# 54 - Joseph: The Ruler - In this episode of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein, Joseph’s rise from prisoner to ruler reveals the power of humility, wisdom, and divine purpose. Witness how God’s favor transforms a Hebrew slave into Egypt’s savior during years of abundance and famine."
Episode 54 of The Chosen People with Yael Eckstein is inspired by the Book of Genesis.
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For more information about Yael Eckstein and IFCJ visit https://www.ifcj.org/
Today's opening prayer is inspired by Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
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Show Notes:
(02:11) Intro with Yael Eckstein
(03:42) Joseph: The Ruler - Cinematic Retelling
(20:09) Reflection with Yael Eckstein
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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<v Speaker 1>Previously on the chosen people. Pharaoh awoke with a roar,
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<v Speaker 1>leaping from his bed, his chest, heaving, eyes wide with terror.
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<v Speaker 1>His attendant burst through the door.
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<v Speaker 2>My Lord, are your kay I heard screams.
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<v Speaker 1>His dreams, torturing me.
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<v Speaker 2>He means something, now I know it. When I was
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<v Speaker 2>in prisoned, there was a man, a young man, and
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<v Speaker 2>a Hebrew of all people.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph came before the throne and bowed his knee. Pharaoh
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<v Speaker 1>stood and stepped down to him. He paced around him,
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<v Speaker 1>gripping his scepter tightly.
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<v Speaker 3>So you are the Hebrew called Joseph. I hear mufty
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<v Speaker 3>things about your Hebrew. Is it true that you are
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<v Speaker 3>able to interpret dreams? Joseph smirked. He could feel a
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<v Speaker 3>tug on his soul like a gentleman. God guided Joseph into.
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<v Speaker 1>Truth and revealed to him the meaning of these dreams.
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<v Speaker 2>Egypt will experience a time of flourishing like never before.
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<v Speaker 2>The land will give birth to new life, and your
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<v Speaker 2>people will be fed. However, this prosperity will come to
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<v Speaker 2>an end. Seven sickly cows the seven scorched heads of grain.
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<v Speaker 2>They represent seven years of devastation. After seven years of
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<v Speaker 2>plenty seven years of famine will strike the land like
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<v Speaker 2>a wildfire. This is the warning God has given to you.
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<v Speaker 2>With this knowledge comes a great deal of responsibility. It
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<v Speaker 2>will come to pass, and if Egypt is not ready,
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<v Speaker 2>the entire world will perish.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh with silent For a long while, Joseph watched his
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<v Speaker 1>brow rise and fall with intense contemplation, Joseph felt the
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<v Speaker 1>nerve to shift his feet. He was uncomfortable with the way.
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<v Speaker 1>Who is Pharaoh going to listen to him? Or will
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph's rise out of the pit?
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<v Speaker 2>Being shorter in.
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<v Speaker 1>The last.
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<v Speaker 4>In the land of Egypt, the Hebrew slave would rise
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<v Speaker 4>to power and his dreams would save nations. Chalome friends
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<v Speaker 4>from here in the Holy Land of Israel. I'm ya
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<v Speaker 4>l Exstein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews,
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<v Speaker 4>and welcome to the Chosen People. Have you been impacted
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<v Speaker 4>or inspired by this podcast? I want to hear about it,
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<v Speaker 4>and I would be so grateful if you leave a
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<v Speaker 4>review for the podcast. I read all of them and
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<v Speaker 4>they help me to gain a better understanding of who
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<v Speaker 4>I'm speaking to. I want to know about you and
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<v Speaker 4>what you like about this podcast, So go ahead and
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<v Speaker 4>leave a review, and if you're interested in learning more
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<v Speaker 4>about the countless lives being helped and saved and affected
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<v Speaker 4>by my work at the International Fellowship of Christ Christians
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<v Speaker 4>and Jews, and how we're on the forefront of biblical
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<v Speaker 4>prophecy coming to fruition in Israel, visit IFCJ dot org.
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<v Speaker 4>Now let's begin. Have you ever wondered how a dream
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<v Speaker 4>can transform destiny? As we step into this dramatic story
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<v Speaker 4>inspired by Genesis forty one thirty seven to fifty six,
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<v Speaker 4>let's ask ourselves what does it mean to trust in dreams?
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<v Speaker 4>How do we recognize God's hand in our lives? And
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<v Speaker 4>what does the story of Joseph the dreamer who had
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<v Speaker 4>become a ruler tell us about the power of visions
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<v Speaker 4>and the journey from suffering to sovereignty.
