Book of Life
Genesis 41:14-45
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh.
15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile. 18 Seven cows, plump and attractive, came up out of the Nile and fed in the reed grass. 19 Seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and thin, such as I had never seen in all the land of Egypt. 20 And the thin, ugly cows ate up the first seven plump cows, 21 but when they had eaten them no one would have known that they had eaten them, for they were still as ugly as at the beginning. Then I awoke. 22 I also saw in my dream seven ears growing on one stalk, full and good. 23 Seven ears, withered, thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprouted after them, 24 and the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me.”
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine. 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe.
2 And the doubling of Pharaoh's dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”
37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants.
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?”39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.”
41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. 43 And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!”
Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt.
44 Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
Egyptian Topographical Lists of Cities and Records
Names
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Tuthmosis III (1481 BC)
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Amenhotep II (1440)
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Amenhotep III (1386)
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Seti I (1291)
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Ramses II (1275)
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Jacob-El
|
yes
|
yes
| |||
Joseph-El
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yes
|
yes
| |||
Asher
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
| ||
Yahweh
|
yes
|
yes
| |||
Shasu
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
| |
Hapiru
|
yes
|
yes
|
See ANET, 242-3.
- In Ramses II's topographical list (ca.1275 BC) the place-name "Jacob-El" (#9) appears again (ANET 1969, 242; Simons 1937). The first appearance was in Thutmose III's list. This means that this city of Jacob has been around for two hundred years. Another interesting name that was found is yhw which is "Yahweh" in Hebrew (Horn 1953, 201; Giveon 1964, 244).
- It seems abundantly clear from all these topographical lists concerning Canaan that the Hebrews were in Canaan at this time, but they did not use the name "Israel" until there league of tribes was well formed by the time of Merneptah.
- On a statue-base of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan which is the funerary temple of Amenhotep III there is a topographical list with the place-name Yspir (Series a:1; Kitchen 1965, 2). This is the same name translated "Joseph-El" in Thutmose III's Topographical list (ANET 1969, 242). After Yspir in both lists the place-name Rkd appears (Series a:2 in Amenhotep III's list, and #79 in Thutmose III's list; Simons 1937, 112). Rkd is the same place-name as Ruhizzi in the El Amarna letters (EA 53:36, 56; EA 5426; EA 56:26; EA 191:2; Rainey 1982, 354). The ruler of Ruhizzi is Arsawuya who seems to be located in northern Palestine or southern Syria (EA 53:36, 56; Moran, 125)
On a statue of Amenhotep III at Kom el Hetan - Amenhotep’s funeral statue has a base and on the base of the statue is "Joseph-el". Joseph of God. Referring to Joseph who predicted the huge famine, and became Visor to Pharaoh. Joseph Messenger of God.
Amenhotep III has a mortuary palace in Kom el Hetan where it was only discovered in 2009. The papyrus at the bases of the statues have provided interesting clues to Joseph. It was the next generation of Pharaoh's to become determined to have Egypt only worship One God. The site is on going and currently not open to the public.
The papyrus mentioning Joseph at the base of the Pharaoh statue is dates the Exodus about 1447-1446 B.C. which also connects when the words Joseph, Israel, Goshen, Yahweh appear in tax records and official Egyptian documents, census and tax records.
The point for today is - it was the next Pharaoh's generation who watched as the adults went about every day and then that generation fought for Egypt to be under One God. And this makes our lives not important just to our piers, but also to the next generations. The people of God create works of God that He will want to bring forth again.
Archaeology is interesting. We find we are the generation all of the factors have begun to show up. Wondrous.
Roberts, Ancient Egypt
Tissot, Pharaoh and Joseph
The Book of Esther is all about God working through people in ordinary and brave life.
When we see Joseph, we find another aspect of God. Joseph has had dreams and has provoked his siblings with the Coat of Many Colors and dreaming of being Vizier of Egypt.
Abba, Our Father,
Help us to walk in the Paths You have for us.
In the Name of Jesus help us to find You and Your Kingdom first. Help us to live Life in Love, Peace and Joy.
Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit, Your Comfort, Your Comforter to be guided to stay in Your Plan and Path from Your Book of Life. Protect us to be in Your Hope and Future. Exercise Your Word and we will be encouraged and led by Your Love and Word.
We ask in Jesus for Your Willing Blessings. We wondrously see all Your Abilities and ask to see these Blessings as David asked even for his children to see your Wondrous Works. Enable us to complete all the Good Works You have for us to do.
Help us to walk in the Path You have for us seeing why Jesus found this Life Joy. Numbers 6 asks for the Gift of Peace. Let us experience and lean upon Your Very Own Peace.
Bless us, we ask in Jesus, to defeat this Virus and the barrier in our food supplies all over the world.
Protect our Loved Ones and families to live in Peace and dwell in Mercy. Being Healed. Give us each day the gifts and we will see Heaven each day in our souls. Being given Jesus in our souls.
We thank You for help to lean into Your Willing Blessings. Hearing people say, "God Bless You" again.
In Jesus and His Love and the Book of Life, Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †