Joseph's Exaltation in Egypt
Genesis 41:14-16, Genesis 41:28-30; Genesis 41:40-44
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
As we study the exaltation of Joseph in Egypt we cannot but remember his degradation. To see the one without the other, is to lessen the vital comprehension of either. Unless we grasp his degradation we cannot grasp the glory of his exaltation, and vice versa. We need to know how far he went down, to know the height to which he was lifted up.
1. The way to get up is to get down. Here is our Scriptural text, "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." Another Scripture puts the same thing in a somewhat different way: "He that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Along with these Scriptures is one also which shows the other side: "He that exalteth himself shall be abased." There is an abundance of Bible examples of both. When "this poor man cried," "the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." There has never been a time, whether with Joseph or with David or with any man or nation, that God did not hear the cry of humiliation and contrition. It is always so.
On the other hand, every one who has lifted himself up against God in pride and self-exaltation has been brought low.
In all of this we have before us the Christ and His spirit of humiliation, and the antichrist and his spirit of exaltation. The Lord Jesus, "being found in fashion as a man, humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every" name."
The antichrist will exalt himself above God and against all that is called God, so that he as God, shall sit in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Thus shall he be brought low. All that see shall narrowly look upon him, saying, "Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world a wilderness?"
Which route do we travel with the Christ or with the antichrist?
2. The way to be rich is to become poor. To the Laodiceans Christ says, "Thou sayest, I am rich, * * and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Jesus Christ became poor that we, through His poverty, might be made rich. God hath chosen the poor of this world, who are rich in faith, to be the heirs of the Kingdom.
3. The way to be wise is to become a fool. That is, we never can know the wisdom which is from above until we renounce the wisdom which man teacheth. Why? Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.
Thus God chooses the "foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and * * the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." God would not have any flesh to glory in His sight.
4. The way to be strong is to become weak. This is in line with what we have just said. Samson shorn of his locks, wherein lay the sign of his Nazarene vow, was weak like any other man. Power belongeth unto God. Man is inherently weak. We can do nothing in the realm of the spiritual in the strength of our own flesh, yet we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us.
David's power did not lie in his skill with his sling, it lay in his faith in God. Jonathan was not the. mighty slaughterer of the Philistines because he was a superman in physical strength. His victory lay in the word: "There is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." Gideon overcame the Midianites by the power of God.
I. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY HIS CHANGE OF GARMENTS (Genesis 41:14)
1. Jesus Christ left the dungeon experiences when He went to the Father. As He hung upon the Cross His visage was more marred than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. He was a Man from whom men turned away their faces. His sufferings were necessary, His emaciated body with its inflamed wounds, matted hair, exposed nerves all of these were necessary, but they were not the visage or the form that He should bear as He entered into the realms of the glory of God His Father.
2. Jesus Christ was physically altered before He went to God. From the grave He arose, and as He arose He came forth with a body glorified. The two disciples going to Emmaus knew Him not. He certainly did not carry the visage which they had last seen upon His worn and weird countenance.
3. Jesus Christ changed His raiment when He went to the Father. He now was clothed in the garments of glory.
Let us pause for a moment to ask if what was true of Joseph and of our Lord is not also true of us. We certainly cannot go into the presence of God to walk in light carrying with us the marks of the dungeon. We must first be born anew, we must come out of the life of shame, and the prison experiences. We, also, must be changed in body. Have we not read, that we shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye? Before we go to God, we must put off the body of this humiliation; mortality must be swallowed up in life.
II. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY HIS HEADSHIP OVER THE HOUSE OF PHARAOH (Genesis 41:40-41)
Thus it was that Pharaoh set Joseph over all the land of Egypt. When Jesus Christ ascended up on high, He was made Head of the Church. His Word is clothed with absolute authority. No one can come in or go out without Him,
1. Is the Headship of Christ recognized today? The bane, as we see it, of the Church is the supplanting of the authority of Christ. This authority is now invested in men. On the one hand, the power may be clothed in an individual, or, on the other hand, it may be placed in a committee or board of operation; but wherever any authority dares to step in and dispute the absolute sovereignty of Christ in the Church, the whole purpose and plan of God is broken.
