Sunday School Lesson for Jan. 8, 2012: Joseph Finds Favor (Genesis 41)

Genesis 41:16
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”







Genesis 41:38
So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God ?”







Genesis 41:45
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.







The Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon

Strong's Number: 6847
xn(p tnpc




Original Word
Word Origin


xn(p tnpc

of Egyptian derivation

Transliterated Word
Phonetic Spelling


Tsophnath Pa`neach

tsof-nath' pah-nay'-akh

Parts of Speech
TWOT


Proper Name Masculine

None

Definition


Zaphnath-paaneah = "treasury of the glorious rest"

a name given by Pharaoh to Joseph

Translated Words


KJV (1) - Zaphnathpaaneah, 1;

NAS (1) - Zaphenath-paneah, 1;










Scripture is full of ‘types and shadows’. In essence, many of the characters of the Bible, particularly in the Old Testament, in their name or accomplishments foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and others at some point in their recorded lifetime took on the role of ‘Deliverer’ or ‘Savior’ of the nation of Israel. Joseph is no exception. At this particular juncture in his life, Joseph was cast into the role of ‘Savior’. Not just the savior of tribe of Israel, but of all of known civilization of that day. There was a famine coming. Joseph’s godly character and wisdom and God’s timing put him in the position to warn all of Egypt of God’s forthcoming judgment and to provide the leadership to guide Egypt and all of the surrounding communities through seven years of famine safely.

I’d like to point out that Joseph embodies another ‘typology’ in Scripture. Joseph foreshadows the Spirit filled, Spirit led Christian. There are several things to make note of in Joseph’s life. He is gifted. He is a ‘dreamer’. In Scripture, that is not a term to be taken lightly. In Scripture, a ‘dreamer’ or a ‘seer’ was one who had a special spiritual insight, the ability to see the unseen and to interpret what they perceived. Not all dreamers or ‘seers’ were prophets, but all true prophets were seers. Joseph had a ‘prophetic mantle’ early in life. Maybe, because he was he ‘dreamer’’, Joseph seemed to have a ultra-sensitivity to the Presence of God in his own life. He shied away from sin (outwardly sinful actions) and iniquity (inward character deficiencies). When presented with the opportunity, he did not succumb to the temptation that Potiphar’s wife presented. Additionally, thirteen years in captivity, with some of that time being spent in Pharaoh’s dungeon did not make him bitter or vengeful.

In fact, quite the opposite is true. Whoever looked upon Joseph saw something in him that they admired and coveted: Godliness. His brothers saw it and hated him for it. His dad saw it and marked it in his own mind. Potiphar saw it, the Egyptian jailer saw it; they both acknowledged Joseph’s godly character and were blessed by God for doing so. Finally, Pharaoh witnessed it. He was so impressed by what he saw and heard from Joseph that he put in charge of all of Egypt with no exceptions. He did something else: he ‘adopted’ Joseph, he gave him a new name, an Egyptian name. He gave him the name ‘Zaphnath-paaneah”. There are three given meanings for this name. Two point to the ‘Christ typology’ that I spoke of earlier. The name has the inferred meaning of ‘Savior of the World’ and a more literal meaning of “God sees and this one lives”. The third and most literal meaning is the one above: “Treasury of the glorious rest”. Selah.

Did you catch that? Let me repeat it with emphasis added: “Treasury of The Glorious Rest” (caps added for emphasis). The only ‘Glorious Rest’ I can think of is the Rest offered to us through the knowledge of Christ as our Savior. There is ‘Rest’ for the Believer. Pharaoh looks at Joseph and sees a Treasury or Repository of God’s Eternal Rest. What is the Eternal Rest of God? God is. The Spirit of God that Pharaoh saw on Joseph he identified as the Glorious Rest. In this context, Pharaoh and Joseph set an example for the Believer, the Church. Pharaoh, who represents the World, sees God in Joseph. Joseph, because of his gifts and character and behavior literally walks in the Presence. Because he is willing to be led by the Spirit of God, he becomes a vessel whereby God can pour Himself from the Eternal Invisible to the Temporal world in which we dwell.

Beloved, this is the plan of God for the Church, for every Believer. He told us that if we would believe in Him and accept His Son; Jesus, both He; the Father and the Son; Jesus would abide or live in us. That is accomplished in the person of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent after His ascension. The Holy Spirit indwells the Believer. We literally become a ‘Temple’ or ‘Treasury’ or ‘Repository’ for the Spirit of God in the Earth. When this happens, your outward appearance doesn’t change much, but you inward countenance does. Peace that surpasses understanding, Joy unspeakable and full of Glory, Love, the God kind of Love become anchors of the soul.

What else happens when the Holy Spirit indwells us? He comes to us bearing Spiritual Gifts. A Word of Wisdom, a Word of Knowledge, Healing, Miracles, Gifts of Faith, Discernment of the Spirit of God. Beloved these gifts are not just for the Believer, they are for ministry to the lost through the Believer; you and I. The Holy Spirit also supernaturally brings us the Word. This is not some building up or enhancing of the natural memory, but rather, a supernatural relaying of God’s Word to the Believer in time of need. As Spirit filled Believers, we literally become ambassadors of God’s Kingdom. Literally, wherever we are at any particular time, the Kingdom is at hand: completely entirely available to the Believer in any and every given situation. Much like it was for Joseph. Scripture is replete with examples with Jesus being the primary and foremost example. Paul and Silas, Stephen, Peter and John; wherever Believers were, the Kingdom was made manifest. The same hold true today. By Faith; the Faith of God, anything is possible. This ahs gone a little long, and I apologize, but the wealth of Spiritual riches that God makes available to the Believer are immeasurable. Allow me to leave you with this thought: Whatever God has done for or through any Believer who, by Faith, spoke to the impossible, believed the unthinkable and received the unbelievable, He will do for you! Praise the Lord. To Him be Honor and Glory Forever! Amen.



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John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;





2 Corinthians 4:7
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.





1 Corinthians 12:4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.





Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.





John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.





John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.