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Joseph became Prime Minister of Egypt

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[ Genesis 41:41-43 ]

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

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God gives good talents as a present to us.

Today, I would like to introduce someone whom God made to be a great person by the talents he received.

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This person’s name is Joseph. Joseph had 10 older brothers and 1 younger brother.

All the brothers had different mothers from him except for his younger brother, Benjamin.

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Joseph’s father only liked Joseph. So his father made a robe which had long sleeves and beautiful colors. The robe at that time was very precious.

The brothers didn’t want to see Joseph getting all of their father’s love so they wouldn’t even greet Joseph.

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Joseph often had dreams. In one of his dream's, there was a big field, where the grain that his brothers bound bowed to the grain that Joseph bound.

He told this dream to his brothers and they hated him even more than before.

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The next dream was a dream that the sun and the moon of the sky and 11 stars bowed down to Joseph. Joseph told this dream to his brothers. His father and his brothers both rebuked Joseph because of the things he said. But these dreams were God speaking through Joseph of the things that would happen later.

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Joseph came to his brothers because of his fathers’ favor and his brothers sold Joseph to Midian merchants going to Egypt for 20 silver coins. They did this terrible thing because they feared that their father might give all of their inheritance to his loving Joseph.

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They put goat's blood on Joseph’s robe. Then they brought the robe to their father Jacob and lied to him that a wild animal had attacked Joseph. Just like this, the feeling of hatred makes you commit big sins. At the age of 17, Joseph was sold to Egypt as a slave.

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At that place, Joseph was sold as a slave to the house of Potiphar, who was the captain guard of Pharaoh at that time. But even in that place, Joseph strived to work hard and believed that God was with him.

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Potiphar made Joseph in charge of all of his household because Joseph worked hard and Joseph was truthful and earnest. God helped Joseph to have success in all the things that he did. As a result, Potiphar’s family property increased.

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But one day Joseph's life changed.

By the lie of Potiphar’s wife, Joseph was framed as a bad person and he was put in jail. Joseph encountered a very hard and unjust time.

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But even in that difficult situation, Joseph wasn’t disappointed. Even in that place, Joseph believed that God was with him and lived his best. Even in that place, Joseph became an appreciated person that even the warden, who managed the jail, allowed Joseph to be in charge of all the things that happened in the jail. Joseph’s faith wasn’t shaken in any difficulty, but he kept believing and following God.

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Sometime later, the baker and the cupbearer of Pharaoh offended their master and they were put in jail. One night, the baker and the cupbearer had a strange dream at the same time. Joseph heard their dreams and interpreted for them that the cupbearer would go to the king again but the baker would die. Surprisingly, the interpretation of Joseph was fulfilled as he had said.

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The king of Egypt, Pharaoh, also had a strange dream.

But no one in his country was able to interpret that dream.

The cupbearer of the king told him that Joseph, who was in jail, had a talent for interpreting dreams.

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Joseph was called by the king and he exactly interpreted his dream. That dream was about the future of Egypt. Pharaoh saw that God was with Joseph so he appointed Joseph, as the Prime Minister of his country, who took charge of all the things in Egypt. This was an amazing prize that God gave to Joseph because God saw the faith of Joseph.

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When we live, we also sometimes encounter happenings that we can’t even expect.

In that case, we should remember Joseph during those times.

We should be people who believe that God is with us in every situation and who live truthfully and earnestly.

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Joseph got a big blessing by becoming the Prime Minister of Egypt from the talent of interpreting dreams which was given to him. Like this, when you thank God for the talent that is given to you, and if you use it well to help the people who need it, God will lift you up like Joseph. Do not use the talent given by God in a selfish way, but use it properly for your neighbors. So that you too can be used like Joseph whom God lifted high.