Qs: How was Joseph in Genesis an effective businessman?
He had character, the holy fear of God and convictions inside. He had a relationship with God by faith. Let's look at it again in the Word for illumination ..real close and together we'll notice the ways in which Joseph performed with excellence. He had taken hold of God's grace for this important assignment.
Q. Was Joseph in Genesis inspired by God to become such an exemplary businessman? Yep, it was His plan from before the foundations of the world. And He has plan for your life as well! Pray and inquire of Him on that.
God's plan was to get Jacob and his family in Canaan down there to Egypt for a time (70 in all). What was His over-arching purpose for them and the nations?
He had character, the holy fear of God and convictions inside. He had a relationship with God by faith. Let's look at it again in the Word for illumination ..real close and together we'll notice the ways in which Joseph performed with excellence. He had taken hold of God's grace for this important assignment.
Q. Was Joseph in Genesis inspired by God to become such an exemplary businessman? Yep, it was His plan from before the foundations of the world. And He has plan for your life as well! Pray and inquire of Him on that.
God's plan was to get Jacob and his family in Canaan down there to Egypt for a time (70 in all). What was His over-arching purpose for them and the nations?
To have a holy nation giving witness of Him. God had the blessing and saving the people of the then known world on his heart. He still has the lost people of this world on His heart -- so many are sadly starving.. yes, perishing not knowing Him at all.
And think about this.. Joseph had two things going for him in this work. God on his side. He had the Lord and a God-given gift. Yes, an ability to understand and interpret dreams. And people were blessed when Joe employed his gift for God’s glory.
He went to work on the dreams of others, helping em, and God fulfilled his own dreams. Are you helping others--going to work on the dreams of others or only on your own?
Joseph was a transplant of sorts. He was selfishly sold into slavery.. into the Egyptian economic system. Egypt was bankrupt. Everyone was going to starve to death during that severe famine.
Some people say that Joseph was not a good businessman because of his choice to bring everything under the throne of the king, because God had to eventually via Moses deliver the poorly treated enslaved Jews from the Egyptian population and a later ruler there.
Q. Was it God’s will for Joseph to be in Egypt administrating as he did? Yes, and the benefit of him bringing all under the throne went back to blessing the people. The stored blessing, wasn’t merely for self or stopping with the king, but was turned back to blessing the people. Their lives were all saved by Joseph in the will of God.
Are you anointed to do what you are now doing? What has the Lord called you to be and do?
God was with Joseph and made him successful for a great purpose. A wise businessperson of any era will be in the will of God and doing the will of God there. God long had a plan for the Jews to be free from a hardhearted leader later on.
The life of Joseph helps us define true success. By God’s grace anointed Joseph became better and succeeded in a very worldly sense with his career. But more importantly, he succeeded with God in all areas of life. These verses of Genesis help us to refine our priorities as we think about the direction of our lives.
With age we each can become bitter or better. These verses that sum up the life of this truly successful businessman are striking for what they include as well as for what they omit. There was no bitter revenge or hate in Joseph. These verses include mention of the businessman’s family prioritized, that Joseph lived exemplary before his family. He did act as a fool -- the blessing of God with Jacob went via Joseph on to his great-grandchildren and further. I like who these verses include Jacobs final words of faith and hope that he left with his sons and the gracious words of Joseph for his fearful brothers.
Recognition. When Joseph saw that his brothers’ hearts were humble, and when he heard them confess their sins, he knew it was safe to reveal his identity to them. Joe wanted to see how they’ve treated Benjamin (Passed the test).
Reconciliation. Joseph said, “Please come near to me” (v. 4). He had forgiven them, but they were still afraid. In fact, they would still be afraid seventeen years later (50:15–21). In Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God, and we need not fear judgment (Rom. 8:1; 2 Cor. 5:18; Col. 1:20). God wants us to draw near to Him (Heb. 10:19–25; James 4:8).
Reassurance. Why be mad about secondary causes, when God has a primary purpose in it--a plan to preserve Israel and prepare the way for the birth of Christ. Joseph went to work on other’s dreams and God fulfilled his own dream. Joe explained the meaning of other’s dreams and administered for the blessing and saving of others. God had sent Joseph before his bros to Egypt to preserve the nation so that Israel could be a blessing to all the earth (You can see the compassionate missionary purpose of God in all this 12:1–3). God’s providential purpose did not minimize the sins of the brothers or negate their responsibility for what they did (Acts 2:23; 3:13–18), but it did help to ease their fear and sorrow after they had changed in their hearts. Joseph further reassured them by giving them gifts and promising to care for the whole family.
