And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Pharaoh asked his counselors where another could be found like Joseph to carry out the plan to store food in the plenteous years against the coming famine. He recognized that the Spirit of God was in Joseph and God was with him, shown by his wisdom to point out the danger and the preparation needed and by his power to interpret the dreams. Though Joseph was a Hebrew and a slave, that was of little moment beside his evident wisdom and sound judgment. That recognition raised him from prison to stand second only to the throne, set over Pharaoh's household and people to lead Egypt through plenty and famine. His elevation was no accident but the ordering of Providence, for living in close connection with God made him God's witness among an idolatrous nation, standing firm to principle without compromise and carrying his religion with him in prison and at court.
Pharaoh's Recognition and Appointment
The question was put to servants and counselors, asking where another like Joseph could be found. It came after troubled deliberation over whom to trust to carry out his plan to take up the fifth part during the seven plenteous years and store food in the cities against the seven years of grievous famine.
Pharaoh had learned through the chief butler of Joseph's wisdom and prudence and pre-eminent administrative ability in managing the prison, a report confirmed by further inquiry. He found that Joseph alone in all the realm had wisdom to point out the threatened danger and the preparation necessary to meet it. He was best qualified to execute the sound and shrewd policy he had proposed, and a divine power was evidently with him, surpassing all the king's officers of state.
The words mean that Pharaoh recognized Joseph as a man in whom the Spirit of God was present and that God was with him. That recognition was drawn from his exceptional spirit and wisdom and his ability to interpret the dreams. His living connection with God gave him influence and moral worth.
That he was a Hebrew and a slave was of little moment against his evident wisdom and sound judgment. He was not rejected for it.
The recognition led directly to bringing him from prison to share the throne of Egypt. He was placed over Pharaoh's household and people, second only to the throne. In that place he was to lead Egypt through the coming years of plenty and famine.
Timed Prophecy Proves Reliable
The seven years shown in Pharaoh's dreams in Genesis 41:28-54 were made known beforehand, when they were only a matter of prophecy, and were then fulfilled in accordance with the prediction. Predicted events in Scripture often occur within a given time, with God foretelling that they will take place within that time and then fulfilling them accordingly. That exact fulfillment of the seven-year period proves that the chronological portions of the Bible are reliable.
That same exactness proves that prophetic chronological periods are reliable and are fulfilled exactly as foretold. Because God thus appoints times and fulfills them, there is reason to regard periods extending to the second coming of Christ as appointed times revealed by God.
Faithful Character and Witness
Joseph's checkered life and sudden elevation from prison to share the throne were not accident but ordered of Providence, with God working for him, the eye of God upon him, and a divine hand leading him to raise up a youth of firm principle whom God could use. After much affliction God chose him to bear a heavy burden in idolatrous Egypt and to make the knowledge of God shine there, and he remained faithful to that sacred trust. His firmness of character, uprightness, excellent character, and wisdom that fitted him for usefulness and great responsibility came from God's presence and the Spirit of God working in him, and the goodness seen in him reflected a righteousness from Jesus Christ, not from himself. That character was built by careful training in early years, consulting duty rather than inclination, purity of motive and simple trust in God under unjust accusation and imprisonment, cultivated talents, industrious habits, force of character, and quickly discerned and eagerly seized openings of Providence.
He was one of the few who could withstand temptation because he had an eye single to the glory of God and a lofty regard for God's will. He was the same man in the prisoner's cell and when standing next to the throne, carrying his religion with him wherever he went and in whatever situation he was placed. True religion in him had an all-pervading power that gave tone to everything he did, so he discharged well the duties belonging to the place where God had put him by keeping his heart fixed upon heavenly things, carrying sanctifying influence into all he did and said without needing to go out of the world to be a Christian. The Spirit of God in him meant living in close connection with God as God's representative and witness placed by providence as a captive among a heathen nation to carry the knowledge of the true God. He stood firm to principle and loyal to faith with no compromise with the idolatrous nation around him, bearing as a special honor the name of a worshiper of the God who created the heavens and the earth.
Honoring God in all his ways, God honored him and was his wisdom, giving him knowledge and understanding, and his living connection with God gave him influence and moral worth. Like Daniel he was entrusted with important responsibilities and represented Christ through character that had saving influence on those around him before a heathen kingdom. His presence in Egypt as such a witness makes him the model of what every Seventh-day Adventist institution is to be to the world, a representative of God to carry the knowledge of the true God. His life displayed precious, fragrant and beautiful fruits of character from the Spirit's graces. Those qualities were absent from the Jews of Christ's day, whose outward show of piety concealed fruitlessness and lack of the Spirit's graces, making Israel a hindrance rather than a blessing to the world and causing its religion to mislead people toward ruin instead of salvation.
His example teaches that parents should educate children, and that children, youth, and young men under God's discipline and blessing can develop solidity of character and Christlike compassion and virtue even amid severe trials to share in the earnest work to be done in this age.
