Leslie M. John
Joseph, who was most loved one of his father, Jacob, was hated by
his brothers, and sold in to Egypt, where he was
elevated in to a very high position and died at the age of
one hundred and ten years old, full of age. Yet, when
another king arose in Egypt, he knew not who Joseph
was! His past days were filled with sorrow, when his
brothers threw him into a waterless pit, and later sold
him to Midianites, who pulled out Joseph from the pit
and sold him to Ishmaelites. Joseph’s brothers dipped
Joseph’s coat of colors in the blood of a goat and
showed to Jacob to give an impression that Joseph was
killed by wild animal. Genesis 39:1 “And Joseph was
brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of
Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him
of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him
down thither”. Joseph became an important figure in
Potiphar’s house. Joseph was well built and handsome
so Potiphar’s wife lured him but Joseph flew from that
wicket act. Potiphar’s wife acted as if Joseph tried to
seduce her, and so Potiphar put him in prison. There
were to cup bearers of Potiphar also in prison. Joseph
had dreams which he interpreted saying that they will
be restored to their old positions. He requested one of
the cup bearers to remember him before Potiphar, when
he is restored, but the cup bearer forgot him.
It was after two full years that Pharaoh’s chief cup
bearer remembered Joseph when Pharaoh had two
dreams and desired someone interpret his dreams.
Pharaoh was very much disturbed after seeing these
two dreams one after another. In one of the dreams he
saw seven sleek and fat cows grazed on the banks of
Nile and there came out of the Nile seven other cows
ugly and gaunt and ate up the seven sleek and fat cows.
In the next dream he saw seven heads of grain healthy
and good were growing good and then sprouted other
seven thin heads of grain, which swallowed up seven
healthy heads of grain. Not a single magician or wise
man in the land could interpret the dreams Pharaoh had.
This was the time when the chief cup bearer
remembered Joseph, who was with him in the prison,
and interpreted for him his dream that came true and
was restored to his position as chief cup bearer. The
chief cup bearer told Pharaoh about Joseph’s
interpretations of his dream that came true. Pharaoh
was delighted to know about Joseph and he immediately
called for him. Joseph was brought from the dungeon
and when he had shaved and changed clothes he was
presented before Pharaoh. Pharaoh explained to Joseph
the dreams he had and asked him to interpret. Joseph
gave the preeminence to God and said that it was not
through his own capability that he interpreted the
dreams but by God’s help. He also acknowledged that
he can not do any thing himself without God’s help. He
said it was God who will interpret the dreams for him.
After hearing from Pharaoh his dreams, Joseph with the
help of God, interpreted the dreams to Pharaoh, and
told him that the two dreams are one and the same. God
revealed that there will be seven years of abundance in
Egypt and then will follow seven years of famine.
Pharaoh was very much pleased with Joseph’s
interpretations of the dreams and, therefore, made him
in charge of the land of Egypt. Joseph managed
everything well with the help of God. He filled the
garners with food during the seven years of abundance
to meet with the needs of people during the seven years
of famine.
When we offer ourselves in to the hands of God, give
preeminence to God, and allow Him to lead us He will
elevate us. Though at present it may appear that we are
in bad position, yet it should be noted that it is God who
puts down one and it is He who elevates a person.
“Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside
to false gods” Psalm 40:4 At this point we may ponder on two verses. Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall
exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted. Jesus Christ, preaching about,
the hypocrisy of Pharisees and Scribes, who were full
of pride of their education, law, worldliness, etc. warns
severely, that whoever exalts himself shall be brought
low, but whosoever humble himself shall be exalted.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Let us not evince pride, haughty attitude, but be willing
to take low profile, so that God may elevate in his own
time. There is certainly hope that our living God will
not leave us in a low profile for a long time, but elevate
us in due season, and according to his plan. Joseph was
not left behind in prison, but he was not only released
from prison, but he was made ruler in Egypt.
Continued Part - II Joseph Part 2
This article is taken from my book "Meditation on Joseph's life".
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