Genesis 41, part 2: Messianic connection between pharaoh and Yosef

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Messianic figures in the Bible aren’t one-to-one representations of the Messiah, but the messianic figures of the pharaoh of Mitsraim (Egypt) and Yosef (Joseph) do give us a glimpse of the relationship between the Father and the Messiah.

The entire Bible is the story of life, death and new life, highlighted through the recurring symbol of the number three. That’s the summary of the entire Bible. The book of Genesis is the beginning of it all. 

In Gen. 41:33-57, we see that Yosef was 30 years old at the beginning of his role as prime minister of Mitsraim is a very important glimpse of the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus).

The Messiah began His ministry at 30 years old too (Luke 3:23). Yosef was not elevated because of his intelligence or wisdom. It was because God wanted to do so. 

Once Yosef was elevated to Prime Minister, he no longer looks like a slave, or like a Hebrew, he now looks like a Mitsraimi. Yosef will never be the supreme leader of Mitsraim, he will always be second in command.

Yosef’s advice to Pharaoh was to gather up one-fifth of the grain crops per year over the seven years of plenty under Pharaoh’s authority so that when the seven years of famine comes, there will be food. God is the one who brought about the famine and drought, not “mother nature.” 

When Pharaoh elevated Yosef, he gave Yosef three symbols of authority: his signet ring; garments of fine linen and a gold necklace. 

The ring is what Yosef would use to enact laws, to sign them into action. Pharaoh took the ring off his own hand to give it to Yosef. 

The garments Pharaoh gave Yosef was akin to a military uniform which would tell you immediately his place in the government. That garment also concealed him and he no longer appeared as a Hebrew among the people. 

The gold necklace is made of the most valuable metal in the world. Gold has to go through a fire seven times to reach purity. 

Yosef was also allowed to ride in Pharaoh’s “second chariot” as a symbol of his newly granted authority. As Yosef traveled through Mitsraim in the chariot, criers called out for people to bow the knee to Yosef. Notice they were called to bow one knee to Yosef. This is the only verse in the entire Tanak where this phrase is used. Immediately after the Mitsraimi acknowledge Yosef’s authority, they were to get up and follow his command. 

Yosef is creating a new form of government under Pharaoh’s authority, just as Yeshua will come and form a new government under God’s authority. 

Yeshua said in the Book of John that the Father judges no one, Yeshua will do the judging. God gave Yeshua that much authority. Yeshua was given that authority after the resurrection. Every knee shall bow to Yeshua, just as every knee was to bow the knee to Yosef.

New name for Mitsraim’s new prime minister

Once Pharaoh renamed Yosef as צָפְנַת פַּעְנֵחַ Zaphenath-paneakh. That was his name for the rest of his tenure as prime minister of Mitsraim. Yosef had all power except for the throne itself.

Yosef’s new name was Mitraimi and not Hebrew. It has two words and combined two meanings:

• The first part means to means “to reveal what is concealed or hidden.”
• The second part of his name means “the god speaks and he lives.” Yosef would reveal what was hidden. 

In the Septuagint, the name is transliterated as Ψονθομφανηχ Psonthomphanech. As rendered in Greek, the name can have three meanings:

• “One who nourishes and furnishes life.”
• “Creator/sustainer of life.”
• “Chief steward of the realm.”

Yeshua concealed Himself from most of the people, only revealed everything about Himself to his Disciples while He was alive. 

Yosef had a different name with the Mitsraimi and to the Gentiles than He had with the children of Israel.

It was 13 years from the time Yosef entered Mitsraim to the time he became Prime Minister. In Torah, it takes about 13 years from birth to the time you are considered accountable to follow Torah. 

Pharaoh gave Asenath to Yosef as his wife. Her father was a priest of the god of On, a sun god. 

After he got married, Asenath gave Yosef two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Manasseh was named because, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” The second was  Ephraim, and he was named because, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” The importance of these names becomes clearer in the prophecies of Genesis 49.

Reader: Jeff. Speaker: Richard Agee. Summary: Tammy.