821. GEN 41:45. JOSEPH’S EGYPTIAN NAME

Gen_41:45. Joseph’s Egyptian Name

"And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah."’97Gen_41:45.

There is no narrative, either sacred or profane, more deeply interesting than that of the life of Joseph. It is inimitably simple’97beautifully interwoven with a great variety of changing events. It strikingly develops not only his own character, but that of his affectionate parent, and of each and all of his brethren. It forms an essential link in the chain of Israel’s history, and introduces us to a familiar acquaintance with one of the celebrated monarchs of Egypt.

But in the midst of a rich variety of thought, our text leads us to consider a circumstance in Joseph’s history, which to many may appear of no importance. It was the name given to him by Pharaoh. Names were often changed, or given under peculiar circumstances. Abram, which signified a high father, was altered to Abraham, which signified father of a great multitude. So Jacob to Israel. So Saul to Paul. So the name of Joseph, which signifies Increase, to Zaphnath-paaneah; which may be rendered’97The man to whom secrets are revealed; or, a revealer of secrets.

Now let us see,

I. The appropriateness of the name to Joseph in his own person.

And then under that appellation, let us notice him,

II. As an illustrious type of the world’s Redeemer.

Let us consider,

I. The appropriateness of the name to Joseph in his own person.

"Zaphnath-paaneah."

Now in both senses of its interpretation it was very applicable to Joseph. God revealed his mind specially to him, both by the dreams he had, and by the spirit of interpretation which rested on him.

1. By his own dreams.

"And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said unto him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more: and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying."’97Gen_37:5-11. You know how exactly the spirit of these dreams came to pass. "And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth."’97Gen_42:6.

Here then how fully and minutely was the predictive vision realized; and that without any plan or contrivance on the part of any concerned in it. Nothing but God’s prescience could have detailed it so graphically, so many years before. But we see the appropriateness of the name to Joseph,

2. By the spirit of interpretation which rested on him.

He is in prison, falsely and wickedly accused. Two prisoners of note are with him. "And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in the ward. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly today? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; and in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: and Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place; and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler."’97Gen_40:1-13; see also Gen_40:16-19.

The events literally occurred as he had intimated. For the chief butler was restored to office and favor again; but the wretched baker was hanged, as Joseph had predicted. So, that, here God had revealed events that no human sagacity could have foretold to Joseph; and he had expressly stated the secrets to the men, so deeply concerned in the revelation. But notwithstanding the affecting appeal of Joseph to the butler, "But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house; for indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon:" Gen_40:14-15 : it is recorded’97"Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him;" ver 23.

Having been forgotten by the chief butler for two years, Pharaoh dreamed; and his dream is very striking and comprehensive. "And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored kine and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east-wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream."’97Gen_41:1-7. To interpret this dream, the magicians were called in. "And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dreams but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh,"’97Gen_41:8. Then the chief butler remembered Joseph. "Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:" Gen_41:9. Joseph is called in, is interrogated. "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh;" Gen_41:14. He modestly and piously honors God, "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it;" Gen_41:15. And he interprets the dream,’97gives him advice,’97and then came Joseph’s release, advancement, and honor. "And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee; and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt;" Gen_41:39-45.

Now here is seen the appropriateness of the name as applied to Joseph. But let us look at it in its application to Joseph,

II. As an illustrious type of the world’s Redeemer.

Of all Old Testament typical persons or events, none more specially prefigured Christ than Joseph. In some forty particulars, it has been shown, by ingenious writers, how these points of resemblance were exhibited. We here advert to a few.

His original name, Joseph. His father’s extreme affection for him. His wonderful wisdom in his youth. His being envied of his brethren. His being sent on a message of kindness to them. The conspiracy formed against him. His being sold. His being falsely accused. His imprisonment. His exaltation. His power and authority. His clemency to his brethren. His being the saviour of his father’s house. But we shall confine ourselves to the text’97Joseph a type of Jesus, as a revealer of secrets. And as such, observe,

1. What he revealed.

There had been revelations before. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds."’97Heb_1:1, Heb_1:2. But he revealed truths more fully; and he revealed new truths to mankind. He revealed,

(1.) The character of God. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."’97Joh_1:18.

