His Word Today

⁴² “Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. ⁴³ And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” ⁴⁵ And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:42–45 (ESV)

Pharaoh installation of Joseph as administrator in Egypt was filled with much fanfare. There are four notable occurrences.

Frist, Pharaoh gave Joseph several personal items verifying the young Hebrew’s new, elevated status. Pharaoh gave Joseph his own signet ring. The ring include a seal which would be used for signing documents. Pharaoh had Joseph clothed in fine, linen garments. After all, clothes make the man. Finally, Joseph received a gold chain to be worn around his neck.

Second, Pharaoh had Joseph publically ride in the second chariot during his installation. This was a common Egyptian custom. The “second chariot” was a chariot that immediately followed after Pharaoh’s chariot in state processions. An individual running before the chariot would begin shouting “Bow the knee!” or “Make way!” The chariot, and the announcement, designated that the one riding in it was second-in-command to Pharaoh.

Third, Pharaoh changed Joseph’s name. He would be called name Zaphenath-paneah, which means “the god speaks and he lives.”

Finally, Joseph’s newly established nobility was further cemented by marriage. Pharaoh gave Joseph in marriage to Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On.

Today’s text concludes with the statement “So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.” The prisoner is now a prince. The one who had known imprisonment for so long freely traveled throughout the land of Egypt. The estranged and jailed criminal is now established, freed and honored.

Joseph is not unlike the sinner who before God was estranged, a debtor and a criminal. By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone God reconciled, paid the debt of sin through Christ’s substitutionary atonement, and now calls the sinner His child.

Dr. R .C. Sproul explains, “Jacob’s son was granted all this because he relied on the Lord and was empowered by the Holy Spirit, necessary qualifications for the wise, godly ruler (1 Sam. 16:13; Isa. 11). Thousands of years after Joseph, our Savior was also given this Spirit to reign as David’s greatest son over all those captives He sets free (Luke 4:16–2).

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

³⁷ “This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. ³⁸ And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” ³⁹ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” (Genesis 41:37–41 (ESV)

What is leadership? Leadership expert, and former pastor, John Maxwell explains that “leadership is influence. That’s it. Nothing more; nothing less. My favorite leadership proverb is: He who thinks he leads and has no one following him is only taking a walk.”

What makes a godly leader? Godly leadership is being a person of character. Character is being biblically moral and possessing a good reputation.  A leader may be uniquely qualified with multiple degrees, supremely gifted with a dynamic personality, and ably talented as a communicator. However, if he or she lacks a strong, moral character their ministry, or career, will be superficial and inconsequential at best and damaging at worst. In American culture where “image is everything” the leader must be a person of moral substance. A leader whose character is a mile wide, but an inch deep, is not sufficient for the task at hand. 

Concerning a leader’s character Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, “Let us aspire to saintliness of spirit and character. I am persuaded that the greatest power we can get over our fellow men is the power which comes of consecration and holiness.” Spurgeon believed that a leader must evidence an uncompromising standard of character.

Joseph was such a leader. He maintained a God-centered morality (Gen. 39) and possessed a good reputation (Gen. 39:21-23; 41:9-13). Joseph was a holy man of God.

Pharaoh, no insignificant leader himself, recognized leadership in Joseph. Consider what Moses wrote. ³⁹ “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”  

Pharaoh realized that Joseph’s leadership advice, concerning the impending fourteen years of plenty and famine, was wise and discerning (Gen. 41:25-36). Pharaoh also acknowledged the One, True God was with Joseph (Gen. 41:37-38). Therefore, Pharaoh set Joseph over the entire land of Egypt. However, Joseph knew that God was ultimately in control (Gen.50:20).

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “This combination of warning and wisdom pleases the pharaoh greatly, as we read in today’s passage. The truth of Joseph’s words is so evident that the king of Egypt recognizes the Holy Spirit’s presence with him (Gen. 41:38). Of course, pagan notions probably color the pharaoh’s conception of Joseph’s anointing since his nation worships many gods. He is speaking with more wisdom than he knows, just like Caiaphas did when he spoke of Jesus’ death as a substitution (John 11:45–53). Pharaoh immediately heeds the counsel to place a man in charge of famine relief (Gen. 41:34–36) and chooses Joseph for this task. Jacob’s son is invested with more prestige than we might have expected, for he is now second to the pharaoh in command over the land of the Nile (vv. 40, 43). After years of faithfulness in little things — obeying Jacob, serving Potiphar, and managing the prison (37:12–17; 39–40) — Joseph is finally given authority over much (Matt. 25:14–30).”

