Genesis chapter 42-43
Joseph Saviour of the world
As we ponder these narratives, preserved for us, we begin to understand the sovereignty of God. To achieve His purposes, He decreed a famine over the whole habitable earth. Famine is described as one of God's four sore judgments-Ezekiel 14v21, which He can bring upon any situation at His will. However, when He does this, He always informs His people what He will do, so that they can expect what will come. This He did in Egypt, and revealed to Joseph a period of seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine. Joseph was appointed administrator of the food supplies, and he stored up the excess to cover for the time of need. For those who may be sceptical that God prewarns His people of impending solemn judgement, they only need to consult the prophetic utterance of Jesus in Matthew 24v4-8 to His disciples, when He warned of global wars, famines, pandemics, and earthquakes; all of these have happened in the present age, and there may be more to come. God's word also warns of eternal judgment on unbelievers, and so the narrative has important relevance for all the living today.
The famine was severe over all the lands-"And the famine was over all the face of the earth"-Genesis 41v56; "And the famine was sore in the land"-Genesis 43v1. Seven years this global famine prevailed on the earth. Human beings, who think they can flout God's laws, yet take for granted His continued supply of sustenance, fail to recognise the Divine prerogative to bring restraint on their wilful ways, as He chooses, and this was the issue here. Because of gracious Divine warning, Joseph was able to lay up in store the necessary food for the times of famine. And so it is recorded. ""And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 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"-Genesis 41v53-54. The picture is clear, people were facing starvation for lack of food, and only Joseph held the food store, and thus held the lives of all in his hand. The repeated edict of Pharoah proclaims Joseph to be the saviour of the world. Note the language of the narrative: Genesis 41v44 "I am Pharoah, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt"; "And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried unto Pharoah for bread: and Pharoah said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph: what he saith unto you, do". During the years of famine, no one received bread but through Joseph, who administered the storehouses to all who came, on his terms.
What an apt picture of the Saviour of the world in spiritual terms. The word of God is clear that the world is under the judgment of God, that He has supplied the answer in Jesus. Only those who come to Him on His terms are saved. Described as "the Saviour of the world" in John 4v42. His exclusive claim to Saviour is expressed in many different ways. His mother echoed the words of Pharoah, "Whatsoever He saith unto you do it!"-John 2v5; Peter said, in the context of Jesus as the living bread, "...to whom shall we go, thou hast the words of eternal life"-John6v68; later, Peter proclaimed to a Jewish audience, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved"-Acts 4v12; He said Himself, "...no man cometh unto the Father but by me"-John 14v6. In the famine in Joseph's day, no one was saved except through Joseph. In the present day, no one is saved but through Jesus. Thus Joseph prefigures the Lord Jesus, who, alone, is the only way to life and blessing.
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