Previous revelations had been brief, and in a kind of oracular sentences. Christ came and made the Father more fully known; and tic did so especially as a God of grace and mercy, pitying and loving his guilty children; and also, as one essentially with himself. "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."’97Joh_14:8-9, Joh_14:10.

(2.) He revealed the way of the sinner’s restoration and acceptance with God. How fully he did this in his discourse with Nicodemus, when he said’97"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."’97Joh_3:14-17.

And how in his divine and inimitable parables of the lost sheep and the prodigal son, did he most beautifully show God’s rich and compassionate heart to his fallen and perishing creatures; and also, all his teaching and miracles presented the power and simplicity of faith; and its essentiality to the attainment of pardon, blessedness, and salvation.

(3.) He revealed the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal life. "Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation."’97Joh_5:24-29.

Now, here were truths which had only been most faintly taught before. But Christ opens the dreary tomb, and exhibits eternal life to his believing followers. How truly did he bring life and immortality to light, by the gospel. And how appropriate the declaration as to him’97"God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." So that he that "hath the Son hath life."

Now, these were some of the great subjects of the revelations of the Lord Jesus Christ to our world. It is worthy of our particular observation,

2. How he revealed these things.

Not figuratively; by shadows, and types, and sacrifices, but literally. Not metaphysically, but clearly. Not learnedly, but simply. So as to be adapted to the capacity of all. Not partially, but fully.

All previous revelations had been gradual and progressive; but those of Christ were full and complete. He appeared as the sun of righteousness to give perfect day; while, previously, only stars had given their twinkling rays. And the revelations of Jesus meet the whole moral exigency of our benighted world. Nothing more is needed to man’s spiritual elevation, holiness, blessedness, and to his complete and eternal salvation.

Then also consider,

3. The supreme importance of the revelations he made.

In the case of Joseph, his revelations were of the highest importance to his father’s house, and in some sort to the whole world. So Christ’s revelations particularly had special reference to his people the Jews, as whose Shepherd and King he came. But his advent and revelations had respect also to the best interests of the whole human race. Joseph’s revelations related to the preservation of life’97Jesus, to the life of the soul and eternal felicity. None but Joseph could reveal what was necessary to those ends; and none but Christ could manifest the love of God, and open the gates of the kingdom of heaven. If the name of Zaphnath-paaneah exactly expressed the character of Joseph’97how much more fully is it embodied in him of whom, after all, Joseph was a feeble and imperfect type.

Then in conclusion, we demand for Jesus, 1. Holy and devout veneration. He is to be honored and worshipped even with the highest kind of homage and adoration, of which we are capable. He is not to be placed among prophets and illustrious men only; but he is to be exalted above angels, principalities, and powers; yea men are to honor him, even as they honor the Father. Hence when God brought his Son into our world, the mandate went forth’97"Let all the angels of God worship him." He also should have,

2. Our high and ardent praise. He should be exalted and praised from the rising to the setting of the sun. For his whole work was for our benefit and salvation. His humiliation, self-denial, sufferings and death, were all endured that we might not perish, but have everlasting life. He became, in himself, the bread of life for a dying world. No marvel that every harp in heaven is employed to celebrate his worthy praise. We should give him,

3. Supreme love and confidence. Every view of Jesus is adapted to win our esteem’97command our admiration’97and elicit our confidence and love.

Well has the poet said’97

"No theme is like redeeming love,

No Saviour is like ours."

"Let then, with elevated voice,

Harmonious anthems raise;

Be thou the spring of all our joys,

The life of all our praise.

Be thou exalted in the heavens,

And o’er this earthly ball;

Let creatures into nothing sink,

And Christ be all in all."

We should feel the importance,

4. Of a personal application of his gracious revelations to our own souls. These revelations are not merely for exciting our wonder and admiration, but Christ has made known to us what we must understand and feel, and realize in our experience, in order to our salvation. So that we must hear the blessed Saviour, that our souls may live’97receive his words that we may know how to escape the righteous displeasure of God, and attain the remission of sin, and finally enjoy everlasting blessedness. See to it then that you come to Christ, that you may know him, and that your knowledge is experimental and saving. And forget not, that he alone stands forth to give to the anxious inquiring soul, the words of Eternal Life!

Autor: JABEZ BURNS