The Holy Spirit was working through Joseph. The same Holy Spirit works in, and through, believers in Christ today (Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:12-13). One pastor explains, “The Spirit who gave wisdom to Joseph and empowered Christ to rule over all is the same Holy Spirit whom the Father freely grants to His people today (John 14:15–17). Even now He is writing God’s law on our hearts and slaying the remaining vestiges of sin and death. As we submit to Him, the Spirit’s work to make us holy becomes more and more evident in our lives. Let us cease resisting His direction and conviction so that we may become more like Him.”

In what areas of your life have your resisted the Holy Spirit’s work? Repent of this sin and submit to becoming more obedient to the Word of God. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

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³³ “Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. ³⁵ And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. ³⁶ That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.” (Genesis 41:33–36 (ESV)

There are two words which stand out in my mind as I read today’s text from Genesis. Those two words are discerning and wise. They pertain to Joseph’s counsel to Pharaoh for him to select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

Joseph informed the king that the one, true sovereign God would bring seven years of plenty and agricultural prosperity upon the land. However, this would be followed by seven years of famine (Gen. 41:25-32). Joseph counseled Pharaoh as to what he, the king, should do. It began by selecting a discerning and wise I individual to oversee a particular strategy for survival.

The Hebrew word for discerning (nabon) refers to a skillful, understanding, perceptive individual. It is a person whose knowledge can be effectively implemented for a particular situation. If this individual does not have the talent and skill for a particular task, he possesses the discernment to know who does. This is an individual who gets the job done, either personally or administratively.  

The Hebrew word for wise (ha’kam) also means a person who is discerning and skillful in accomplishing a task. This is an individual who is not only intelligent, but is able to wisely use their intelligence. It is not just about their intelligence quotient (IQ) but how they use their intelligence in a sensible, shrewd and learned manner.

Notice that Joseph did not identify this particular discerning and wise individual. He did not even nominate himself for the job. He just gave Pharaoh discerning and wise counsel.

³⁴ Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. ³⁵ And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. ³⁶ That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Joseph was not fatalist. He did not just tell Pharaoh that the famine would come and there was nothing that could be done about it. Joseph gave the king revelation about the future. He also provided discerning and wise counsel for responsive and responsible behavior the king should implement.

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “Rescue was possible for the pharaoh and his people if they listened to God’s word through Joseph (vv. 33–36). Biblical Christianity is not a fatalistic religion like Islam, which teaches that man’s decisions have no real impact on God’s plan. Of course, Scripture says the Lord ordains all things. But it also tells us many details are hidden from us (Deut. 29:29); thus, what to us seems set in stone is often subject to change (Jer. 18:1–11). Certainly, God knows the future, but He usually hides the future from us. Instead, He warns of judgment and offers blessing to motivate human choices that joyously do His will and bring glory to Him.”

 John Calvin says, “Genesis 41:33 shows how true prophecy eschews fatalism. God gives prophecies that “would form men to piety, would lead them to repentance, and would excite them to prayer when oppressed with fear.”

Are their times when you tend to be a fatalist and choose not to do something because it seems useless? We must always remember that God has made us His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works (Eph. 2:10).  

Soli deo Gloria!  

²⁵ “Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. ²⁷ The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. ²⁸ It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. ²⁹ There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, ³⁰ but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, ³¹ and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. ³² And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.” (Genesis 41:25–32 (ESV)

After Pharaoh told Joseph his two dreams (Gen. 41:17-24), Joseph gave the Egyptian king God’s meaning for both dreams. Joseph told Pharaoh the dreams were one. In other words, both dreams had the same meaning. Joseph also told Pharaoh that God had revealed to the king what He, the LORD, was about to do. What Pharaoh dreamed, the LORD would bring to pass.

The providence of God is a recurring theme within the Scriptures. God’s providence is certainly predominant in the life of Joseph (Gen. 50:20). Providence is God’s sovereign activity throughout history in providing for the needs of human beings, especially those who believe in him. Therefore, the universe is not closed to God’s active involvement (Daniel 2:2:20-23; 4:1-3, 34-35; Prov. 16:33; Matt. 5:45; 6:26-34; Acts 17:22-28).

God’s providence is in contrast to the world’s perspectives of fate, luck, serendipity, karma, Marxist propaganda, and the false perception of the sovereign progress of science, technology, education and social evolution.  

