A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of May 13-17, 2024
MONDAY
So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
Genesis 41:37
Praise God! Joseph is finally out of prison! You remember Joseph, don’t you? Favored son of Israel… coat of many colors… that Joseph. Joseph was so easily promoted after being almost dead it made us wonder if anything could ever hold him down, but false accusation landed him in prison.
Joseph’s gift of visions and the interpretation of them seem to have gotten him into trouble with his brothers, but the same gift that got him into trouble gets him out. I love God. He saves us to the uttermost. We don’t have to change who we are to receive redemption.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: Psalm 107:20 ~ He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
May 13: Numbers 22, Psalms 62-63, Isaiah 11-12, James 5
May 14: Numbers 23, Psalms 64-65, Isaiah 13, 1 Peter 1
May 15: Numbers 24, Psalms 66-67, Isaiah 14, 1 Peter 2
May 16: Numbers 25, Psalms 68, Isaiah 15, 1 Peter 3
May 17: Numbers 26, Psalms 69, Isaiah 16, 1 Peter 4
May 18: Numbers 27, Psalms 70-71, Isaiah 17-18, 1 Peter 5
May 19: Numbers 28, Psalms 72, Isaiah 19-20, 2 Peter 1
TUESDAY
And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 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.”
Genesis 41:38-40
Pharaoh’s reaction to Joseph’s help is positive and rewarding. He immediately begins to make plans to promote Joseph and place him where he belongs. Pharaoh has forgotten totally that Joseph was in prison. No probation, no checking with the parole board. Total exoneration! What a blessing.
God does this for us. When we are forgiven, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Pharaoh encourages Joseph by letting him know how much he has helped the whole nation, and that he is valuable to him as the ruler over all of Egypt. He confirms this by making him second in command. Only Pharaoh himself is higher.
WEDNESDAY
And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
Genesis 41:41-44
Joseph’s promotion is immediate and dramatic. Pharaoh gives him the tokens of his office, gives the appropriate clothing for the job, and presents him to the people. In one day Joseph’s life is totally changed. We can say that about our conversion.
The day we received Christ we were totally changed. God provided us with the evidence (token) of our new life. We received His peace… not our peace, but His peace. We received a lasting part of Him. We knew we were changed, because we had evidence of God’s abiding love and life on the inside of us.
THURSDAY
So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.
Genesis 41:48-49
God begins to confirm Joseph’s words with signs following. Everything Joseph says happens. We’ve all had that “honeymoon” experience with God. It seems that for a season we can do no wrong. This is the way it was with Joseph.
God will exalt us and let people know who we are. We never have to “prove” ourselves to anyone. God makes room for our gift the way He wishes. Many of us despise the day of small things. We all begin as seeds.
How would you like to be the “prison prophet?” Not the best start, but it is a start. God will elevate us as we are faithful.
FRIDAY
And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in the seven plentiful years the ground brought forth abundantly…
And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”
Genesis 41:45-47, 50-51
Pharaoh changes Joseph’s name. In doing so, he gives Joseph a new identity, which fits his new image. From now on, if anybody who knew him when he was Potiphar’s servant or in jail will have a difficult time recalling his past.
This is the most wonderful part of the new birth experience. God takes a big eraser to our lives and blots out all past sins. He even changes our desires. The things that drive us drive us no more. He causes us to forget how messed up we were. He causes us to forget our transgressions and ill-will and lack of forgiveness toward others.
How complete is this forgetting? It allows us to live a totally new life through forgiving others. Joseph’s forgetting was tested when his brothers came looking for food. God has caused him to forget even the sins of others toward him.
Has He made you forget something that you used to remember? What a blessing!