Bibledoorajar Speaks of Authority in the Highest

There was no doubt about it. Pharoah decided to give preference to Joseph,  exalting the revealer of secrets to a position in his land second only to the king. He was robed and given a golden chain and rode in a chariot next to the king. Everyone was made to understand that Joseph's rule was to be obeyed as decreed by the King. The people were instructed to bow their knee to him. What a change from all that innocent suffering Joseph had endured in prison. His new Egyptian name “Zaphenath-paneah” reflected his ability to know hidden secrets and an ability to heal and save. The brightest glories of Egypt were upon him. Joseph was thirty years of age when he received his special authority and left the presence of Pharoah to accomplish gathering, keeping and disposing of the nation's food supplies.

Years later a more Magnificent Servant left the presence of His father to carry out His special authority in the earth.  All power was given to Him in both heaven and earth. His authority extends as  gatherer, keeper, and disposer of all the stores of divine grace among men. He began His ministry at age thirty and he went all through the lands demonstrating his authority. Most importantly, He was demonstrating who He was to His disciples to whom He would also extend great authority.

 "Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.  Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him."
                                                                   Quoted from the gospel of Matthew


If the then known world wanted food they would need to recognize the authority given to Joseph. Today if the world wants spiritual food they must recognize the authority given to Jesus by the Father.
As Peter said, He is the Messiah. All must bow to Him. Have you taken such a step yet?

Bibledoorajar Emphasizes The Matter at Hand

Joseph told Pharoah that his dream was repeated twice because the matter was at hand. God was going to move swiftly to accomplish it. Therefore it would behoove Pharoah to proceed. There was no time to waste. Pharoah should proceed quickly to find a wise and discerning man who would prepare for a severe time of drought by taking larger amounts of grain from every farmer and storing it for future use. So important was this step that Joseph recommended that the collection of grain be gathered as a levy against the farmers. This plan was accepted and the slave and prisoner was named viceroy of the land, an exception to the law of Egypt. But this exception was made because Pharoah saw the wisdom in moving quickly. Under Joseph, magistrates established royal granaries in every city so that grain would not have to be transported and held in only one location. This meant that large portions of the winnowed and sifted grain would be safely held for future use.

Years later, another wise and discerning man named John the Baptist came on the scene in the Holy Land. He spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees and told them how they must proceed and advised them to move quickly. They had no time to waste.

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And this same John....
saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism. He said to them, O generation of vipers who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore produce fruits worthy for repentance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father for I say unto you that God is able to from these stones raise up children to Abraham. And now the axe is laid unto the root of the trees, therefore everything that produces not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize with water unto repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I whose shoes I am not adequate to bear. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Whose winnowing fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge His threshing floor and gather his wheat grain into the granary, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
                                                                                                   Quoted from Matthew 3

The mightier Magnificent Servant has all knowing power to carry out the desires of His Father. Even now, He is at work storing His grain in His church. Pharoah heard his dream twice for emphasis. God has now spoken twice through both His Old and New Testament. Emphasis on separating the chaff (evil) from the wheat (those he loves) has been put in place. Have you submitted to the winnowing process? Life's assurances are greater that way.

Bibledoorajar Says: Heads Up!

Pharoah had been used to having control over his environment. He had amassed much and had come to a place of peace on the basis of his control of the physical elements of his world. But now, Joseph was telling him that for seven years he would have no control over the physical elements because of an all encompassing famine. This message  had to be alarming to Pharoah, but there stood before him a man seemingly in perfect peace assuring him that God in His grace and mercy was giving Pharoah a heads up. Joseph even was able to give Pharoah advice as to how to handle the environment to prepare for the terrible famine. Pharoah should locate the most wise man in his kingdom and depend on him to adequately manage for the terrible coming difficulties--a time when sustenance would become the most important factor in the lives of the world. If this man, whomever he chose, prepared and gave his all, the world as they knew it could be saved. Before Pharoah stood such a magnificent servant, even Joseph. Surely he could find no other better man qualified to take on the responsibility. Pharoah quickly puts Joseph in charge of all the preparations and Joseph gladly takes on the monumental task.