The Tyndale Bible Dictionary explains, “All through the centuries of human existence there have been those who took great comfort in God’s providential care. God has not left this planet alone in the vast universe or forgotten for a moment the human situation. God visits, touches, communicates, controls, and intervenes, coming before and between people and their needs. Providence is ground for thankfulness.”

Today’s text could not be clearer. God claimed responsibility for the impending seven year famine, or climate change, which was going to providentially occur following seven years of agricultural abundance.

I may not know what your perspective is concerning the current debate over climate change. The biblical perspective is that we live in a fallen world. Sin, and God’s judgment of it, has even impacted the physical universe (Gen.3:17-19; Romans 8:18-24). However, God remains actively in control of all that happens. This includes the weather.

Weather related deaths and destruction are devastating. This sobering truth should remind us that this present world does not afford us our best life now. Even Jesus acknowledged the truth of political and natural disasters (Luke 13:1-5). Jesus also warned that the only ultimate solution to living in a fallen, sinful world was not the accumulation and enjoyment of wealth and comfort or personal peace and affluency, but rather to repent of one’s sin. Otherwise, Jesus said you will perish (Luke 13:3, 5).  

God does not mean for us to passively be unprepared for disasters. Prudent measures should be taken to ensure the safety of family, house and home. This is exactly what God had Joseph tell Pharaoh. He told the king the God ordained seven year famine would occur. However, prudent measures could and should be taken to prepare for its occurrence. What was needed was a godly individual to direct such measures. The LORD had such an individual in mind.  

Have a blessed day in the LORD. May each of us be secure in the truth and knowledge of the providence of God.

Soli deo Gloria!  

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day weekend in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty Four: Of Marriage and Divorce. Part 2.

4. Marriage ought not to be within the degrees of consanguinity or affinity forbidden in the Word;^a nor can such incestuous marriages ever be made lawful by any law of man, or consent of parties, so as those persons may live together as man and wife.^b The man may not marry any of his wife’s kindred nearer in blood than he may of his own, nor the woman of her husband’s kindred nearer in blood than of her own.^c

a. Lev 18 throughout; Amos 2:7; 1 Cor 5:1. • b. Lev 18:24-28; Mark 6:18. • c. Lev 20:19-21.

5. Adultery or fornication, committed after a contract, being detected before marriage, giveth just occasion to the innocent party to dissolve that contract.^a In the case of adultery after marriage, it is lawful for the innocent party to sue out a divorce,^b and after the divorce to marry another, as if the offending party were dead.^c

a. Mat 1:18-20. • b. Mat 5:31-32. • c. Mat 19:9; Rom 7:2-3.

6. Although the corruption of man be such as is apt to study arguments, unduly to put asunder those whom God hath joined together in marriage; yet nothing but adultery, or such wilful desertion as can no way be remedied by the Church or civil magistrate, is cause sufficient of dissolving the bond of marriage;^a wherein a public and orderly course of proceeding is to be observed; and the persons concerned in it, not left to their own wills and discretion in their own case.^b

a. Mat 19:6, 8-9; 1 Cor 7:15. • b. Deut 24:1-4.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

We will continue to devote each Lord’s Day weekend in 2022 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Twenty Four: Of Marriage and Divorce. Part 1.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post. Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

1. Marriage is to be between one man and one woman: neither is it lawful for any man to have more than one wife, nor for any woman to have more than one husband at the same time.^a

a. Gen 2:24; Prov 2:17; Mat 19:5-6.

2. Marriage was ordained for the mutual help of husband and wife;^a for the increase of mankind with a legitimate issue, and of the Church with an holy seed;^b and for preventing of uncleanness.^c

a. Gen 2:18. • b. Mal 2:15. • c. 1 Cor 7:2, 9.

3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry who are able with judgment to give their consent.^a Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord.^b And therefore, such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, Papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.^c

a. Gen 24:57-58; 1 Cor 7:36-38; Heb 13:4; 1 Tim 4:3. • b. 1 Cor 7:39. • c. Gen 34:14; Exod 34:16; Deut 7:3-4; 1 Kings 11:4; Neh 13:25-27; Mal 2:11-12; 2 Cor 6:14.

I encourage you to read and meditate upon the cited

biblical references.

Soli deo Gloria!