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<v Speaker 2>God has been gracious to you, Pharaoh, However, every moment
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<v Speaker 2>is precious. You should appoint a governor wise and discerning
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<v Speaker 2>enough to care for your resources. Appoint commissioners under him
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<v Speaker 2>to oversee the land. Every year of harvest, take one
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<v Speaker 2>fifth of the goods and store it away. Over the
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<v Speaker 2>next seven years, you can store the grain and other
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<v Speaker 2>goods safely. Then, when the famine hits. You can use
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<v Speaker 2>what is stored up to feed your people. The same
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<v Speaker 2>commissioners you appoint can be in charge of distributing the
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<v Speaker 2>resources according to the need.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh was silent for a long while Joseph watched his
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<v Speaker 1>brow rise and fall with intense contemplation. Joseph felt the
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<v Speaker 1>need to shift his feet. He was uncomfortable with the waiting.
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<v Speaker 1>Was Pharaoh going to listen to him? Or would Joseph's
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<v Speaker 1>rise out of the pit be even shorter than the last.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh turned his eyes to his officials, then darted them
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<v Speaker 1>back at Joseph.
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<v Speaker 5>I am the image of Rah, the morning and the
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<v Speaker 5>evening Star. I am born of the Nile, from the
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<v Speaker 5>deserts to the deep forests. And here you stand before
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<v Speaker 5>a Hebrew boy telling me how to govern. Do you
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<v Speaker 5>take me for a squabbling child that I would heed
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<v Speaker 5>your words?
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<v Speaker 2>Of course, not, gray, Pharaoh. I know you are a
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<v Speaker 2>wise man, one who knows that divine guidance must be
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<v Speaker 2>met with immediate action. Only weak men are threatened by wisdom. You,
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<v Speaker 2>Lord Pharaoh, are a great man, able to receive wisdom
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<v Speaker 2>when it's handed to you.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh's roughernear leaked a slight content grin. He stood again
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<v Speaker 1>and tapped his scepter on the ground as he paced.
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<v Speaker 5>Where would we find such a man to oversee this plan?
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<v Speaker 5>Where can we find a man able to oversee developments?
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<v Speaker 5>Where will we possibly find a man to relate to
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<v Speaker 5>the workers, let alone a man who is attuned to
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<v Speaker 5>the God who has given us this warning?
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<v Speaker 1>The room chuckled. Pharaoh stopped and looked down at Joseph.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph wasn't accustomed to men towering over him.
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<v Speaker 5>This governor you suggest I appoint must be a man
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<v Speaker 5>of vision. He must know the plans of this God
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<v Speaker 5>and be willing to listen to him for guidance.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh took his scepter and stretched it out towards Joseph.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph flinched for a moment and closed his eyes. Then
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<v Speaker 1>he felt the scepter rest lightly on his shoulder. The
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<v Speaker 1>sun broke through the opening of the palace. The light
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<v Speaker 1>bounced off the ivory pillars, and golden throne colors splashed
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<v Speaker 1>in a thousand different directions. As Pharaoh stood over Joseph
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<v Speaker 1>with his scepter on his shoulder, Pharaoh made a bold
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<v Speaker 1>proclamation in the presence of his council.
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<v Speaker 5>Since God has made all this known to you, there
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<v Speaker 5>is no one else I would desire for the position.
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<v Speaker 5>You shall be in charge of my palace, my resources,
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<v Speaker 5>and all my people. There shall be tools in your hands,
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<v Speaker 5>guided by your God, so that our great nation will survive.
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<v Speaker 5>Only with respect to the throne. Will I be greater
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<v Speaker 5>than you. I hereby declare that you are to rule
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<v Speaker 5>my kingdom with complete authority. All shall praise you. Even
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<v Speaker 5>the sun and moon shall know your name. And bow.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph bowed his head in complete dismay, his heart nearly
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<v Speaker 1>pounding right out of his chest. It was an honor
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<v Speaker 1>too tremendous for words. As a young boy, this position
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<v Speaker 1>would have inflated his eager Yet there was a different heart.
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<v Speaker 1>God had put in Joseph. Years of slavery and imprisonment
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<v Speaker 1>had dug a deep well of humility within him. He
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<v Speaker 1>looked up at Pharaoh and gladly accepted his new position
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<v Speaker 1>with gratitude.
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<v Speaker 2>You are gracious, Pharaoh, and I will labor for the
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<v Speaker 2>prosperity of your kingdom.
