Joseph: Years of Plenty

Parents of adult children often remind younger parents to enjoy their children while they are young, because “the years just go by so fast.” And some researchers have concluded that most people do experience the perception that the older you get, the more quickly time seems to pass.

Our passage includes several time markers. Joseph is thirty years old (v. 46). It has been thirteen years since his brothers had sold him into slavery (37:2). As promised in the dream, seven years of plenty come and go. Joseph had a flurry of activity during these years. He traveled the country, collected the food, stored it, kept records, and finally gave up on trying to keep track of all the grain (vv. 46–49). He demonstrated the practical skill and wisdom necessary for this kind of long-term project. Pharaoh’s faith in him is rewarded.

Joseph’s home life has also been busy. His name was changed to Zaphenath-Paneah, and he was given an Egyptian wife (v. 45). How easy it would have been for Joseph to forget about his past life and embrace all that came with being Zaphenath-Paneah, taking on a new identity. Yet, when his children are born, he gives them Hebrew names, not Egyptian ones. In the naming of Manasseh, he expresses gratitude that God has made him forget the years of slavery and the grief at being torn away from his father’s house (v. 51). He named his second son Ephraim as a testimony of God’s blessing in the place of suffering (v. 52).

He is not going to wallow in the time and relationships he has lost, but he is not going to ignore them either, as the giving of the name indicates. In the giving of both names, Joseph expresses his thanks to God.

Pray with Us

Today, we have the privilege to encourage in prayer the rest of the Engineering Operations team: Jamie Ixcaragua, Israel Ledee, Gerald Malozienc, Eric Rathbun, Daniel Yoo, and Cory Smith. Ask for God’s protection and safety in the workplace.

BY Ryan Cook

Dr. Ryan Cook has taught at Moody Bible Institute since 2012. He earned his bachelor of arts in Bible and Theology from Moody and his master of arts in Old Testament from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He has worked in Christian education and served as a pastor in Michigan for seven years. During his time as a professor at Moody, he earned his doctorate from Asbury Theological Seminary. He now lives with his wife, Ashley, and their three children in the Chicagoland area.