8-12-18 Today in the Word

Today in the Word
August 2018
Joseph and God’s Plan
JOSEPH EXALTED
Sunday, August 12, 2018 | Genesis 41:37–45
As a child, Chris Gardner was abused and placed in a foster home. As a young adult, he struggled with homelessness while trying to raise a child. Through persistence and some relationships, however, he became the CEO of a stock-brokerage firm. His life story inspired the movie The Pursuit of Happyness.
In our passage, Joseph has also had a remarkable reversal of fortune. He woke up that morning in a prison. By the end of the day, he was proclaimed second in command in Egypt, the most powerful nation in the world.
Pharaoh recognized the God-given wisdom of Joseph and so entrusted the management of the kingdom to him (v. 41). The rest of the passage describes the details of how power was transferred to Joseph. The signet ring was more than a symbol. It gave Joseph the authority to speak and act in Pharaoh’s name (v. 42). The fine robes and gold chain demonstrated Joseph’s favored status at a glance. Riding in a chariot with runners clearing the way would be similar to a presidential motorcade today (v. 43). To complete his transformation, Pharaoh gives Joseph a new name and the daughter of a powerful priestly family as his wife (v. 45). If Joseph thought that the ornate robe his father Jacob had given him was special, Pharaoh has far surpassed this to elevate Joseph above all others.
Review this chapter to see all the times that Joseph gives God the credit for his ability and wisdom (vv. 16, 25, 28, 32). This served as a testimony to Pharaoh himself. Joseph recognized that God had led him to this position. Joseph had learned that God was present and faithful when he was a lowly slave and prisoner, and this allowed him to trust God with the credit when he became a powerful advisor to Pharaoh.
APPLY THE WORD
God delights to use the unexpected and the unlikely to fulfill His purposes. The apostle Paul reminds us that God often does this so that our only boasting can be in the Lord (see 1 Cor. 1:26–31). Be encouraged today that if God can use a prisoner, a shepherd, or a runaway prophet, He can use you.

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