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<v Speaker 1>The entire court erupted in applause. Pharaoh removed his signet ring,
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<v Speaker 1>holding it up to the sun The band, pure gold
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<v Speaker 1>and arrayed with finely cut diamonds, held the seal of
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh carved into sapphire. Joseph watched it gleam in the sunlight.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh took Joseph's hand and placed the signet ring on
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<v Speaker 1>his finger. Two of Pharaoh's servants entered carrying a bright
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<v Speaker 1>linen garment, pure white with streaks of gold, blue, and green.
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<v Speaker 1>They draped it around Joseph's spare back. The linen was
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<v Speaker 1>soft and cool to the touch. Joseph looked at the
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<v Speaker 1>sleeves and began to tremble. The last time he wore
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<v Speaker 1>a garment of such value, it had been torn from him.
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<v Speaker 1>Memories of his brothers flashed before his eyes, the scars
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<v Speaker 1>of betrayals to laky. Joseph looked up to see Potiphar
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<v Speaker 1>standing beside Pharaoh. He reached into his pocket and pulled
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<v Speaker 1>out the same gold chain Joseph once wore when he
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<v Speaker 1>oversaw Potiphar's house. Joseph's eyes brightened at the sight. Potipha
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<v Speaker 1>placed the gold chain around his neck and bowed. All
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<v Speaker 1>but Pharaoh in the throne room followed suit, bending their
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<v Speaker 1>knees in reverence.
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<v Speaker 2>Was this the dream you gave me all those years ago.
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<v Speaker 1>Though this was not the full realization of his dream,
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<v Speaker 1>it was the beginning of a triumphant act of God
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<v Speaker 1>through his hands. The divine rescue mission was on the move.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh took Joseph by the shoulder and led him out
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<v Speaker 1>onto the balcony. The bright sun scattered its light across
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<v Speaker 1>the horizon, illuminating the vast kingdom of Egypt in all
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<v Speaker 1>its majesty. Joseph saw the entirety of the land for
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<v Speaker 1>the first time. Pharaoh stretched out his arms, his voice
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<v Speaker 1>filled with pride and command.
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<v Speaker 5>I am the rising Sun of this land. My power
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<v Speaker 5>is known and feared even beyond its borders. See to
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<v Speaker 5>it that you bear my name well, and you take
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<v Speaker 5>care of this land and the way your God has commanded.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph looked out at the vast kingdom, feeling the weight
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<v Speaker 1>of his new responsibilities. Yet he knew this was his purpose.
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<v Speaker 1>All the madness, betrayal, and heartache he endured had led
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<v Speaker 1>him to this moment.
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<v Speaker 5>Ready, my chariots bring the entire kingdom out into the streets.
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<v Speaker 5>They are to meet their new ruler.
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<v Speaker 2>You honor me, Pharaoh.
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<v Speaker 5>I honor the prosperity of this kingdom. If what you
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<v Speaker 5>say truly comes to pass, which I feel in my
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<v Speaker 5>bonds to be true, then the honor will go to
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<v Speaker 5>your God as well.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh and Joseph, escorted by Potiphar and his guards, made
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<v Speaker 1>their way to the outer courtyard. It was lush with
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<v Speaker 1>gardens and pools of water and other worldly sight to
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph after five years in a prison cell. Awaiting them
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<v Speaker 1>were two chariots adorned in gold, bronze, and precious jewels.
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<v Speaker 1>Pure Bred Egyptian horses, magnificent creatures that held themselves with
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<v Speaker 1>regal pride, pulled the chariots. Pharaoh's chariot was drawn by
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<v Speaker 1>white horses, while Joseph's was drawn by dark ones, their
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<v Speaker 1>legs as sturdy as tree trunks. Pharaoh's golden chariot reflected
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<v Speaker 1>the glimmering sun as they rode through the city streets.
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<v Speaker 1>People bowed before them, cheering and praising. Joseph smiled and waved,
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<v Speaker 1>his new garment flowing in the wind. He looked above,
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<v Speaker 1>recognizing the true source of his authority. Pharaoh and Joseph
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<v Speaker 1>arrived at the city center, surrounded by a sea of people.
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<v Speaker 1>Elevated on a platform between two large statues of Rah.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh invited Joseph to stand beside him and proclaimed his
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<v Speaker 1>authority to the people.
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<v Speaker 5>I am Pharaoh.
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<v Speaker 6>Hear my decree, for I speak for Rah before me
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<v Speaker 6>is your new governor, one who hears from the Gods.
