Elevated by God: Genesis 41:38-45; Daniel 2:46-49

“So Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.” “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you” (Gen. 41:39-40, NASB).

“Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all Babylon” (Dan. 2:48, NASB).

This article is motivated by my youngest sister Celia for two reasons. First, Celia frequently post on Facebook short stories about little known African Americans and events that have taken place in communities of African Americans. The purpose is to instill self-worth and confidence in African Americans since many African Americans know very little about the accomplishments of African American people in the United States of America. Secondly, Celia and I communicate often about the injustices that Black people have suffered in America and throughout the world. She hopes that Black people will study more history so that they will know that Blacks in America are not the only people throughout the world that have suffered from injustices forced upon them by the majority people and culture. While injustice is universal, the injustices of men do not prevent God from elevating people regardless of their social status in the majority culture. This article will briefly discuss the lives of two biblical figures that prove this to be true.

The first person that I want to call our attention to is Joseph son of Jacob/Israel. His story is told in Genesis 37-50 excluding chapter 38. Joseph was Israel’s eleventh son born to him by Jacob’s second wife Rachel. Joseph was born when Jacob was an older man; and Joseph was the son of the wife that Jacob loved more. When Joseph was old enough Jacob gave Joseph a coat of distinction—of many colors. Joseph was given authority over his brothers in the work in the fields. Joseph had a dream that indicated that his brothers would one day bow down to him; and they would submit to his position and authority. He had a second dream that indicated that his mother and his father would bow down to him also. As the eleventh son, Joseph was elevated above his brothers by their father. This caused jealousy and envy. Joseph was despised by his brothers. They formed a conspiracy against Joseph. They sold him to traveling Midianite merchants. They took him to Egypt and “they sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard” (Gen. 37:36, NASB).

“The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” (39:2, NASB). Potiphar could see that the Lord, Joseph’s God was with him because Joseph had success in everything that he was assigned to do. “So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge” (39:4, NASB). The story continues in verse 5. “It came about from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned, the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house on account of Joseph; thus the LORD’S blessings was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field” (v. 5). The Lord was using Joseph to serve His purpose even though God did not put it in Potiphar’s heart to free Joseph. Potiphar knew that Joseph was a good man blessed by the Lord. Potiphar used Joseph for his own advantages. God was not through with Joseph.

Potiphar’s wife saw that Joseph was a handsome young man. She was sexually attracted to him. She asked Joseph to have sex with her, but Joseph refused. He gave her two reasons. His master had put everything into his hands except his wife. It would be evil and sin against God to betray his master’s confidence and to have sexual relations with another man’s wife (See 39:7-9). Joseph continued to refuse her invitations. She accused Joseph of attempted rape. Joseph was sent to prison, and the Lord blessed him there. “The LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailor” (39:21). Joseph was given supervision over the prisoners. The lord was with him and he prospered in everything that he did (See 39:22-23).

One night the king of Egypt had two dreams. None of his magicians and wise men was able to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams. The cupbearer spoke to the king. He recalled that when he and the chief baker were in prison. Their supervisor had interpreted their dreams and the interpretation was true. The baker was put to death, and the cupbearer was restored to his position (See 41:1-13). Pharaoh sent for Joseph. Joseph told Pharaoh that his ability to interpret dreams was not his own. The interpretations were given to him by the God. Pharaoh told Joseph the dream. The interpretation was that there would be seven years of good harvest followed by seven years of famine. Joseph suggested that Pharaoh select a man to supervise overseers to collect grain during the seven years of good harvest so that the people would have food to eat during the famine.

Pharaoh chose Joseph because he could see that Joseph had a divine spirit in him; and God had informed Joseph. Pharaoh made Joseph second ruler in all of Egypt. He gave Joseph a wife and changed his name. Pharaoh gave Joseph legal status as a citizen of Egypt and made accommodations for Joseph’s entry and adjustments into Egyptian culture. Joseph ruled Egypt. During the famine Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to buy grain. The brothers did not recognize Joseph. As the dreams of Joseph had foretold, Joseph brothers bowed down to him.

Throughout the story we see that God was elevating Joseph. God gives us favor in the sight of people that would not respect us under normal circumstances. God has plans that go much further than our present experiences. At the end of Joseph’s story we learned that God had put Joseph in some places that he did not deserve. God used these circumstances to get Joseph into positions of authority where he could effect change. Joseph sent for his family in Canaan. They were given some of the best land in Egypt to raise their sheep. Joseph died and left instructions that his bones were to be carried back to Canaan. The Hebrew people multiplied. They were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. The Hebrew people were in Egypt until in God’s own time He used Moses to deliver them from Egypt and lead them to the Promised Land that the Lord had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give to their descendants. Now, let us look at Daniel’s story.

Daniel was a teenage Hebrew lad when the Babylonians attacked Jerusalem. They took the best of the Hebrew people into exile. They left the poor in the land of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar decided to train some of the exiles to be in his services. In Daniel 1:3-5 Nebuchadnezzar gave his chief officials instruction on those who met minimal qualifications standards to be trained for service. These young men were to be fed from the king’s table. Although it was the intent of Nebuchadnezzar that the trainees have the best food, “Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials” (Dan. 1:9, NASB). Daniel refused to eat the meat because it would defile him. He persuaded the overseer (v. 11) to give them vegetables to eat for ten days to test the effects on their health. At the end of ten days Daniel and his friends their appearance was better than the other trainees. The overseer continued to withhold the king’s choice food and wine (See vv. 15-17). When the training period was over, the king examined the trainees. Daniel and his friends proved to be better than the other trainees and they were given positions in the personal services of the king.

The king had a dream that could not be interpreted by his magicians, wise men, and astrologers (2:2). The king threatened to put all of them to death. Daniel found out what the king intended to do. He asked for permission to be given time to consult with his God. He and his friends prayed and God gave Daniel the dream and its interpretation. The king spared the lives of all those that he had determined to kill. The king confessed God. “The king answered Daniel and said, ‘Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery’” (Dan. 2:47, NASB). The king promoted Daniel because he was able to meet the needs of the king.

What can we learn from these two stories? First, God has His own plans that cannot be changed by human beings. Second, God is not limited by our personal circumstances. Third, God is working in both the good and bad in our lives to bring about His purpose. Fourth, we can see that God uses those who honor him, obey him, and remain faithful to Him. God uses the bad situations in our lives to prepare us to do His will. We cannot abandon God and expect God to elevate us.