Focus: Stand Out! (Pt1)

Text: Gen.42:2

"And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die."

News broke out and spread across the then known world that there was corn in Egypt. There was an economic meltdown globally. The author of Genesis reports that "the famine was over all the face of the earth…," and that "the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt" (Gen.41:56). 

The author goes on to say that "all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands… And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan… And the famine was sore in the land" (Gen.41:57; 42:5; 43:1). Before the economic crisis began, Pharaoh already had a dream about it, of which Joseph saw it as an imminent disaster, and proffered an economic plan to mitigate the terrible impact of it. He announced that the famine "shall be very grievous."

In a short while Joseph's prediction came to pass, and the whole world came under the heavy weight of an economic upheaval and food shortage. The puzzling thing was that while the world suffered from the effects of the recession, there was surplus of food in Egypt. What happened? How did it happen? Who made it happen? Why is Egypt exempt from this global economic crisis? Whose wisdom and master plan did the magic? At the time the world lacked food and basic supplies, Egypt was having it so good. Everyone wondered who had the magic wand that turned things around for Pharaoh and his people.

Joseph is his name. He is the brain behind the economic boom in Egypt amid the economic doom in the world. Pharaoh said to his officials, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" (Gen.41:38). He was referring to Joseph - a Hebrew slave who was maltreated and sold into slavery by his own brothers, and subsequently thrown into jail unjustly by the man who bought him. Pharaoh got him out of prison and made him his second in command in the land of Egypt, because he distinguished himself. 

Joseph says to Pharaoh, "Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt" (Gen.41:33). Then Pharaoh says to Joseph, "Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art" (Gen.41:39). Joseph stood out. He made a huge difference in the land of Egypt. A stranger becomes a sovereign in a strange land. A Hebrew slave becomes the prime minister of Egypt. Because of him there was corn in Egypt. The Scripture says, "And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians." He did not only sell food to the Egyptians, but also to people from all walks of life.

What is even more amazing is the fact that Joseph knew why he was in Egypt. He says to his own brothers, "And God sent me before you to PRESERVE you a posterity in the earth, and to SAVE your lives by a great deliverance… 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" (Gen.45:7; 50:20). 

Only those who understand their destiny on earth can realize it. You must understand why you are where you are at every given moment or you will not be able to make a mark and stand out in this world.

In Potiphar's house, Joseph stood out. In Prison, Joseph stood out. In the palace of Pharaoh, Joseph stood out. In the land of Egypt, Joseph stood out. Wherever Joseph found himself he made a difference. He lived his life making a mark, not marking time. He was conscious of his identity and aware of his destiny, and he lived a fulfilled life. At all times and in all places Joseph stood out. It is your turn and time to stand up and stand out.

Bishop Moses E. Peter