GENESIS 41
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured.50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”–
– Genesis 41:46-52
GENESIS 41 JOSEPH’S RULE DURING 7 YEARS OF PLENTY
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When Joseph turned thirty, he was appointed ruler of Egypt
He was given authority to manage all the crops for the years of plenty
This was in preparation for the coming years of famine
Joseph manifested God’s wisdom to steward all the produce in the land
He stored up grain in great abundance before the famine came
It was also at this time that God blessed and granted him two sons
He called the firstborn Manasseh for God made him forget the difficulties
The second son was named Ephraim for God made him fruitful despite trials.
As Joseph became ruler of Egypt just a position below the king, he manifested such wisdom and good management skills. The Lord was always with him and guided him in every little or big decision he made. He was also blessed with such bounty in terms of crop harvest that all the produce was overflowing. This was God’s way of preparing the whole Egypt for the coming famine. What wonderful way of turning events around for Joseph! After all his suffering, he now had authority over the whole land and was also blessed with two children.
REFLECTION
- How do we know that Joseph’s wisdom came from God alone?