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<v Speaker 6>No man or woman will take a step without this
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<v Speaker 6>man's command. He has been sent by his God to
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<v Speaker 6>save our people from famine and despair. I, as your
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<v Speaker 6>powerful and mighty ruler, hereby grant him all authority to
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<v Speaker 6>rule the land.
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<v Speaker 5>His words will be like my words to you.
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<v Speaker 1>Pharaoh then took his scepter and placed it on Joseph's shoulder.
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<v Speaker 5>From this day forth, your name will no longer be Joseph.
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<v Speaker 5>This is your nation, These are your people, and I
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<v Speaker 5>am your Pharaoh. I now rename you zafonath Panaea, which
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<v Speaker 5>means God speaks and he lives.
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<v Speaker 1>The entire crowd irrupted and praised. They chanted his new name,
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<v Speaker 1>Zaffararth Panaea, Zaffonarth Panaea, Zaffonarth Panaea. Joseph looked at them
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<v Speaker 1>with a gaze of compassion. He knew that God had
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<v Speaker 1>called him to be a rescuer and redeemer for them.
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<v Speaker 1>Famine was coming, and soon they would all be hungry.
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<v Speaker 1>He had to act quickly. Joseph began immediately. He gathered
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<v Speaker 1>trusted advisers of the land, men with humility intact. Together
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<v Speaker 1>they were able to construct storehouses large enough to contain
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<v Speaker 1>seven years worth of grain. He built relationships with the
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<v Speaker 1>farmers on the outskirts of the region. He pardoned with
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<v Speaker 1>them to expand Egypt's cropping capabilities. For seven years, Joseph
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<v Speaker 1>toiled the land with his fellow Egyptians. Although he was
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<v Speaker 1>their ruler, he was admired for his ability to be
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<v Speaker 1>among the people. Working alongside them. They dug trenches for irrigation,
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<v Speaker 1>bred more cattle for cured meat, and with every harvest
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<v Speaker 1>they saved one fifth to be stored for the famine.
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<v Speaker 1>Excellence followed Joseph with every step. The favor of God
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<v Speaker 1>was upon him in all things, and in all things
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph sought to give God all the glory, honor, and praise.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph looked out to the horizon from his balcony. The
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<v Speaker 1>land was flourishing with fields of grain, fresh water, and
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<v Speaker 1>happy people. His heart was warm with satisfaction in knowing
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<v Speaker 1>he was accomplishing the purposes of God. He remembered when
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<v Speaker 1>he first came to Egypt when he was seventeen. It
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<v Speaker 1>was a whole different world to him and filled with dangers.
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<v Speaker 1>Now a young man of thirty, Joseph looked upon the
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<v Speaker 1>lad and as his home. The sunset painted the horizon
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<v Speaker 1>with shades of gold and red. Joseph breathed in deeply
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<v Speaker 1>and allowed the gentle wind to caress his face. He
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<v Speaker 1>closed his eyes and sighed a breath of praise to
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<v Speaker 1>his God. He looked back into his wom. Lying in
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<v Speaker 1>bed asleep was his wife. As in Arth, Pharaoh had
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<v Speaker 1>arranged their marriage when he had first begun. Joseph slipped
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<v Speaker 1>into bed with her, and the two of them embraced.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph for years had longed to be with his family
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<v Speaker 1>in Canaan. However, now lying beside his wife, he felt
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<v Speaker 1>that Egypt was now his true home and it was
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<v Speaker 1>time to start his own family. Six years of plenty
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<v Speaker 1>had passed and the storehouses Joseph built were overflowing with
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<v Speaker 1>golden grain. The ground was fertile and produced more crops
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<v Speaker 1>than expect. As the years of abundance came to a close,
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph and as Aarth were blessed with pregnancy. As an
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<v Speaker 1>Arth labored into the night with Joseph attentive and close
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<v Speaker 1>by her side. Hours later, Joseph's son was born. He
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<v Speaker 1>held the boy in his arms, overwhelmed with immeasurable joy.
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<v Speaker 1>Joseph gazed into his son's eyes and whispered a prayer
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<v Speaker 1>to God, O Lord, you.
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<v Speaker 2>Have blessed me. You have caused me to forget all
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<v Speaker 2>the hardships and afflictions from my former home.
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<v Speaker 1>He held up his son, eyes beaming with pride and hope.