The Butler-cup-bearer totally forgot Joe (40:13–15), but recalled him on the day Pharaoh became disturbed because he could not find the meaning of his strange dreams.
The Secret of Pharaoh’s Dreams (41)
God’s ways are past finding out, but God’s time to act is never too early or too late. “God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (v. 16). He explained the dream: there would be seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. Then he gave wise counsel: appoint a wise man to administer the food supply. God directed Pharaoh to appoint Joseph, so now he was exalted to the throne! See also 1 Peter 5:6.
The Secrets of His Brothers’ Hearts (42–44)
A. The first visit (v. 42).
B. The second visit (chaps. 43–44).
The Secret of God’s Purpose (45)
Joseph revealed himself and the worldwide purpose for which God had sent him. Acts 7:13 makes it clear that it was “the second time” that he revealed himself, just as it was the second time that Israel received Moses after rejecting his leadership forty years before (Acts 7:35). When Christ comes to earth the second time after the Rapture of His Church, his brethren the Jews will recognize Him.
Joseph is a good illustration of Jesus Christ -- his life is one ongoing experience of good crisis management on different levels.
--Listen, crisis is no respecter of persons--certain crisis come to all of us if we live here long enough. Crisis cause us and help us to reexamine or reevaluate the main purpose of our life, the priorities of our lives (Gen 41:55 Whatever he says do it [the people were loyalty is to Joseph and grateful for his administration).
Ask.. is what I am doing and pursuing good. Will I say It was worth it! I never want to say I should have done this or done that instead.
--I say after any Crisis in your life go do this: Write yourself an honest catastrophe report. Log what happened, what was learned through it, and what now needs to happen. What practically needs to be done. You’ll see that many or all of the most important things of life are still intact. (Interesting: You find out what you really believe--some things are sacred and [as far as Joseph is concerned] nothing is secular to him. (Our faith must be applied to every area of life for God’s glory! Romans 12:11 basically teaches us that “For the believer, nothing is secular but also what is sinful.” ~ Benson).
Interesting how Pharaoh didn’t ever let that crisis take from the priests in Egypt (Gen 47:22)
When you’re treated wrongly, do you become vindictive. Do you seek revenge or you do seek God’s strength to forgive people in your heart? Take a takes a closer look at the life of Joseph who had every right to become angry, to take revenge for himself, but instead became better by obeying God. Joseph showed forgiveness.
--Pressing forward is wise to do, advancing-spiritually through a period of crisis wisely is the right approach, but there are times when it can be helpful to look backward for a time as well.. like to better handle a future crisis. Build and prepare for crisis early. Joe decided early, that he would be faithful to his bosses no matter what he felt. i.e., Before Potiphar's lustful wife was hitting on him.
Is your life wisely built on the Rock or foolishly on the sand? Turn (repent), trust (believe in) Jesus Christ early. Now is good; why put it off like so many people sadly do? What have you decided early? Got some strong inner convictions from His Spirit, and real integrity like Joseph had?
I challenge you now! Be filled with God's Holy Spirit (or be refilled if you have been filled before), and walk in the Spirit. That's where the liberty and victory are found--in Him. Sow daily to the Spirit in the word, prayer, fellowship and in witnessing of Christ.
--The Christian life doesn’t remove you from all crisis, but God equips us to go through them victoriously.
--Joseph had a great business acumen that none could ignore or deny.
It started out with personal crisis. then with family crises (Think about his personal crisis: the death of his mom and the favoritism ...and subsequent hatred with the jealousy of his bros. Then there was the crisis of enslavement in Egypt. Then the lust of Potiphar's wife was a crisis, then the crisis of imprisonment (by the Captain of the Guard who could have decided to execute Joseph. That was his place to do so perhaps Potiphar knew what his perverse wife was really like). Then there was the loss of memory of the Butler.
But it went from person crisis management to that of others.
Other's Crisis Management: the famine of all the land [7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine]. God used Joe to save the then known world--Joseph was the savior of the physical world. Jesus is our Savior in the spiritual realm.