We do not doubt but that there were men in Egypt who were given places of trust and authority over local constituencies in the gathering in of grain, but in no event could this authority supersede the authority of Joseph.
There may be in the Church pastors and prophets and teachers and evangelists; there may be deacons and elders and bishops; all of these may have a certain place of authority, but their authority is a subjugated authority.
In the Church One is our Master, and all we be brethren. He who would be lord at all must be servant of all.
2. Is the Headship of Christ obeyed? Do Christians follow the dictates of the Lord Jesus, or, are they subject to the dictates of men? Are saints more concerned with what "The Leaders" may say, than with what the Lord may command?
Listen to the voice of the Master, "Let no man glory in men." "Be not ye the servants of men."
III. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY THE BESTOWAL OF PHARAOH'S RING AND ROBE (Genesis 41:42)
"Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck." All of this gave unto Joseph the insignia of honor and kingly recognition.
1. We should keep in mind that Joseph was not placed upon the throne of Egypt. He was given a seat on Pharaoh's throne. Thus our Lord was not enthroned on His own throne when He ascended on high, but He was placed on the throne of God.
Our Lord Himself said to the Twelve, "Ye which have followed Me * *, when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." Thus, His throne is yet future. By Him it is written: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and am set down with My Father in His throne." Christ's throne is the throne of David. He who made Christ to sit on His throne will yet cause Him to sit upon His own throne, even in Jerusalem.
2. We should also remember that Joseph was given the signet of Pharaoh. Pharaoh's ring upon Joseph's hand intrusted to Joseph Pharaoh's authority. Whom he would he could set up, and whom he would he could put down, so long as he retained Pharaoh's ring. God, the Father, hath also invested unto God, the Son, all judgment. "The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment unto the Son."
3. We should likewise keep before us the fact that Joseph's linen apparel was a princely bestowal. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. Satan is the prince of this world, the prince of the power of the air, who energizes the sons of disobedience. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Prince of God sent from Heaven.
How different was the ring and the robe and the golden chain with which Joseph was now attired to the prison garb which he wore in the prison!
IV. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY THE SUBJECTION OF THE PEOPLES TO HIS AUTHORITY (Genesis 41:43)
1. God hath said that to Christ every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. Divine worship should never be accorded unto man, but Divine worship is commanded unto Christ who is both Son of God, and God, the Son. Before Him we rightly fall prostrate and crown Him Lord.
2. God hath made Jesus Christ both Lord and Christ. He hath set Him over the nations. At the time of this writing the world has refused to acknowledge Christ's Headship, but the time is coming when the Father will say to the Son, "Yet have I set My King upon my Holy Hill of Zion." "He shall rule the world in righteousness."
Christ is also Head over His Church. Here He holds all power although not all have accepted His rule. In spite of this the True Church numbered by innumerable multitudes does reverently bow before Him.
The mark of sin is insubordination to Christ. The Prophet wrote, "We have turned every one to his own way." The highest reach of redemption is the spirit of abject obedience. The believer gives up his will and way for Christ's will and way. He crowns Christ as Lord.
In Heaven all the holy ones worship the Lord saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy; Lord God Almighty!" May we who are upon the earth join that sacred throng and acclaim God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost!
Remember this: if we do not crown Him Lord of all, we do not crown Him Lord at all.
V. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY HIS PLACE NEXT TO THE KING (Genesis 41:44)
The message of Genesis 41:44 is, "I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
Here was autocratic power placed in Joseph. Only Pharaoh was greater than he, and even Pharaoh, as we have seen, had placed his ring upon Joseph's hand.
This is the message of Jesus Christ. Hear Him as He makes His claims to authority and power:
1. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5:17). The Jews then took up stones to stone Christ, for they knew that He made God His Father, making Himself equal with God.
2. "What things soever [the Father] doeth, these also doth the Son likewise" (John 5:19). In this statement Christ spoke of the absolute unity of purpose and action between Himself and the Father. He could do only that which the Father did, not because He was a helpless weakling, but because He was perfectly one with the Father.