²⁹ “When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying, ³⁰ “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us and took us to be spies of the land. ³¹ But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies. ³² We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no more, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.’ ³³ Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way. ³⁴ Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ” (Genesis 42:29–34 (ESV)

The Book of Proverbs makes several statements regarding the sin of lying.  

Proverbs 6:16-18 says, “¹⁶There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷  haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who breathes out lies ,and one who sows discord among brothers.” 

Proverbs 12:22 says, “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.”

Twice in today’s text, Jacob’s eldest sons, minus Simeon, explain what happened when they arrived in Egypt to buy grain. They described the behavior of Egypt’s governor, not knowing that he was their brother Joseph. They explained the conditions upon which the returned to Canaan and why Simeon was kept captive in Egypt. They finally explained the condition required for Simeon’s release: Benjamin must accompany them when they return to Egypt. 

All of what they stated was true, with one exception. Twice they either described themselves, or recalled Joseph describing them, as honest men. In other words, truthful and trustworthy. Past recorded behavior indicates otherwise. 

With respect to Moses’ narrative concerning Joseph, the brothers not only lied to Jacob about Joseph (Gen. 37:29-35), they also lied to Joseph about Joseph (Gen. 42:12-13). They also did not tell Jacob the truth of having sold Joseph into slavery (Gen. 37:25-28). Therefore, their self-description as honest men was a testimony of self-deception. It was another lie. 

Have you ever been deceived? Has someone ever lied to you? How did you react when you discovered the truth of their deception? Were you angry, sad, disappointed, or all of the above? 

One more question. Have you ever lied to someone? 

Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

May the LORD see honesty and integrity in each of us. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria! 

¹⁴ “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. ¹⁵ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” ¹⁶ Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” (Genesis 41:14–16 (ESV)

Pride may be defined as a reasonable or justifiable self-respect. However, it can also be an improper and excessive self-esteem known as conceit or arrogance. The apostle Paul expressed a positive kind of pride when speaking of confidence in the believers at Corinth (2 Cor. 7:4) or of one’s strength in the Lord (2 Cor. 12:5, 9). However, it is the sinful meaning of “pride,” which most frequently appears in the Bible; both in the Old Testament and New Testament.

The ten Hebrew and two Greek words generally used for pride refer to being high or exalted in attitude. One Greek word for pride refers to a person being puffed up or inflated with egotism. The idea is that one gives the impression of substance but is really filled only with air (see, e.g., 1 Cor. 5:2; 8:1; 13:4; Col 2:18). Presumably, hot air.

Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart and spirit. Hence one reads, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin” (Prov. 21:4, rsv).

Pastor Robert M. Godfrey writes, “The vice of pride takes the form of boasting in ourselves. We can boast of our prosperity in a health-and-wealth-gospel way, or we might credit ourselves with successful evangelism, or we might pat ourselves on the brain, so to speak, as great scholars. The sin of pride takes root when we stop looking to God (His providence, wisdom, and grace) as the source of all these benefits and start to take the credit ourselves.”

In contrast, humility is an attitude opposed to prideful arrogance. Humility is often praised and rewarded by God.  Humility is having a spirit of lowliness, or affliction, in which one experiences a loss of power and prestige. Outside of biblical faith, humility in this sense would not usually be considered a virtue.

Within the context of God’s Word, humility is considered the proper attitude of human beings toward their Creator. Humility is a grateful and spontaneous awareness that life is a gift, and it is manifested as an ungrudging and un-hypocritical acknowledgment of absolute dependence upon the Lord.

Joseph was a man who displayed genuine humility in his audience with Pharaoh. While a youth, Joseph may be suspected of pride (Gen. 37:1-11). However, as a young man (Gen. 41:46), Joseph demonstrated genuine humility when he said to Pharaoh, ““It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

In other words, Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams was apart from him. Rather, it was solely from God. Joseph gave all glory to God in his ability to interpret dreams. In whatever abilities the Lord gives believers in Christ (I Cor. 12:4-11; Eph. 2:10), all things are to be done for His glory alone (I Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17).

The Latin phrase Soli deo Gloria, with which we conclude each blog, means to God alone be glory. Let us never lose sight of this truth. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁴ “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. ¹⁵ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” ¹⁶ Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” ¹⁷ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. ¹⁸ Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. ¹⁹ Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. ²⁰ And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, ²¹ but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. ²² I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. ²³ Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, ²⁴ and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.” (Genesis 41:14–24 (ESV)

It is easy to overlook the obvious. It is also easy to overlook the seemingly unimportant details of life and living. However, the obvious and apparently inconsequential details of our lives, and the lives of others, are often really significant.

