Exalted Among Strangers

Genesis 41:37-57

Exalted Among Strangers

Matt Williams Updated Staff Photo

Matt Williams

Teaching Pastor; Staff Governing Elder; Staff Director

Key Points

  • Through Joseph’s descent into greater and greater hardship, he remained faithful and cultivated a readiness for whatever came next in his life. Am I faithful for what is next?

  • When placed in high leadership, Joseph could have been vengeful to people in his past. Instead, Joseph goes to work. He maximizes productivity and storage to provide abundant resources for the years of famine (41:47-49).

  • Despite Pharaoh assimilating him into Egyptian culture and leadership, Joseph names his sons Manasseh and Ephraim (Hebrew names). Joseph worships Yahweh and remains loyal to Him. Joseph thinks more about God than about the opinions of other people (41:51-52).

  • God’s promises of blessing to Abraham are amplified in Joseph. Through Joseph, God brings blessing to Egypt and to the surrounding nations. God is making good on his promise to bless “all families on earth” through Abraham’s line (Genesis 12:3).

Application

  • Believers can look to Joseph’s story and hold onto the bigger picture—maintaining an eternal perspective on the glorious things God is producing through our suffering (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

  • Unbelievers can take note that Joseph’s story—suffering, later raised in honor, and a source of blessing to others—foreshadows Jesus. Jesus is now a source of life for anyone who would come to him. Place your faith in him and receive life from him.