Interesting comment about Joseph ruling in Egypt

We are to judge between right and wrong. Was it right for Joseph to demand everything from the people inreturn for grain? He was being very hard on the people.

God was very hard on Joseph, he turned out OK.

Israel stayed in Egypt for 400 years, that was a training.

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

I would much rather have the CEO start out in the mail room and work his way up than to be handed the job because he is the son of the CEO. God's people are destined to rule and reign, to do that you need a revelation of the savior that is stitched into your life.

This does make me wonder if Joseph's way of ruling was part of GOD's plan, to what would happen 400 years later. Did this allow for a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph to take control. What happens to rulers when they have complete control. The greed of mankind.

You needed a Pharaoh like that so that God could manifest his great power.

Actually you did.
1. Joseph got all his ability & wisdom from God.
2. God never chastized Joseph for this, otherwise it also would be in the narrative.
3. In judging Joseph's 'harshness' with the Egyptians, You judged the Lord who led him to do so.
You're disputing with so many you can't keep up with them. I never said anything about the marriage stuff, & I don't know where you got that.

If it wasn't part of God's plan, it wouldn't have been written in the Book.

Socialism (Marxist Communism) is state ownership of everything. And Joseph made the state the owner of all the land. So he was in fact implementing a Marxist idea. He also favored the priests in Egypt, which allowed paganism to flourish at that time.

The Bible presents us with both the virtues and the failings of the saints, and we are to learn lessons from all of them. Any Christian in government today who would do what Joseph did at that time would be deemed a Communist. And Communism is evil.

Joseph was part of Gods plan to save Israel from starvation. Remember, their was famine. Joseph was wise, he had grain prepared for 7 year famine. The key to this is accountability. Joseph wanted his brother's to take accountability for their actions. When they sold Joseph to Egypt. His brother's admitted their sins and took responsibility for their actions. This is the lesson. I'm not judging anyone. On judgement day, the heathen may not take responsibility for their actions. A person who gunned down people in cold blood may say their the judge. This will not go over with Jesus well. Or blame the gun manufacturer for it. We can hold our ourselves accountable or Jesus will do it for us.

I believe that's what the story is really about.
We both know the Israelites lived in pleasure in Egypt before enslavement. We also know over time, they began worshipping the gods of Egypt. And we also know sin is pleasureable for a while, until we discover how it damages us. Plus, it says of Moses he refused the pleasures of sin.
The NT isn't concerned with slavery, except where our spiritual condition is concerned.

I didn't imply Joseph was God, or infallible, or that we are.
My belief is that Joseph is a picture in certain ways of Christ. We see our Lord in other believers all the time, because Christians are being conformed to his image.

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Gen.37:8

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. Lk.19:14

There are many aspects to Josephs' life that mirror our Savior, as we all should.

No. He was implementing a kingdom whereby the king owns all but, because of his grace, all received life under his reign. It’s Egypt’s fault for not retaining Joseph in their knowledge.

I agree.

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Gen.50:20

That's exactly what happened to our Savior.

There are many things spoken in the OT that teach us about Jesus. Moses said,

But be assured today that the LORD your God is the one who goes across ahead of you (This is fulfilled in Christs' resurrection.)

like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you.
(This is fulfilled in Christ destroying death and therefore sin.)

And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the LORD has promised you. Deu.9:3
(This id fulfilled by believers turning to Christ and away from sin.

[QUOTE="JohnB, post: 4941069, member: 317611"]We are to judge between right and wrong. Was it right for Joseph to demand everything from the people inreturn for grain? He was being very hard on the people.[/QUOTE]

We are to judge between right and wrong AFTER first establishing certain Biblical presuppositions:

1. We are fallen, and our personal feelings and views are prone to be incorrect.
2. Biblical principles are the proper grounding for moral judgements (rather than our feelings, or the current culture).
3. Anything God does, or says, MUST be right by definition, because God has the intrinsic property of moral perfection.


Have a lovely weekend everyone.

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