0:16:41 --> 0:16:45
<v Speaker 2>I shall name you Manassah, which means forgetfulness, for through
0:16:45 --> 0:16:48
<v Speaker 2>you God has made me forget all the troubles of
0:16:48 --> 0:16:49
<v Speaker 2>my past.
0:16:50 --> 0:16:53
<v Speaker 1>Joseph and as an Arth smiled at their son. He
0:16:53 --> 0:16:57
<v Speaker 1>was a symbol of Joseph's favor in the land. As
0:16:57 --> 0:17:02
<v Speaker 1>the seven years of plenty finally to a close, Joseph
0:17:02 --> 0:17:07
<v Speaker 1>was given another son. He named him Ephrail, which meant fruitfulness,
0:17:08 --> 0:17:11
<v Speaker 1>because God had caused Joseph to be fruitful in the
0:17:11 --> 0:17:16
<v Speaker 1>entire land of Egypt. Joseph overlooked the land of Egypt
0:17:16 --> 0:17:20
<v Speaker 1>from the same balcony. His wife and Manassah stood next
0:17:20 --> 0:17:24
<v Speaker 1>to him. And Ephrium slept soundly in his arms. The
0:17:24 --> 0:17:28
<v Speaker 1>red sun dropped in the distance, and a scorching evening
0:17:28 --> 0:17:32
<v Speaker 1>wind came galloping in from the hills. Joseph could sense
0:17:32 --> 0:17:37
<v Speaker 1>the air losing its moisture. The winds were abrasive. They
0:17:37 --> 0:17:41
<v Speaker 1>had a malicious quality to them. Joseph knew the time
0:17:41 --> 0:17:44
<v Speaker 1>had come for the famine, just as God had warned.
0:17:44 --> 0:17:48
<v Speaker 1>He led his family inside and shut the doors. The
0:17:48 --> 0:17:52
<v Speaker 1>wind began picking up speed. It would not cease for weeks,
0:17:52 --> 0:17:56
<v Speaker 1>after destroying everything in its wake. Weeks had passed, and
0:17:57 --> 0:18:01
<v Speaker 1>the once flourishing land had been blighted with storms and locusts.
0:18:02 --> 0:18:05
<v Speaker 1>The harsh sun beat down endlessly, with no clouds or
0:18:05 --> 0:18:09
<v Speaker 1>rain to quench the dry ground. The people grew irritable
0:18:10 --> 0:18:13
<v Speaker 1>and hungry. Farmers lamented the loss of their land, and
0:18:13 --> 0:18:18
<v Speaker 1>herders mourned the deaths of their flocks. Egypt and all
0:18:18 --> 0:18:22
<v Speaker 1>the land surrounding it was under the intense wrath of nature.
0:18:22 --> 0:18:26
<v Speaker 1>Joseph had prepared for famine, but he did not expect
0:18:26 --> 0:18:29
<v Speaker 1>it to go so bad so quickly. It did not
0:18:29 --> 0:18:31
<v Speaker 1>take long for the people to cry out for food
0:18:31 --> 0:18:35
<v Speaker 1>and water. They appealed to Pharaoh begging for bread to
0:18:35 --> 0:18:40
<v Speaker 1>fill their bellies. Pharaoh simply smiled and nodded. He knew
0:18:40 --> 0:18:43
<v Speaker 1>that Joseph had been diligent and wise for the past
0:18:43 --> 0:18:48
<v Speaker 1>seven years. They had grown close, and Pharaoh trusted Joseph completely.
0:18:49 --> 0:18:53
<v Speaker 1>Joseph sent out a decree to all the inhabitants of Egypt.
0:18:53 --> 0:18:56
<v Speaker 2>By the mercy of God the wisdom of Pharaoh, all
0:18:57 --> 0:19:00
<v Speaker 2>citizens will be given enough grain to feed their family.
0:19:00 --> 0:19:03
<v Speaker 2>Each week, they shall come before the storehouses to collect
0:19:03 --> 0:19:06
<v Speaker 2>what they need. Our officials and guards will ensure that
0:19:06 --> 0:19:08
<v Speaker 2>no one cheats or steals.