Take today’s text for example. Moses wanted his readers to know in the Joseph narrative that “Pharaoh sent and called Joseph and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.” Why did Moses, and ultimately the LORD, find it important to inform us that Joseph shaved and changed his clothes prior to meeting Pharaoh?

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First, there was the cultural reason. Egyptians were known for their careful attention to personal cleanliness. This was particularly in contrast to the customs of the Hebrews. The Egyptians only allowed a man’s beard and hair to grow as a sign of mourning. This was also in contrast to the Hebrews, who shaved both beard and head as a sign of mourning (Isaiah 15:1-2).

Second, there was literary reason. Moses noted that every time Joseph life’s changed, there was a marked change in his clothing. Jacob gave Joseph a beautiful coat of many colors, but his brothers stripped it off him and used his garment to deceive his father (Gen. 37:23, 31–33). Additionally, Potiphar’s wife stripped Joseph’s garment off of him, and used his clothing to deceive her husband, who was Joseph’s master (Gen. 39:12, 16–18). When pharaoh summoned Joseph, the text notes that after he left the jail, he “changed his garments” (Gen. 41:14). Finally, Moses recorded that when the pharaoh invested Joseph with absolute authority over all Egypt, he gave him a garment of fine linen along with a golden collar of authority (Gen. 41:42).

Third, there is also a spiritual reason. The Scriptures speak of our salvation in Jesus Christ as receiving the imputed righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:21-26; 4:1-12). The image is of the believer in Christ clothed in the perfect righteousness of the Lord, thereby being acceptable to come into the presence of God the Father.

Zechariah 3:1-5 dramatically illustrates this truth. “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” ³ Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. ⁴ And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” ⁵ And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “God makes Joshua fit for the priesthood by giving him new, clean garments. This foreshadows the work of the coming Branch (vs.8) who will fulfill a priestly function and provide clothing of righteousness from His own merit (2 Cor. 5:21; Col.2:13-14).”

Joseph shaved and put on clean clothes to come into the presence of the Pharaoh, the Egyptian king. By grace alone, through faith alone, and in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone God clothes us in the Son’s perfect righteousness in order for every believer in Christ to come into His presence.  

Take time today to read and mediate upon the following biblical passages which speak of our righteous garment of salvation (Job 29:14; Isaiah 11:1-5; 59:17; 61:10; Revelation 19:1-8). Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!     

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⁹ “Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. ¹⁰ When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, ¹¹ we dreamed on the same night, he and I, each having a dream with its own interpretation. ¹² A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream. ¹³ And as he interpreted to us, so it came about. I was restored to my office, and the baker was hanged.” (Genesis 41:9–13 (ESV)

Following the events contained in Genesis 40:5-23, Joseph continued to languish in prison for two whole years. The chief cupbearer, following his own imprisonment and release, returned to serve in Pharaoh’s palace during the same period of time. However, he forget about Joseph (Gen. 40:9-15, 23).

It was after these two whole years that Pharaoh had his two dreams (Gen. 41:1-7). The king found no one, among his magicians and wise men, who could interpret his dreams (Gen. 41:8). Pharaoh was troubled by his dreams (Gen. 41:8). Imagine how he must have felt when none of his advisors could provide him an interpretation. Imagine how they must have felt?

It was at this providential moment that the chief cupbearer remembered Joseph (Gen.41:9-11). Dr. John MacArthur explains, “With memory suitably prompted, the butler apologized for his neglect (“my offenses”), and apprised Pharaoh of the Hebrew prisoner and his accurate interpretation of dreams two years earlier (vv. 10–13).

The cupbearer told Pharaoh of a young Hebrew prisoner who was the servant of the captain of the guard. It was this young man, the chief cupbearer recalled, who was able to provide both the chief cupbearer and the chief baker an interpretation to their own particular dream.

The chief cupbearer then provided a most significant statement. What the young Hebrew interpreted would occur, from the content of the two dreams, actually came about (Gen.41:13). In other words, the chief cupbearer was saying that Joseph was the real deal. He could provide an accurate interpretation which Pharaoh sought from his own two dreams.

Remember, there are no coincidences in life and God is always in control. This is true even when our circumstances seem, on the surface, to be absent of God’s providential control. Have a blessed day in the LORD.

Soli deo Gloria!