Go and Do

O.T. #88  "Go and Do"
July 19, 2013
Genesis 41-Part 3
Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."
Genesis 41:55

LET IT GLOW

If a problem arises at work, do we go to the top boss instead of going to our supervisor first?
I have and it was the wrong thing to do. She made it so hard on me that I had to quit my job.
I learned my lesson the hard way.

Joseph is prime minister, head of the agriculture department, second in command over all of
Egypt, the most powerful nation of the world at this time. He is busy getting the grain stored
up during the 7 years of plenteous crops and preparing for 7 years of famine. He didn't make
political promises and then not keep them when put in the position. Joseph didn't put off his
work for a few years or for a more convenient time.

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gave Joseph a pagan wife (verse 45). Her name is mentioned in
the Bible-Asenath. She was the daughter of a priest of On. Ra was an important Egyptian
deity as early as the Fifth Dynasty. His marriage to a priest's daughter completed his outward Egyptianization, but he still maintained a bold confession of the God of Israel. (Falwell)

Joseph and Asenath had two sons-Manasseh and Ephraim. Manesseh, the first born, means
one who causes me to forget. God had made Joseph forget all his toil and all his father's
house.(verse 51)  His new position in god's will had caused him to forget the trials of the past.
He had forgiven those who had wronged him. Ephraim means fruitful. God caused Joseph to
be fruitful in the land of his affliction, suffering. (verse 52) God kept His word to Joseph, and
his predictions came true. All of this was a part of God's greater plan, a plan to preserve Israel
and prepare the way for the birth of Christ the Messiah.

Do we keep our promises?

LET IT GROW

The 7 years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the 7 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. When all of Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food.
Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he tells you."

Do we go to the one in authority over us first before we jump ahead and do things? Do we go
to Jesus with our problems having an attitude of obedience to His instructions? Am I listening
with a pure heart? What is Jesus telling you to do?

LET IT GO

Stay faithful to God even during the hard times.

Keep a servant's heart.

Do what I say I'll do.