Journey Through the Bible in a Year
Reading God's Word and learning more about His plan for my life each day!
Thursday, October 10, 2002
Introduction to Journey Through the Bible
A note about online study
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, thank You for a new day of life to love and serve You. I pray that as I go about this day You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit, that I may be wise and effective in all I think, say and do today. Glorify Yourself through my life. Open opportunities for me to tell others about Jesus and His great salvation. Give me courage to be faithful and obedient, to not only believe in You, but also to behave as Jesus did. These things I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
My Journey Verses for Today
Genesis 41:37-57
37 Joseph's suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his advisers. 38 As they discussed who should be appointed for the job, Pharaoh said, "Who could do it better than Joseph? For he is a man who is obviously filled with the spirit of God." 39 Turning to Joseph, Pharaoh said, "Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, you are the wisest man in the land! 40 I hereby appoint you to direct this project. You will manage my household and organize all my people. Only I will have a rank higher than yours." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh placed his own signet ring on Joseph's finger as a symbol of his authority. He dressed him in beautiful clothing and placed the royal gold chain about his neck. 43 Pharaoh also gave Joseph the chariot of his second-in-command, and wherever he went the command was shouted, "Kneel down!" So Joseph was put in charge of all Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am the king, but no one will move a hand or a foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval." 45 Pharaoh renamed him Zaphenath-paneah and gave him a wife – a young woman named Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt. 46 He was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh's presence, he made a tour of inspection throughout the land. 47 And sure enough, for the next seven years there were bumper crops everywhere. 48 During those years, Joseph took a portion of all the crops grown in Egypt and stored them for the government in nearby cities. 49 After seven years, the granaries were filled to overflowing. There was so much grain, like sand on the seashore, that the people could not keep track of the amount. 50 During this time, before the arrival of the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. 51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, "God has made me forget all my troubles and the family of my father." 52 Joseph named his second son Ephraim, for he said, "God has made me fruitful in this land of my suffering." 53 At last the seven years of plenty came to an end. 54 Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had predicted. There were crop failures in all the surrounding countries, too, but in Egypt there was plenty of grain in the storehouses. 55 Throughout the land of Egypt the people began to starve. They pleaded with Pharaoh for food, and he told them, "Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you." 56 So with severe famine everywhere in the land, Joseph opened up the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. 57 And people from surrounding lands also came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph because the famine was severe throughout the world.
Reflecting on God's Word for My Journey
What is biggest change from bad to good that has ever taken place in your life? What role did God play in it?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word for My Journey
Why did Pharaoh and his advisors say that Joseph was the wisest man in Egypt? (41:37-40)
What signs of authority did Pharaoh give to Joseph? (41:41-45)
Understanding God's Will for My Journey
What is the significance of Pharaoh recognizing Joseph’s wisdom came from God?
What evidence does this Scripture give us that all of the events in Joseph’s life were guided by God?
Applying What God's Word Tells Me to My Journey
How can you demonstrate the faithfulness of Joseph in your appointed work—whether it be in the home, at school or in the workplace?
My Personal Journey Thought for the Day—“He is Obviously Filled with the Spirit of God!”
Joseph stood out among all the people of Egypt. Pharaoh summed it up by saying that Joseph was “obviously filled with the spirit of God.” Pharaoh was an Egyptian, which meant he was an idol worshiper. Nevertheless, he recognized that Joseph’s wisdom was of divine origin, that he was filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit isn’t seen in people very often. In fact, it is only in truly great men and women that the Spirit of God worked in power. Joseph seemed so wise and so great to the Egyptians, because they were operating merely in human wisdom, but Joseph’s wisdom came from God. Everything Joseph did served to underline that his abilities came from God and not himself. He showed great humility in receiving the honors bestowed upon him. After Pharaoh gave him new clothing, his signet ring, and even a new name, Joseph didn’t take time to bask in the glory of it all. We’re told that when he left Pharaoh’s presence he went and made a tour of the entire land of Egypt. Joseph’s actions demonstrated that He wasn’t willing to settle for talking a good game. He was going to make sure that the plan he developed would work. God had done his part—telling Joseph of the coming famine, now Joseph was going to do his part—getting the people ready for when it came. Pharaoh saw the obvious in Joseph--God’s Spirit, and he served both God and Pharaoh well.
To view other studies from our Journey Through the Bible, click here.