Genesis 41:30-41
39 "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
39 "Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Of all the types of Christ in the Old Testament, the story of Joseph is the closest to that of our Lord Jesus, by far; so many obvious parallels. For instance: Joseph was sent by his father to minister to his brothers in a far away place. They rejected him, sold/betrayed him for 20 pieces of silver; he was imprisoned for three years. (Egypt is a picture of the world.) Joseph ultimately was elevated to the second most powerful position, second only to pharaoh, becoming his right-hand man; Viceroy of all Egypt!
Secrets In The Hebrew Language.
Because he was given the interpretation of Pharaoh's dream and, thereby, a portent of the coming famine, he also implemented a plan which earned him the name, "Zaphnath-Paaneah." In Egyptian it means , "savior of the world!" (See Genesis 41); but in Hebrew, it also has a meaning: "One who reveals mysteries." How cool is that?!
He became the bread of life to the Gentile world and, unbeknownst to them, his own people as well. Out of great lack sprang great provision! Sounds like our Lord Jesus!
In Genesis 41:50-52 we read....
50 "During this time {the 7 bumper-crop years}, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.
51 Joseph named his older son "Manasseh," for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his second son "Ephraim," for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
50 "During this time {the 7 bumper-crop years}, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.
51 Joseph named his older son "Manasseh," for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named his second son "Ephraim," for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”
Joseph married a Gentile bride, Asenath, who's name means, "belonging to wisdom." She bore him his two sons; Manasseh, which means "forgetfulness," and Ephraim, which means "fruitfulness."
Why Did Jacob Cross His Hands?
When Joseph's father, Jacob, blessed his two sons he crossed his hands. Ever wonder why? By crossing his hands he put his right hand on the head of the younger son, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older.
The right hand conveys the 1st born blessing. That's right; he was giving the 1st born blessing to the younger son. Joseph sought to correct his father but Jacob stopped him because the younger son would be blessed above the elder.
Why Did Jacob Cross His Hands?
When Joseph's father, Jacob, blessed his two sons he crossed his hands. Ever wonder why? By crossing his hands he put his right hand on the head of the younger son, Ephraim, and his left hand on the older.
The right hand conveys the 1st born blessing. That's right; he was giving the 1st born blessing to the younger son. Joseph sought to correct his father but Jacob stopped him because the younger son would be blessed above the elder.
This is a snapshot of our Lord Jesus! He was sent by His Father to His brothers who were far away from Him, both physically and spiritually. He came to His own, but His own did not recognize or receive Him. He was rejected. They betrayed/sold Him for 30 pieces of silver, He suffered and died on the cross and was buried in the heart of the earth for three days. On the third day, He rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of The Father, in power and glory!
Because He was rejected by and large by his brethren, He has become the bread of life and revealer of secrets, our Zaphnath-Paaneah, to all "Egypt:" in other words, to all the world, particularly the Gentiles: Non-Jews.
Because He was rejected by and large by his brethren, He has become the bread of life and revealer of secrets, our Zaphnath-Paaneah, to all "Egypt:" in other words, to all the world, particularly the Gentiles: Non-Jews.
He married a Gentile bride; US, the church! We, His gentile bride, have been very fruitful during this 2,000-year-long period of rejection by his Jewish brethren, have brought Him GREAT JOY AND BLESSING during our sojourn together here in the land of Egypt, i.e. the world, and have helped Him forget the great sorrow of His rejection in the "land of His grief:"
First-Born Blessing.
We have also been the beneficiaries of all the first-born blessings for these last 2,000 years! Jesus is "first-born" of the dead yet we get all of what rightfully belongs to Him. Ephraim, the younger brother, is a picture of us, Church!
When we are born into God's family, WE ARE ALL FIRST BORN. God has no grandsons or nephews. It also means God gives us fruitfulness first which makes us forget all our troubles!
Under the New Covenant God's way is to bless us first. We do not labor to be blessed but rather we labor BECAUSE WE ALREADY ARE!
The first-born blessing conveyed three things: priesthood, kingship and double grace! We are kings and priests after the order of Melchizedek, Kin Priest of Salem. Notice it is NOT of the tribe of LEVI, the order of the Law. We are kings like Jesus and are doubly blessed just as He is.
How do we get all these things? The answer is always THE CROSS, another reason for the "crossed hands!"
Doesn't it just blow your mind that Jesus gets GREAT JOY AND BLESSING from you? From US? From His church!?
We are His beloved and He is our Zaphnath-Paaneah!
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