Genesis 41:46

Genesis 41:46 says, And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.  Joseph was now thirty years old.  A lot had happened to him during those thirty years, but he was now in a position of authority once more.  He might have been tempted to use the position in a self serving way and have felt justified by doing so, but we know he didn't.  When we become a follower of Christ, we like Joseph, are set free, but it is freedom from slavery to the power of sin.  We are set free to serve God and not for self gratification.  Verse forty-seven states, And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.  The interpretation of Pharaoh's dream was coming true.  There were seven years of much better than normal crops.  Verse forty-eight adds, And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.  Joseph had the crops gathered, but he knew that the seven years of good would come to an end, so he stored up for the coming bad years.  I believe that too often people, even followers of Christ, feel that when things are going well materially that they are always only going to get better, so they spend everything they have and more on themselves.  I do not believe that this is what God wants.  I believe that we are to use what God blesses us with for His glory.  Verse forty-nine continues, And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.  The crops were vast during this time as stated above, just as God had promised in the dream.  A sure way to know if a dream is God speaking to us is if it comes true.  Verse fifty says, And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.  Joseph had two sons during this time.  Life was definitely better for Joseph, and he could have forgotten about God during this time, but he didn't.  Sometimes during times of prosperity, we as followers of Christ may be tempted to forget about God and simply feel that we deserve all that we can get, but I believe that God expects us to remember that He is the reason for our prosperity.  Verse fifty-one adds, And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.  As stated before, names meant something, and the name of Joseph's first son, Manasseh meant that God had caused Joseph to forget all his toil and his father's house.  When we become a follower of Christ, we must forget all that happened before then as far as allowing it to influence our attitude about life and other people, even those who may have done us wrong.  Verse fifty-two continues, And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.  The second son was named Ephraim, meaning God had made Joseph fruitful in his affliction.  As Christians, we are set free from the affliction of sin and are caused to prosper spiritually.  Verse fifty-three declares, And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.  As Joseph had said when interpreting Pharaoh's dream, the seven years of plenty came to an end.  This was not a surprise to Joseph, and if we are following God's will, we should not be surprised if bad things happen to us while we are enjoying the blessings of God.  We have already been warned to expect this, but too often we want to blame God.  I believe that we are often more ready to blame God for bad things than to praise Him for the good things.  Verse fifty-four adds, And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.  The bad years came, and the rest of the world was suffering, but in Egypt there was bread.  I believe that we can say that while the rest of the world is suffering in a spiritual draught, that we as followers of Christ have the Bread of Life to share with them.  Verse fifty-five declares, And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.  The people of Egypt were not immune to the effects of the draught.  They cried out to Pharoah and he told them to go to Joseph and do what he told them to do.  I believe that it is safe to make the analogy that when people are spiritually starving and call out to God that He will tell them to go to Jesus and do what He directs them to do.  If they come to us, the followers of Christ, we must likewise point them to Him.  Verse fifty-six adds, And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.  Joseph sold the grain to the Egyptians.  Verse fifty-seven concludes, And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.  Joseph did not limit the sale of food to the Egyptians, but sold to all in need.  Though we cannot buy salvation, as it is a free gift from God, neither can we attempt to limit it to just certain people.  Salvation is available to all who will come to Christ and accept His gift.