Genesis 41:37 Commentary and Bible Study

When Pharaoh hears this, he believes and accepts Joseph’s interpretation, and he also believes the dream is truly a message from God to warn him about future events. It is a Gentile who believes. He cannot doubt this when he recalls the authority with which the dream came to him. It has come to him, because he is responsible for the welfare of his nation, and he alone can take the necessary steps to do something about it, to avert the future famine that God is sending. He accepts also Joseph plan of action. Amazingly, the sovereignty of God has come right into Pharaoh’s court. It is God through Joseph that is setting out a plan for how to deal with this, not the mighty Pharaoh. Pharoah accepts the suggested plan, and he meekly obeys the message. They must indeed choose a suitable discreet and wise man to implement it, but who is better placed to do this, and who has more clearly proven his worth than this man? thinks Pharoah. He is a worshipper of the true God who has sent this dream, and the Spirit of God has shown him its meaning, when all others in Egypt have failed to discern it. Pharoah therefore makes the extraordinary decision there and then to elevate Joseph from prison to the second highest in the land. Just as he had been elevated to be over the house of Potiphar, so now he is set over the house of Pharoah, and over all the land. An extraordinary act has earned and extraordinary degree of trust. Not only this, but Joseph is to receive the highest honour in the land, second only to Pharoah. In giving him his ring Pharoah is saying that Joseph shall have all the authority of Pharoah himself. He is to ride in Pharoah’s second chariot, a mark of his position in the kingdom, and all will be told to make obeisance, or bow the knee. In thinking of Joseph as a type of Christ, we might think of Christ’s words, ‘For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him’ (John 5:22-23), and of the Scripture, ‘That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father’ (Philippians 2:10-11). Pharoah continues to pour honours upon Joseph, all of which are designed to exalt him in the estimation of the people. They are going to have to obey him and trust him, and submit to his rule in matters which are not easy to convince them of. Joseph is going to need the authority of Pharoah himself to carry out this task. It is an extraordinary act of trust on Pharoah’s part, to give so much authority to someone he has only known for a short time. It is something he could not do if he had suspicion that Joseph would take advantage of him. Joseph’s integrity and simplicity has shone through in the way he has conducted himself.He is given a new name by Pharoah – Zaphnathpaaneah. This name is variously interpreted as being of Egyptian or of Hebrew origin. The former is much more likely. It has been explained as meaning ‘Saviour of the age’, ‘Revealer of a secret’ (Josephus), or ‘Sustainer of life’. It certainly describes Pharoah’s understanding of the importance of Joseph’s role in Egypt. He is also given the daughter of Potipherah priest of On (Heliopolis) as wife, a great mark of honour. Hall says that God ‘puts this choice into the heart of Pharaoh, of a miserable prisoner, to make him the ruler of Egypt. Behold, one hour hath changed his fetters into a chain of gold, his rags into fine linen, his stocks into a chariot, his jail into a palace, Potiphar's captive into his master's lord.’