Genesis 4:37 – 45 “This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.
And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”
Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah, (The name means “God speaks and lives.”) and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphar, priest of On, to be his wife. And Joseph took charge of all the land of Egypt.
Talk about turn – arounds! That morning when Joseph got up, he was still a slave and in prison. Joseph had to shave, bathe, and put on new clothing before he appeared before Pharaoh. As Joseph was interpreting Pharaoh’s dream, he was probably anticipating a return to prison within a short while. And when Joseph was advising Pharaoh to get an able administrator to handle the grain during the years of plenty, he had no idea that Pharaoh would name him to that position.
Joseph’s life turned around within a few hours. What helped Joseph? Despite all the years that Joseph had spent in captivity, he was neither resentful nor self – pitying. When Joseph left his prison that morning, he was a free man spiritually, even though he was still a prisoner physically. Later, the Psalmist David would say, “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God has surely heard; He has attended to the sound of my prayer. Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld from me His loving devotion!” (Psalm 66:18-20)
APPLICATION:God could bless Joseph and give him favor with Pharaoh because Joseph was not carrying around unforgiveness. Unforgiveness blocks God from blessing us. Look at all that Joseph had to forgive:
1. Joseph had to forgive his father for spoiling him.
2. Joseph had to forgive his brothers for envying and resenting him and selling him into slavery.
3. Joseph had to forgive those who had sent him to Egypt, no doubt abusing him on the way.
4. Joseph had to forgive Potiphar’s wife for falsely accusing him.
5. Joseph had to forgive Potiphar for believing his wife.
6. Joseph had to forgive the jailers for whatever they had done to him.
7. Joseph had to forgive the chief cup bearer for failing to plead on his behalf when the cup bearer was first restored.
8. Joseph had to forgive himself for all the problems he had created.
What burdens of unforgiveness are you bearing? The more resentment you have, the heavier the burden will be. Your unforgiveness is not hurting the people you hate; it is only hurting you. Why not get rid of those burdens? Pray right now.
PRAYER: Father God, I confess that I have not forgiven __________ for what they have done to me. (You can fill in the blanks; you might want to write out your list if it is long.) Lord, here and now I choose to forgive all of these people. I also choose to forgive myself for harboring resentment. Lord, please free me from the ravages of my own unforgiveness and let me move forward into your glorious will for my life. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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