Nougat 9

For some of us, yesterday’s nougat proved to be a tad challenging, what with Joseph’s renaming, which suggests that he might have been been assimilated fully into Egyptian society. It was noted however, that Joseph was referred to by his Hebrew name even after the renaming. I would that we have clarity of conscience and so invite us to consider today’s Holy Nougat

“Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”” Genesis‬ ‭41:37-38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Although Joseph had been in Egypt for some time and was under great strain; it seems that he never lost sight of his God. When brought before pharaoh, like Daniel in Babylon, Joseph credited his prophetic gift to Elohim. In a land where pharaoh was regarded as a demi-god, (ie an intermediary between the gods and the people, who set chaos to order), the use of Elohim was generic enough to suggest that he would be understood by those around him; or it was another way of pointing to God’s preeminence over the pantheon of Egyptian gods.

Pharaoh’s response is also very telling – he admits that Joseph is filled with the Ruach of Elohim (ie the very breath of God within) – and noted that the anointing upon Joseph far exceeded anyone else’s in the land! That would also have included the pharaoh himself. And this demi-god was willing to acknowledge that publicly. His act of renaming Joseph could be seen as a mark of assimilation. But I believe that pharaoh’s intent was part of his according Joseph with the highest honor – which included redeeming his status from prisoner and slave to national. One could say that with that action pharaoh extended to him resulted with Joseph possessing dual nationality.

The same could be said of each of us – we are citizens of whichever country accorded to us by birth and/or naturalization; and upon our confession of Jesus as Lord and the indwelling of God’s Spirit within, our nationality is also secured in Heaven!

What a hope!

What joy!

—

May all we seek be found in Christ