How was Joseph a businessman? He brought it all under the throne of authority in Egypt. The rich were able to hold out a bit longer, but all were equaled due to their hunger for physical food. What and how exactly? Egypt was bankrupt--all the people saw there was no hope apart from Joseph (they would have starved).
How did he do it? Simple, Joseph little by little brings all under the authority and control of the throne. We Christians are to be a blessing for our lost and saved bosses, but also for those they deal with. What in order did Joseph bring under the control of the throne?
--1. The purses (vv. 13 & 14) of the people. There was no bread at all, Joe gathered up all the money, and brought under the authority of the throne -- took it all to the king's house/under the control of the throne.
--2. The possessions (v. 15) of all the Egyptians. They gave their livestock and Joe gave them bread that year.
--3. The property (vv. 18-20). Joe bought all the land for Pharaoh. Every man sold his field. All fixed and liquid assets are in the hand of Joe and then under the throne.
--4. The positions of the people were brought under the authority of the throne. Yep, what the people did and the places where they served. Joseph relocated the people of the land so that the resources from their positions and work could be better used to help them and all the hungry people. His God and boss were both very pleased with how Joseph unselfishly administered. .
--5. The production of the people (v. 23-26) -- one fifth would goes to Pharaoh. Four fifths would be your own, people. Joseph made it a law in Egypt, 1/5th, except for the land of the priests. (Remember: Jacob gave tithes to the Lord - 10%). Indeed I have bought you. The Egyptians gave 20% of their income back to the throne (responding gratefully to Joseph, the one who saved them. Yes, it was mandated, true. It was made into a permanent tax, true and the Priest's property didn't go to Pharaoh), not usurping or ripping off the people. Nope. Read the Scripture careful. They were about to lose all they had and die. Joseph reorganized and managed it well for a blessing to the people, not for the sake of oppression or selfishly). It was brought under the throne of authority to safeguard the people’s future, and for blessed the people (God loves people, you don’t see oppressed from Joseph at all). How can I tell? Well, the people came with gratitude (v. 25)--You saved our lives. Joseph did. God used him. What we see here is a picture of Jesus Christ.
--God’s training for Joe wasn’t always comfortable. Joseph was the head slave in a home, then he was the head dude in the prison. He kept doing what he had always done for the good of others. And cream rises to the top. That was Joseph. A man’s gift makes room for him.
He had some dreams of his own Joseph did, had some gifts too, but He loved the Giver of gifts more than the gifts or all that came to him because of those gifts wisely employed. Joseph’s path from slavery to success was lined with some pain, hardships and trials, yep, some really tough testings and lots of injustice. But with God directing each step, Joseph’s journey was indeed a triumph of faith for God’s glory!
Don't waste your sorrows. Take hold of grace and wisely apply the word. We Christians today will also have uncomfortable trials.. that work for us as we put the Lord first. Those in the world around us have troubles that work against them.. until they repent and believe in the Lord as we did. God loves us all, so we need to show compassion. Many preachers today (inside the church and outside) won't teach you about trials, or your three enemies to contend with: The corrupt world system, Mr. Lu-Cifer with his fallen angels, and your old fleshly nature that tells ya to do what it tells ya to do. Don't follow after them.
Do take time to examine God’s perfect will and His wise timing in Joseph’s life. This offers practical tools to help you gain that eternal perspective in your own life. Important. Joe started off with a many colored robe, then a slaves robe, then a prison robe, then the robe from Pharaoh. From age 30 until he was 110 Joseph ruled in Egypt--for 80 years. In prison Joe found out God really loves him. Problems should produce a sense of dependency -- they come to show us how much we daily need God (see Psalm 139). Problems prepare us for real ministry. There is no more beautiful ministry of the serving sufferer like the ministry of this sufferer to others suffering. God can use you--the suffering brings about a heart for hurting people.
God broke Joe's heart in prison, and made him a servant. The Bible says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Joe got the right ring, got the right robe, got the right babe (God chose her for him), got the right kids -- and look, Joseph drives the 2nd chariot! So right!
Being a student is more rewarding when you cooperate with the teacher. In the same way, being a believer is more rewarding when you cooperate with God the ultimate teacher. Please consider the importance of accepting God’s training schedule for you, and how it helped Joseph in his rags to riches rise from poverty to that position of power (Prime "Minister", Vice Regent, the top Administrator, the Viser reports directly to the King).