0:19:09 --> 0:19:13
<v Speaker 1>With that decree, families from across the nation journeyed weakly
0:19:13 --> 0:19:18
<v Speaker 1>to the storehouses. They filled their sacks with grain and
0:19:18 --> 0:19:22
<v Speaker 1>brought them back to their homes. Joseph smiled at the
0:19:22 --> 0:19:26
<v Speaker 1>success of his storehouses. At the rate they were going,
0:19:26 --> 0:19:28
<v Speaker 1>they would have enough grain to last them more than
0:19:28 --> 0:19:33
<v Speaker 1>seven years. However, the blighted wind cast its billowing wrath
0:19:33 --> 0:19:37
<v Speaker 1>beyond Egypt. Far away, in the land of Canaan, the
0:19:37 --> 0:19:42
<v Speaker 1>household of Jacob was suffering. The twelve sons of Israel
0:19:42 --> 0:19:45
<v Speaker 1>labored to no avail. They had run out of grain
0:19:45 --> 0:19:48
<v Speaker 1>for bread, and their animals were dying by the day.
0:19:49 --> 0:19:52
<v Speaker 1>They were in need of rescue. They were in need
0:19:52 --> 0:19:57
<v Speaker 1>of salvation, so they turned their faces towards Egypt, hearing
0:19:57 --> 0:20:02
<v Speaker 1>rumors of a hero called zapphanath Anahah. Hopefully he was
0:20:03 --> 0:20:04
<v Speaker 1>the redeemer they needed.
0:20:11 --> 0:20:13
<v Speaker 4>Recently, I spoke with a friend who was weathering a
0:20:13 --> 0:20:18
<v Speaker 4>storm of suffering. But despite life's trials, this friend moves
0:20:18 --> 0:20:23
<v Speaker 4>through life with an anspiring grace. When I told her
0:20:23 --> 0:20:27
<v Speaker 4>how extraordinary I thought, she was revealed to me her secret.
0:20:27 --> 0:20:30
<v Speaker 4>She told me, every day, I tell myself that I
0:20:30 --> 0:20:33
<v Speaker 4>just have to make it through this day because tomorrow
0:20:33 --> 0:20:37
<v Speaker 4>God can make everything better. I tell myself this every
0:20:38 --> 0:20:41
<v Speaker 4>single day. And you know what, every day, she said,
0:20:42 --> 0:20:46
<v Speaker 4>I believe it. This simple faith, this enduring hope, gives
0:20:47 --> 0:20:49
<v Speaker 4>my friend the strength to keep going even when it
0:20:49 --> 0:20:54
<v Speaker 4>is really hard, even when she's facing challenges that most
0:20:54 --> 0:20:58
<v Speaker 4>people would break under. Hearing her advice gives me strength
0:20:58 --> 0:21:02
<v Speaker 4>and hope that God's salvation isn't just a distant promise,
0:21:03 --> 0:21:08
<v Speaker 4>but really it's a near possibility. In this story, we
0:21:08 --> 0:21:12
<v Speaker 4>find Joseph in the depths of a prison cell. Abandoned
0:21:12 --> 0:21:17
<v Speaker 4>and forgotten. Joseph had every reason to despair. He was
0:21:17 --> 0:21:22
<v Speaker 4>sold by his own brothers. Falsely accused by Potifar's wife,
0:21:23 --> 0:21:27
<v Speaker 4>he was wrongfully imprisoned with no end in sight. It
0:21:27 --> 0:21:34
<v Speaker 4>seemed hopeless, and then in an instant, everything changed. Pharaoh's cupbearer,
0:21:34 --> 0:21:39
<v Speaker 4>once imprisoned alongside Joseph, remembered him. He told Pharaoh of
0:21:39 --> 0:21:45
<v Speaker 4>Joseph's gift for interpreting dreams. Joseph was summoned, explained the dreams,
0:21:45 --> 0:21:50
<v Speaker 4>and offered very wise counsel. In a heartbeat, Joseph was
0:21:50 --> 0:21:55
<v Speaker 4>elevated to the position of Prime Minister of Egypt. Only
0:21:55 --> 0:22:00
<v Speaker 4>God could script such a remarkable salvation from the dungeons
0:22:00 --> 0:22:05
<v Speaker 4>of prison to the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph was
0:22:06 --> 0:22:09
<v Speaker 4>once the lowest of men, and he became the most
0:22:09 --> 0:22:13
<v Speaker 4>powerful figure in the ancient world. Jewish tradition has a
0:22:13 --> 0:22:16
<v Speaker 4>saying that has sustained our people through two thousand years
0:22:16 --> 0:22:23
<v Speaker 4>of exile and persecution. Yeshua Tashem kherif Ain God, salvation
0:22:23 --> 0:22:27
<v Speaker 4>can come in the blink of an eye. No matter
0:22:27 --> 0:22:31
<v Speaker 4>how dire the circumstances, complete salvation is always within reach.
