Interesting comment about Joseph ruling in Egypt

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JohnB

JohnB

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I. CONSIDER THE POLICY OF THIS EGYPTIAN PRIME MINISTER. Many things we admire in Joseph, but we must not be blind to the fact that he thought more of binding the people to the throne than of benefiting the people themselves. He was the first statesman of that day. His policy determined in great measure what should be the standard of internal prosperity, and what position the country should hold in the eyes of other nations. He sought to make Pharaoh's rule absolute. He gave no benefit without payment, no supplies without sacrifice. He took all the money first (Genesis 47:14), then the cattle (ibid. ver. 16), then the lands and their persons (ibid. ver. 23). He thus reduced the people of Egypt to the position of slaves. He made all the land crown lands. Thus the monarch was pleased, and the priests, being exempt, were flattered. It is possible that in this Joseph laid the foundation of that system of mismanagement, which has made the most flourishing spot in the world the basest of kingdoms. He seems also to have striven to give some sort of preeminence to his brethren, and to advance them. Exempt from the burdens pressing on others, they gained power, and would have become eventually the dominant race in Egypt, but that another Pharaoh arose who knew not Joseph, i.e. who, although he knew of his having lived and served the nation, yet recognized not his policy. The state to which Joseph reduced the Egyptians was that to which afterwards his own descendants were reduced. Thus our plans are overthrown. Time tries success, and by removing dimness from our vision enables us to test it better.
Joseph As Prime Minister
Genesis 41:40
Sermon by F. Hastings
 
Magenta

Magenta

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JohnB said:
It is possible that in this Joseph laid the foundation of that system of mismanagement,
which has made the most flourishing spot in the world the basest of kingdoms.
Click to expand...
:unsure: Are you still speaking of Egypt here?
 
oyster67

oyster67

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May 24, 2014
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JohnB said:
It is possible that in this Joseph laid the foundation of that system of mismanagement,
Click to expand...
Is it possible that Joseph was just doing his job and trying to please his boss (which is what God asks us to do)?

You've really got it in for that Joseph guy, don't you.

Josheph was in that position only because God wanted him there. You can judge and criticize if you like, but I see no profit in it.

Whatever you do, please don't give God Himself this kind of treatment.
 
J

John146

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Jan 13, 2016
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oyster67 said:
Is it possible that Joseph was just doing his job and trying to please his boss (which is what God asks us to do)?

You've really got it in for that Joseph guy, don't you.

Josheph was in that position only because God wanted him there. You can judge and criticize if you like, but I see no profit in it.

Whatever you do, please don't give God Himself this kind of treatment.
Click to expand...
Genesis 50
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
 
JohnB

JohnB

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Jul 31, 2022
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oyster67 said:
Is it possible that Joseph was just doing his job and trying to please his boss (which is what God asks us to do)?

You've really got it in for that Joseph guy, don't you.

Josheph was in that position only because God wanted him there. You can judge and criticize if you like, but I see no profit in it.

Whatever you do, please don't give God Himself this kind of treatment.
Click to expand...
Just stating the facts of what was the result of Joseph's actions. Many people have been put in positions that GOD put them in, but did not do what GOD wanted them to do. The temple priest are a good example.
 
Aaron56

Aaron56

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Jul 12, 2021
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JohnB said:
snip
Sermon by F. Hastings
Click to expand...
Woosh! (that's the sound of meaning of Joseph's rule in Egypt flying over Mr. Hasting's head)

Here's a better understanding of the account: man lives or dies based upon the king he serves. Without Joseph's intervention (pharaoh calls him "father" by the way) perhaps all of Egypt would have perished.

Furthermore, 490 years of idolatry and avoidance of the Sabbath required, under the Law, 70 years of Sabbath rest (1/7 of the total time) for the land: eg 70 years of captivity. This is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 36:21.
 
JohnB

JohnB

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Aaron56 said:
Woosh! (that's the sound of meaning of Joseph's rule in Egypt flying over Mr. Hasting's head)

Here's a better understanding of the account: man lives or dies based upon the king he serves. Without Joseph's intervention (pharaoh calls him "father" by the way) perhaps all of Egypt would have perished.

Furthermore, 490 years of idolatry and avoidance of the Sabbath required, under the Law, 70 years of Sabbath rest (1/7 of the total time) for the land: eg 70 years of captivity. This is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 36:21.
Click to expand...
Before Joseph, the people of Egypt were not slaves of Pharaoh. He did not own ALL the land. Makes you wonder how Egypt was governed before the famine.
 
Magenta

Magenta

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Jul 3, 2015
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#11
Aaron56 said:
Woosh! (that's the sound of meaning of Joseph's rule in Egypt flying over Mr. Hasting's head)

Here's a better understanding of the account: man lives or dies based upon the king he serves. Without
Joseph's intervention (pharaoh calls him "father" by the way) perhaps all of Egypt would have perished.

Furthermore, 490 years of idolatry and avoidance of the Sabbath required, under the Law, 70 years of Sabbath
rest (1/7 of the total time) for the land: eg 70 years of captivity. This is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 36:21.
Click to expand...
Shouldn't it be 1/7 of 490 years divided by 52 for weeks per year? :unsure:

That would be 1.346153846153846 years of Sabbath rest :cool:
 
oyster67

oyster67

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May 24, 2014
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JohnB said:
Just stating the facts of what was the result of Joseph's actions. Many people have been put in positions that GOD put them in, but did not do what GOD wanted them to do. The temple priest are a good example.
Click to expand...
Many people have put themselves in positions of "higher criticism" and judge. God is very capable of judging. He does not need our help. (You did more than just "state facts".) I agree that Joseph was not perfect, but neither am I.
 
Lucy-Pevensie

Lucy-Pevensie

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Dec 20, 2017
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JB, you have a knack for finding the negative in everyone.
 
JohnB

JohnB

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#19
Mr. Hasting was following the evidence, which some on here have a hard time with.
 
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