After the Corinthian church had accepted Jesus, they were still having trouble controlling the spiritual elements of their world. The forces of adultery, fornication, etc. were rampant and they were being robbed of their peace and seemingly the ability to manage these forces. The apostle Paul, from a place of inner peace, was sent by God to give them assurances and knowledge of how to gain control over the dark spiritual forces. He reminded them that their inner man was the object of all these forces but was not part of them. It was key for them to  remember that they had been chosen and sealed by God to carry on for Him and that He had put them in the church,  a place of perpetual sustenance. Believing that their inner man was stronger than the outside forces was like living in a fortress.
 How well are you doing at tackling the forces of the world from a place of inner peace? Heads
Up!---; believe that the preparations made by your Most Magnificent Servant are adequate for the tasks ahead.

"Now is the time for faith and determination
  Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion
  Hold on to all you hide in your heart ...
  We believe that His children will not be forsaken
God is in control
We will choose to remember and never be shaken
There is no power above or beside Him, we know
Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control."

 Twila Paris - God Is In Control

Bibledoorajar Follows Joseph Into the Palace

The magnificent servant, also known by some as simply a slave, was rushed to the palace of Pharoah. The challenge before him: to reveal the meaning of Pharoah's dreams. Simply put Pharoah had dreamed of seven very healthy cattle being ravaged by seven very emaciated and pitiful cattle. Again, he dreamed of seven healthy ears of grain being consumed by seven very unhealthy ears of grain. What in the world did the most powerful man on earth need to know? The servant was soon seen to be a revealer of secrets from God about the things that troubled Pharoah. Joseph, ever the humble servant, said he could not reveal the message, but God could through him and Pharoah could have peace. Could Joseph share a serious but hopeful message?  Joseph began to reveal a master plan of salvation to Pharoah.

Years later a More Wonderful Servant , also known by some as a simple carpenter, was rushed from the confines of the grave to reveal that the ultimate secret of eternal life with the Father was real and would come to all whom believed. For God's servants, death would be overcome. We can have peace. For three years Jesus revealed things about this great plan of salvation. Truly the best is yet to come. Be happy and....

"Sing that sweet sweet song of salvation
let your laughter fill the air
Sing that sweet sweet song of salvation
and tell the people everywhere"

 Performed by Larry Norman and an inspiration to many a Christian in the 70's and 80's including me!

Bibledoorajar looks at the Miracle of Joseph's Dream Interpretations

“You can't throw too much style into a miracle.”
― Mark Twain, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Pharoah's wise men had disappointed, but the best was yet to come. When Joseph was remembered by the cupbearer he was remembered as the man who had both served him and told him that when Pharoah counted on his servants he would once again be counted among them. Now, he served Pharoah again and had his complete trust. So, the cupbearer had every reason to believe that his newly replaced prominence would carry weight with Pharoah and so he told him of Joseph's abilities. This is how much trust Joseph had in God--that he said all the cupbearer would have to do was mention his name and his ability to serve. As the above quote says, you can't throw too much style into a miracle and we are about to see Joseph give a miraculous interpretation of Pharoah's dreams. So anxious was Pharoah that he had Joseph RUSHED to his palace from the dungeon. Joseph shaved and changed his clothes and came into Pharoah ready to serve him. By shaving, Joseph would look more like an Egyptian thus he honored the culture in which God had placed him to serve.

I remember being in Muslim countries on missions and forsaking my American custom of dress for their custom in order to not be offensive to the local people. Paul, the apostle told of how
important such an effort could be:

"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.  To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law.  To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law.  To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
                                          1 Corinthians 9: 19-23


And all such efforts lead to sharing in the best yet to come. It is a relatively long passage but if you want to remember the best yet to come read Revelations 21 through 22:9. Have a great week serving that you might share in the wonderful blessings of the gospel.