0:22:32 --> 0:22:35
<v Speaker 4>I thought about this so often this past year as
0:22:35 --> 0:22:38
<v Speaker 4>I was hiding in my bomb shelter from rockets launched
0:22:38 --> 0:22:43
<v Speaker 4>by terrorists who wanted to destroy Israel, who wanted to
0:22:43 --> 0:22:46
<v Speaker 4>murder the Jews. After so many times going into the
0:22:46 --> 0:22:51
<v Speaker 4>bomb shelter and having rocket explode overhead, there was a
0:22:51 --> 0:22:53
<v Speaker 4>time where you could nearly reach despair.
0:22:54 --> 0:22:55
<v Speaker 5>But me and my.
0:22:55 --> 0:22:58
<v Speaker 4>Husband, my children sw was the first we said on repeat,
0:22:58 --> 0:23:04
<v Speaker 4>peace can come in an instant yeshuwa tashenka kerfining, God's
0:23:04 --> 0:23:07
<v Speaker 4>salvation can come in the blink of an eye. If
0:23:08 --> 0:23:12
<v Speaker 4>we remember this like Joseph did, then despair loses its grip.
0:23:13 --> 0:23:16
<v Speaker 4>For just as with Joseph, everything can change in a
0:23:16 --> 0:23:20
<v Speaker 4>single moment. We have to hold on to hope. We
0:23:20 --> 0:23:23
<v Speaker 4>have to trust in God's timing, and we have to
0:23:23 --> 0:23:28
<v Speaker 4>in our darkest hours remember salvation can come in the
0:23:28 --> 0:23:32
<v Speaker 4>blink of an eye. But let's step back for just
0:23:32 --> 0:23:34
<v Speaker 4>a moment. I want to look at a Hebrew phrase
0:23:34 --> 0:23:38
<v Speaker 4>in this story. After repeatedly citing God is the source
0:23:38 --> 0:23:42
<v Speaker 4>of his understanding of Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph presented a practical
0:23:42 --> 0:23:44
<v Speaker 4>plan for how to save Egypt during the seven years
0:23:44 --> 0:23:48
<v Speaker 4>of famine. Pharaoh then declared to all present that he
0:23:48 --> 0:23:52
<v Speaker 4>had never seen someone like Joseph, in whom is the
0:23:52 --> 0:23:56
<v Speaker 4>spirit of God. This is the phrase he used, and
0:23:56 --> 0:24:01
<v Speaker 4>Hebrew it's rouch Elohim that means this spirit of God.
0:24:01 --> 0:24:05
<v Speaker 4>It's words that we've seen in earlier episodes. Do you
0:24:05 --> 0:24:08
<v Speaker 4>remember it appeared in the beginning of the creation story.
0:24:08 --> 0:24:12
<v Speaker 4>In the second verse of the Bible, it said, quote,
0:24:12 --> 0:24:15
<v Speaker 4>now that earth was formless, an empty darkness was over
0:24:15 --> 0:24:19
<v Speaker 4>the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God,
0:24:19 --> 0:24:24
<v Speaker 4>the ruch Eloheen, was hovering over the waters. As from
0:24:24 --> 0:24:28
<v Speaker 4>Genesis one two, we see that ruch Eloheen, the spirit
0:24:28 --> 0:24:33
<v Speaker 4>of God, is the power that transformed God's wisdom into
0:24:33 --> 0:24:37
<v Speaker 4>the physical creation at the very beginning. So too, it
0:24:37 --> 0:24:40
<v Speaker 4>was the rue Heloim, the spirit of God, and Joseph
0:24:41 --> 0:24:46
<v Speaker 4>that translated Pharaoh's cryptic dreams into a practical plan of action.
0:24:47 --> 0:24:50
<v Speaker 4>And with the spirit of God came a turning point
0:24:50 --> 0:24:55
<v Speaker 4>for his chosen people. It insured their survival during the famine,
0:24:55 --> 0:24:59
<v Speaker 4>and it set the stage for their eventual exodus from Egypt.
0:25:00 --> 0:25:06
<v Speaker 4>This is our legacy. It's a legacy of resilience and hope.