Pharaoh asked his counselors where another could be found like Joseph to carry out the plan to store food in the plenteous years against the coming famine. He recognized that the Spirit of God was in Joseph and God was with him, shown by his wisdom to point out the danger and the preparation needed and by his power to interpret the dreams. Though Joseph was a Hebrew and a slave, that was of little moment beside his evident wisdom and sound judgment. That recognition raised him from prison to stand second only to the throne, set over Pharaoh's household and people to lead Egypt through plenty and famine. His elevation was no accident but the ordering of Providence, for living in close connection with God made him God's witness among an idolatrous nation, standing firm to principle without compromise and carrying his religion with him in prison and at court.
Pharaoh's Recognition and Appointment
The question was put to servants and counselors, asking where another like Joseph could be found. It came after troubled deliberation over whom to trust to carry out his plan to take up the fifth part during the seven plenteous years and store food in the cities against the seven years of grievous famine.
Pharaoh had learned through the chief butler of Joseph's wisdom and prudence and pre-eminent administrative ability in managing the prison, a report confirmed by further inquiry. He found that Joseph alone in all the realm had wisdom to point out the threatened danger and the preparation necessary to meet it. He was best qualified to execute the sound and shrewd policy he had proposed, and a divine power was evidently with him, surpassing all the king's officers of state.
The words mean that Pharaoh recognized Joseph as a man in whom the Spirit of God was present and that God was with him. That recognition was drawn from his exceptional spirit and wisdom and his ability to interpret the dreams. His living connection with God gave him influence and moral worth.
That he was a Hebrew and a slave was of little moment against his evident wisdom and sound judgment. He was not rejected for it.
The recognition led directly to bringing him from prison to share the throne of Egypt. He was placed over Pharaoh's household and people, second only to the throne. In that place he was to lead Egypt through the coming years of plenty and famine.
Timed Prophecy Proves Reliable
The seven years shown in Pharaoh's dreams in Genesis 41:28-54 were made known beforehand, when they were only a matter of prophecy, and were then fulfilled in accordance with the prediction. Predicted events in Scripture often occur within a given time, with God foretelling that they will take place within that time and then fulfilling them accordingly. That exact fulfillment of the seven-year period proves that the chronological portions of the Bible are reliable.
That same exactness proves that prophetic chronological periods are reliable and are fulfilled exactly as foretold. Because God thus appoints times and fulfills them, there is reason to regard periods extending to the second coming of Christ as appointed times revealed by God.
Faithful Character and Witness
Joseph's checkered life and sudden elevation from prison to share the throne were not accident but ordered of Providence, with God working for him, the eye of God upon him, and a divine hand leading him to raise up a youth of firm principle whom God could use. After much affliction God chose him to bear a heavy burden in idolatrous Egypt and to make the knowledge of God shine there, and he remained faithful to that sacred trust. His firmness of character, uprightness, excellent character, and wisdom that fitted him for usefulness and great responsibility came from God's presence and the Spirit of God working in him, and the goodness seen in him reflected a righteousness from Jesus Christ, not from himself. That character was built by careful training in early years, consulting duty rather than inclination, purity of motive and simple trust in God under unjust accusation and imprisonment, cultivated talents, industrious habits, force of character, and quickly discerned and eagerly seized openings of Providence.
He was one of the few who could withstand temptation because he had an eye single to the glory of God and a lofty regard for God's will. He was the same man in the prisoner's cell and when standing next to the throne, carrying his religion with him wherever he went and in whatever situation he was placed. True religion in him had an all-pervading power that gave tone to everything he did, so he discharged well the duties belonging to the place where God had put him by keeping his heart fixed upon heavenly things, carrying sanctifying influence into all he did and said without needing to go out of the world to be a Christian. The Spirit of God in him meant living in close connection with God as God's representative and witness placed by providence as a captive among a heathen nation to carry the knowledge of the true God. He stood firm to principle and loyal to faith with no compromise with the idolatrous nation around him, bearing as a special honor the name of a worshiper of the God who created the heavens and the earth.
Honoring God in all his ways, God honored him and was his wisdom, giving him knowledge and understanding, and his living connection with God gave him influence and moral worth. Like Daniel he was entrusted with important responsibilities and represented Christ through character that had saving influence on those around him before a heathen kingdom. His presence in Egypt as such a witness makes him the model of what every Seventh-day Adventist institution is to be to the world, a representative of God to carry the knowledge of the true God. His life displayed precious, fragrant and beautiful fruits of character from the Spirit's graces. Those qualities were absent from the Jews of Christ's day, whose outward show of piety concealed fruitlessness and lack of the Spirit's graces, making Israel a hindrance rather than a blessing to the world and causing its religion to mislead people toward ruin instead of salvation.
His example teaches that parents should educate children, and that children, youth, and young men under God's discipline and blessing can develop solidity of character and Christlike compassion and virtue even amid severe trials to share in the earnest work to be done in this age.