3. "As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom He will" (John 5:21). Here is the practical outworking of the Divine unity of Father and Son. If the Father raises the dead, so also doth the Son. The same power which is the Father's is also the Son's. The raising of the dead was a supreme miracle and attested the Deity of Christ.
4. "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). Here the Son is one with the Father in executive power. Yea, the Father has placed the Son in charge of "judgment" all judgment belongs to the Son. Such bestowal of power is the Son's, only because He is one with the Father.
5. "That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father" (John 5:23). This is the only logical conclusion of that which has just gone before. There is no possible recognition of or approach to the Father except through the Son.
VI. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY HIS NEW NAME (Genesis 41:45 f.c.)
"And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah." What a remarkable name is this! It means "savior of the world."
Our Lord Jesus bears many such titles, each of which is significant of some phase of His work toward the saints or the world.
1. He is called Jesus which means Savior. The angel said to Mary, "Thou shalt call His Name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." Joseph was called savior by the world because it was he who suggested and carried out the plan to save the people physically from the terrors of famine. Jesus Christ is Savior in a far deeper sense. Those who trust Him and come unto Him He saves from eternal death, and saves them unto eternal life.
2. He is called Lord. He is called this by virtue of His resurrection and His seat of authority. Joseph in reality was lord over the Egyptians, but Jesus is Lord over all.
3. He is called Christ. The name means "Anointed." He was anointed of the Father, and He is destined to be the Messiah of the world, and particularly of Israel.
There are many other names which could be mentioned. In fact, Dr. Horton has a book of daily devotions which supplies to each day of the year a new and distinct name accorded to Christ in the Bible. He is Wonderful, and Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. All of these are meaningful Names of Christ.
He is Jehovah-Jireh and Jehovah-tsidkenu, Jehovah-Shalom, Jehovah-nissi, and the other wonderful Jehovah titles.
He is the Light of the world, the Door, the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Light.
He is the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, the Chief Shepherd.
VII. JOSEPH'S EXALTATION WAS SHOWN BY THE BESTOWAL OF A GENTILE BRIDE (Genesis 41:45 l.c.)
1. The Gentile Wife. "And he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On." Here is another wonderful picture of our Lord. We must remember that we are discussing Joseph at the time of his exaltation. It was during that time that he obtained the Gentile bride. The Church is the Bride of Christ. In the Book of Ephesians we read how Adam said, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh." In speaking of this garden of Eden statement, the Spirit said, "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church."
There are many New Testament references to the marriage which awaits the Lord's Return. One of the climactic statements is found in Revelation: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His Wife hath made herself ready." During this age the Spirit is calling out of the nations a people for His Name.
2. The Gentile wife presented by Pharaoh. It was Pharaoh who gave Asenath to Joseph. It was he who prepared for the marriage, and, beyond a doubt, it was he who honored the marriage festivities with his presence.
The Father is preparing the Bride for Christ. He it is who gives the marriage to the Son. For our part we believe that the Father will be present in the air when the glorious consummation of the marriage shall take place. There is no reason we should doubt this. There are several reasons why we should believe it.
(1) The Book of Daniel describes, in chapter 7, the placing of the thrones in Heaven, Upon one of them the Ancient of Days sits and before Him stands one like unto the Son of Man.
(2) The Book of Revelation gives the same picture, The Father sits on the throne holding a seven-sealed book in His hand, while the Son steps forth and receives the book.
It is true we are looking for that Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
AN ILLUSTRATION
"JOSEPH'S EXALTATION IN EGYPT"
Christ, the Lord. A few years ago we had the privilege of studying, in the Rospighosi Palace in Rome, Guido Reni's great picture "The Aurora." It is on the ceiling, and can be studied only with the greatest difficulty from the floor. But a mirror is so placed on a table that it reflects the picture, and one can study it. there with ease and pleasure. God is a Spirit, and He is in the Heaven, "dwelling in light unapproachable." It was not easy to know Him there. But the Incarnation, the Word, becoming flesh and dwelling among us, was the bringing of the reflection of the glorious Person of God dawn to earth in human form and life. Men looked at Jesus and saw the likeness of God, "the express image of His person." He was Christ, the Lord. H.