41. So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt."
42. Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
43. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way !" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."
45. Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt.
47. During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.
48. Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.
49. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50. Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
51. Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household."
52. The second son he named Ephraim and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
53. The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end,
54. and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
55. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
56. When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt.
57. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.
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2 comments:
Interesting how Joseph also spends 7, 7 years just as his father. 14 years of trial/work?
From a slave to commander of Egypt. What a drastic status change.
It is through the years of tribulations Joseph was molded into the man of God we see here.
LOL. Too bad we weren't so wise during our periods of plenty (internet bubble and real estate bubble). Seriously, God gave Joseph those visions. But then Joseph and the Pharaoh had the wisdom and discipline to act upon that information.
I think most of us know what God wants us to do. He gives us plenty of warnings. Unfortunately, we are often too short-sighted or greedy or lazy or apathetic. We know what is best for us, yet we willfully turn away from the wise or prudent course. From eating right, exercising, being honest with one another, having quiet time with God, the list goes on. Why are we so self-destructive?
After spending the last few days watching the financial crisis unfold, this passage seems awfully revelant.
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