How God Controls Nations to Provide for His Covenant People Genesis 41

Joseph needed to have faith to trust in God’s plan regardless of the circumstances.

Will you rely on faith to sustain you when circumstances do not appear to be going your way?

Do you have faith to wait upon the plan of God to be worked out in your life?.

God controls Governments to protect and provide for His Covenant people.

Genesis 41:41–43 (NIV84) 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.

Genesis 41:44–46 (NIV84) 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. 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.

Genesis 41:47–49 (NIV84) 47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully. 48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. 49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

Genesis 41:50–52 (NIV84) 50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Genesis 41:53–55 (NIV84) 53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven 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. 55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”

Genesis 41:56–57 (NIV84) 56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. 57 And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.

How God Controls Nations to Provide for His Covenant People Genesis 41

Romans 13:1 (NASB95) 1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

1 Timothy 2:1–4 (NIV84) 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

John 19:11 (NIV84) 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

John 19:19 (NIV84) Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews.

God controls Governments to protect and provide for his Covenant people.

“God employed such communication to show that no matter how powerful and prosperous these nations were on the face of the earth, they were still subject to his sovereign control.” – Dr. Allen Ross, “Creation and Blessing”

No matter how powerful and prosperous we view ourselves as a nation, we need to remember God is in sovereign control.

He who is aware of God is both humble and fearless at the same time.

Genesis 41:25 (ESV) 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

Genesis 41:25–27 (ESV) 25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one. 27 The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty ears blighted by the east wind are also seven years of famine.

Genesis 41:28–30 (ESV) 28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land,

Genesis 41:31–33 (ESV) 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh select a discerning and wise man, and set him over the land of Egypt.

Genesis 41:34–36 (ESV) 34 Let Pharaoh proceed to appoint overseers over the land and take one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven plentiful years. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

How God Controls Nations to Provide for His Covenant People Genesis 41

1.Our only confidence should be in God and God alone. 2.We can speak boldly, with humility, about our God

3. This entire event was part of God’s way to make himself known to the entire world.

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV) 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Genesis 41:50–52 (NIV84) 50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” 52 The second son he named Ephraim and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Manassah: God has made me forget my trial and my father’s house Ephraim: God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.

Believers who recognize the success of their service is part of God’s sovereign plan will not abandon their faith when they find success.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (ESV) 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

God sovereignly controls the destinies of nations to protect and provide for his covenant people.

First, We have been given God’s full revelation in the Holy Scriptures.

Second, we need to boldy declare the revealed Word of God.

Third, we need to tell the world they need to conform to what God is about to do.

Finally, we need to humbly stay faithful to what we have been taught