0:25:06 --> 0:25:10
<v Speaker 4>As this story ends with Joseph out of prison and
0:25:10 --> 0:25:13
<v Speaker 4>into power, we read that he fathered two sons, and
0:25:13 --> 0:25:15
<v Speaker 4>before we go, I want to look at the names
0:25:15 --> 0:25:20
<v Speaker 4>Joseph gave his children because they are very telling. Joseph
0:25:20 --> 0:25:24
<v Speaker 4>called his firstborn Manasse, which related to the Hebrew word
0:25:24 --> 0:25:28
<v Speaker 4>for forgetting. In verse fifty one, Joseph explained, it is
0:25:28 --> 0:25:31
<v Speaker 4>because God has made me forget all of my trouble
0:25:31 --> 0:25:36
<v Speaker 4>and all of my father's household. Joseph had suffered great
0:25:36 --> 0:25:39
<v Speaker 4>pain in being so badly treated by his brothers and
0:25:39 --> 0:25:44
<v Speaker 4>in being enslaved and imprisoned in Egypt, but Joseph also
0:25:44 --> 0:25:46
<v Speaker 4>realized that he had a job to do in Egypt.
0:25:47 --> 0:25:50
<v Speaker 4>He was part of God's long term plan for the
0:25:50 --> 0:25:53
<v Speaker 4>chosen people. There's a great lesson in this for all
0:25:53 --> 0:25:57
<v Speaker 4>of us. Yes, life is full of pain, but we
0:25:57 --> 0:26:00
<v Speaker 4>all have a job to do. Despite the pain, we
0:26:01 --> 0:26:04
<v Speaker 4>have to ask God for help so that we can
0:26:04 --> 0:26:08
<v Speaker 4>live out our own personal plan that God has destined
0:26:08 --> 0:26:13
<v Speaker 4>for us. Joseph named his second son Ephrine, related to
0:26:13 --> 0:26:18
<v Speaker 4>the Hebrew word for being fruitful. In verse twenty two,
0:26:18 --> 0:26:22
<v Speaker 4>Joseph explained, quote, it's because God had made me fruitful
0:26:22 --> 0:26:25
<v Speaker 4>in the land of my suffering end quote. Even with
0:26:25 --> 0:26:28
<v Speaker 4>the high level that he reached in Egypt, second only
0:26:28 --> 0:26:33
<v Speaker 4>to Pharaoh, Joseph still referred to Egypt as quote the
0:26:33 --> 0:26:38
<v Speaker 4>land of my suffering. Joseph still longed for the Holy
0:26:38 --> 0:26:42
<v Speaker 4>Land and for some sort of healing with his estranged family.
0:26:43 --> 0:26:47
<v Speaker 4>We can all learn from this. It's possible for pain
0:26:47 --> 0:26:50
<v Speaker 4>to be healed. It's possible that even when we're suffering,
0:26:50 --> 0:26:53
<v Speaker 4>we can still be productive and part of God's plan.
0:26:54 --> 0:26:58
<v Speaker 4>The Jewish people suffered for millennia under various cruel nations
0:26:58 --> 0:27:02
<v Speaker 4>and populations, but we always kept our eyes on the
0:27:02 --> 0:27:07
<v Speaker 4>Holy Land. And now here I am speaking to you
0:27:07 --> 0:27:12
<v Speaker 4>from Israel, the land for which we longed for centuries.
0:27:13 --> 0:27:16
<v Speaker 4>I can hear the echo of the names Joseph gave
0:27:16 --> 0:27:19
<v Speaker 4>his sons, and I live and work every day here
0:27:19 --> 0:27:23
<v Speaker 4>in the Holy Land for which his favorite son, this dreamer,
0:27:23 --> 0:27:29
<v Speaker 4>this slave, this prisoner, and this ruler longed for. Joseph's
0:27:29 --> 0:27:33
<v Speaker 4>story is the story of Israel, and it's all of
0:27:33 --> 0:27:37
<v Speaker 4>our story, inspiring us to find a hope amidst the pain,
0:27:37 --> 0:27:40
<v Speaker 4>to dream dreams and turn them into action, knowing that
0:27:40 --> 0:27:46
<v Speaker 4>God will bless us for following his plan and following
0:27:46 --> 0:27:47
<v Speaker 4>our dreams.
0:27:49 --> 0:27:52
<v Speaker 1>You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
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<v Speaker 1>Ad free by downloading and subscribing to the pray dot
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<v Speaker 1>Com app today. This Prey dot Com production is only
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<v Speaker 1>made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
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<v Speaker 1>Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
0:28:08 --> 0:28:12
<v Speaker 1>producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by
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<v Speaker 1>Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
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<v Speaker 1>Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
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<v Speaker 1>Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
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<v Speaker 1>Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
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<v Speaker 1>Aaron Salvato. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin,
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<v Speaker 1>kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship
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