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Entrusted with Much

Words of Faith Final

Entrusted with Much
Words of Faith 7-19-2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2022
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Genesis 41
[37] The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. [38] So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?"
[39] Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. [40] You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
[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, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" 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, to be his wife. And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt.

Suddenly Joseph had gone from being a filthy prisoner trapped in the darkness to be the second most revered man in all of the land of Egypt! The job description and investiture ceremony detailed here gave Joseph a position in Egyptian government comparable to "Grand Vizier" or "Overseer of the Royal Estates," both of which appear in Egyptian documents.
Kings and royal administrators used the signet ring to seal official documents. The ring was distinctive and would have contained the king's name allowing Joseph to act his name. We might think of it as a super-duper black Amex card of sorts. The chains and linen garments provided Joseph with the accessories that would signify his status, rank, and office.
Pharaoh also gave Joseph an Egyptian name and an Egyptian bride so that his leadership would be accepted in court and by the Egyptian people. He was literally on top of the world.
Joseph was 30 at the time of his installment, 13 years after his brothers sold him (37:2). The transformation of Joseph provides a remarkable image of God's grace and providence. The enormous elevation of Joseph was not the result of his own hard work or cleverness. It happened because God revealed the meaning of Pharaoh's dream and as part of God's sovereign plan to save Joseph's family, the people of Israel.
But the elevation of Joseph was only possible because of Joseph's faithfulness over many years. Even when things looked bad and Joseph could have cut a "better deal," he remained faithful to God. In every dismal situation, Joseph looked to see what God might have in mind. He sought to be faithful in that opportunity.
We are reminded of Jesus' parable of the talents. Jesus told of a Master who entrusted several servants with varying amounts of money. When the Master returned, he commended and elevated the servants who had been faithful with their trust. The Master said, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness" (Matthew 25:21)!
Our call in life is to be faithful, just as Joseph was faithful. The journey may take many years, but God is faithful to us in those years. He carefully watched over Joseph and elevated him to a place and position of influence that would serve His plan and will at the right time. When we are faithful with a little, we show that we can be in charge of much more.
Does that mean that we are all destined to rule over nations? What is great in the Kingdom of God may not match what the world defines as great. The greatest trust of our lives may be a small group of believers or the 4-year-old Sunday school class. What could be more valuable to Jesus? But the principle is valid and active. As we are faithful with a little, He will put us in charge of much, not because we have earned it but because His grace warrants it.
There is also a powerful image here of our identity in Christ. By the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are elevated out of the dark dungeon of sin and clothed with the righteousness of Christ Himself. We are adopted into the royal family of God and given the greatest of privileges, not the privilege to command but the privilege of access to the King. We wear the signet marking of Christ Himself, and no one has higher access to the throne room of God than we do in Christ.

Father God, I thank you for offering me such remarkable and amazing grace. Thank You for sealing me into such a place of Royal privilege. As I continue my earthly path, give me the grace to faithfully care for all You have put into my charge. I seek to be found faithful with all that You have entrusted to me. In Jesus' name.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2022
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2022 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.