory God has blessed. God has made him to forget. God has made him fruitful. But embedded in these boys names is the pain of his father's household the wound of the afflictions of the past decade.

Plus Joseph Still has not forgotten What he has endured and though he can give glory to God and thank God for his blessing. The scars of the past decade remain remember the content of the revelation. God's revelation to him when he was 17 years old and thrown into that pit.

The revelation was not. You will be the king over a foreign land and all of the Egyptians will come and bow before you. That wasn't the vision. The vision was your brothers will come. Your brothers will come and bow before you.

Your own father will come and bow before you. The pain is still there and he's still clinging by faith to what God has shown him. It seems like he recognizes there's still something unfinished here and That's embedded in the names of his son.

My father's house my affliction. How is God going to bring this to pass? It seems like Joseph is almost wanting to forget but he he can't and God of course is preparing something better than Joseph could have ever understood.

As We've noted suffering is a major theme in the life of Joseph. Providence is perhaps the most significant theme. But right behind it is suffering. We saw that in Psalm 105 the emphasis that before Joseph became a ruler in Pharaoh's house.

He was sold as a slave his feet were hurt with fetters. His neck was in an iron collar. All of this until the word of the Lord had tested him. Same thing in Acts chapter 7 when Stevens giving a testimony He emphasizes the suffering.

The patriarchs becoming envious sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all of his troubles. That's Afflictions probably even a better translation out of his afflictions.

Then he gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh. It's interesting to me that Joseph though he's so Moved by the blessing and the generosity and the mercy of God. He will not lose sight of the affliction.

That's very instructive to us as believers. Very instructive. We live in a day where Christianity really is not faith in what God has revealed but faith as positive thinking. Just keep your chin up. And when it comes to actual suffering actual affliction trouble in this life.

So often the church has only been able to say just forget all that ignore the wounds forget the affliction. Just focus on the good. Look at the good in this. Don't you see how this is all something that you can be joyful about?

I Understand what the heart is and what the resolve is but Joseph captures it a little bit better. He gives glory to God. He sees the good hand of God, but not at the cost of forgetting the affliction.

It's kind of like you've caused me to forget the affliction of my fatherhouse. But as soon as you say it you're remembering it. We see in Joseph what we see in Jesus the scars of suffering are not erased.

And when it comes to The believers life Scars of our suffering are not erased. But they're covered over.

Faithfully.

Length by length time by time. They're covered over by the grace of God not erased. But covered over faithfully by the grace of God. He brings us to see patiently limping. Lee. How he is good and trustworthy.

I love what Jeremy Begbie. Just a world-class pianist, but actually a very good theologian in many respects. And there was an essay he wrote and he was reflecting on the difference between the crucifixion and the resurrection and how these things relate to Suffering in the place of suffering and the place of exaltation.

And so he speaks of the crucifixion the cross as Friday, right? And then of course resurrection being Easter. The resurrection does not erase the memory of Friday. This is Begbie. The resurrection does not erase the memory of Friday.

It confirms the cross as the focused place where the weight of the world's evil is borne away. Let me say that again because it's so profound the resurrection the exaltation. All right, the denouement the resolution that does not erase the memory of the cross.

What it does is it focuses. The cross as the place where all of the weight of evil is borne away. Easter does of course throw its light on Friday. In other words Jesus exaltation Of course throws its light upon his suffering but not as a soothing glow so much as a bright floodlight that exposes the rupture between Creator and creature the depths to which the human creature has sunk and the depths to which God's love is prepared.

To reach for it.

Very profound. Scars not erased the cross not ignored. But rather the exaltation shows us the significance of that affliction. Shows us the love and the patience and the mercy of God. When we follow after Joseph's example We'll find the same fruitfulness to be thankful for even in the midst of affliction.

Verse 53 following the seven years of plenty his his growing boys. Now give way to seven years of devastation. The seven years of famine began to come as Joseph had said the famine was in all the lands.

But in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when all the land of Egypt was famished the people cried to Pharaoh for bread and Pharaoh said to all of the Egyptians Go to Joseph. Whatever he says to you do it.

The famine was over all the face of the earth and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians and the famine became severe in the land. So all the countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain because the famine was severe in all the lands.

Do you get how significant it is that the famine was severe? It's repeated about five times the famine was severe. The famine was severe in the land. All of the land is going to Joseph to find sustenance to find survival.

As this interpretation had declared seven years of abundance became seven years of devastation. All of the people of the lands now quite literally could be translated all the people of the earth and the sort of localized understanding of the famine came to Egypt to buy grain because the famine was so severe and Here knowing we still have a about a quarter-inch left in the book of Genesis.

We're reminded if the famine was that severe. Surely it's being felt even in the land of Canaan. What could be going on in Canaan that all of the people of the land are now coming to Joseph? We begin to see the wheels of God's providence stirring preparing us for chapter 42.

Don't lose sight of the fact that speaking historically God is moving all of these kingdoms every grain head and every grain field across hundreds of thousands of acres. He's causing all of that to be swept by that Sorocco that hot wind as it sweeps across the land bringing seven years of devastation.

He's moving all of that the impact upon countless people countless families. He's bringing all of that to begin to work together. A Reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. That's just a staggering thought.

How many people would have wondered what is going on in all these years? What is happening? Why do we go from such abundance to such devastation and we're told so much of that answer is all being moved.

All the lands are being moved swirling around this coming reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers all of history is literally Revolving around the household of Jacob. All of history is revolving around the household of God the rise and the fall.

The blessing abundance and the devastating famine all of history revolves around the household of God. Let's talk about typology. I'll try there's so much to say here and I'm gonna try to behave. Yes, we won't have time.

We've been following a pattern ever since the call of Abraham. God had told Abraham You are blessed and you will be a blessing in fact. Whoever blesses you will be blessed. Whoever curses you will be cursed.

And we've been following this pattern in the life even of Joseph when Potiphar blessed Joseph. Potiphar's household was blessed when Pharaoh in this chapter blesses Joseph the household that is Egypt is Blessed.

God blesses Potiphar just as he blesses Pharaoh. Not for Pharaoh's sake not for Potiphar's sake but for Joseph's sake. Joseph blesses in this chapter the nations, right? All of the peoples of the lands all of the earth was coming to Joseph.

So now Joseph is beginning to fulfill the Abrahamic promise. You will be a blessing to the nation's you will be a blessing to the Gentiles. And in the midst of this famine Joseph is beginning to walk into this covenantal promise.

All of the earth is being blessed by the presence and faith of Joseph. The salvation of the world is hanging upon him the world in in the literature here of chapter 41. The world will starve and come to ruin unless they go and hear Joseph and are provided for by him.

In all of these ways we have a type of the Lord Jesus the true seat of Abraham who brings blessings to all of the nations and they will be Ruined unless they go and receive from him. We acknowledge when we hear things like bow the knee.

We can't help it here. Psalm 2.

Yeah, bend the knee be wise.

Those who bless him will be blessed. Those who Refuse to bend the knee refuse to kiss. The Sun will be consumed by his wrath. It's kindled in but a moment. Early Christians took this up. Maybe not directly connected to Joseph.

But do you know their favorite part of the Old Testament? And we say favorite because they quoted it the most often Psalm 110. Throughout the New Testament the Apostles Christians are embracing the truth of Psalm 110.

The Messiah is now reigning and if you would have mercy you must bow the knee to him today. I have begotten you rule in the midst of your enemies. That's what early Christians were gathering on a morning like this morning to pray and to restore their hope in Potiphar points juice.