Alumni Bible Study

A Bible study initially set up for alumni of the Senior Sunday School Class at the First United Methodist Church of Lufkin, Texas. It is our hope and our prayer that this study touches the hearts of those who participate and helps spread the love and grace of Our Lord and God. All who want to learn more about God are welcome

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Location: lufkin, Texas, United States

I am a Christian family man, Lay Pastor and writer from Deep East Texas. I love life, and I enjoy working with young people. I have published two books; "A Small Mind Among Tall Trees" and "God If You Are Not Too Busy, Can You Give Me a Hand". If you want to obtain a copy drop me an e-mail or go to amazon.com or barnesand noble.com . I have been a salesman, cowman and athlete in my past. I still have a strong sense of humor and am not afraid to use it.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Genesis 41:41-57

Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open my heart and open my mind and help me learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.
Joseph in Charge of Egypt
41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, [
a] and men shouted before him, "Make way [b] !" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt." 45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, [
c] to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh's presence and traveled throughout Egypt. 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.
50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh [
d] and said, "It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52 The second son he named Ephraim [e] and said, "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.
Footnotes:

Genesis 41:43 Or in the chariot of his second-in-command ; or in his second chariot
Genesis 41:43 Or Bow down
Genesis 41:45 That is, Heliopolis; also in verse 50
Genesis 41:51 Manasseh sounds like and may be derived from the Hebrew for forget .
Genesis 41:52 Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew for twice fruitful .
Joseph in charge! He is suddenly a new man with a new name and a new princess wife. What a fairy tale ending! Pharaoh knew he would need the "trappings" of success or people would not respect him and do what he said. Do we as a society care more about outward appearances than inner qualities? You bet! Things have not changed much in five thousand years or so. There was a reason Pharaoh changed his name a gave him a princess wife. Joseph needed to get rid of his "slave" name, and even worse, the name of a shepherd. What would bring him better into society more than a name? A wife! Things really do not change much.
Sidebar- If I had been Joseph, Potiphar and his wife may have had a real change of lifestyle, as well as the butler,(so Jeeves-what took so long?) If the wife liked to call "rape," I think I might have let her stay in prison a few dozen years. She may have gotten a lot of practice. Joseph was not that petty, at least not that the authors recorded. Even though he was a new man, he kept his old faith.
Prayer- Lord, Even when your blessings are showered on us, help us keep the faith and be Your children. Go-Fight-Win. Amen.

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