And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”
In one sentence, Pharaoh moves Joseph from a prison cell to the highest office in Egypt. How did this happen, and why does Scripture dwell on the rise of one foreign slave?
God's doing, not Joseph's climbing
Joseph did nothing to win this office. One writer traces the whole rise to God's providence.
William KellySo Joseph rose without any effort of his own. He came from undeserved depths of suffering and disgrace to be prime minister of the greatest kingdom then on earth. Who could deny that God did this in His providence? Yet He used extraordinary means: His Spirit's power working in His servant.
What Pharaoh handed over
"Over all the land of Egypt" is sweeping, yet Pharaoh remains Pharaoh. What changes is whose hand runs everything under it.
Leslie M. GrantPharaoh sets him over his house. Joseph's word would rule all the people of Egypt. Pharaoh would of course not give his throne to Joseph. But he would depend on Joseph to run all his affairs. The dignity of Pharaoh's position remained, but he gave authority into Joseph's hand. There is an analogy here. God always remains in the dignity of eternal glory. Yet He has given His beloved Son the place of supreme authority over His creation.
The pit, then the palace
Set this verse beside the pit his brothers threw him into and the prison a false charge put him in. The shape of the story then points beyond Joseph.
C. H. MackintoshHere was exaltation of no ordinary kind. Contrast this with the pit and the dungeon. Mark the chain of events that brought it all about. You have at once a clear display of the hand of God, and a striking picture of the sufferings and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. The envy of his brothers and the false judgement of the Gentile had put Joseph in the pit and the dungeon. God took him from there to rule the whole land of Egypt. And not only that: he became the channel of blessing and the sustainer of life to Israel and the whole earth.
Raised because of what he was worth
Pharaoh gave the office for a reason. One writer applies that same ground to Christ.
C KnappAll this is a picture of the present exaltation of Christ Jesus the Lord. He who was once the Crucified is now the Glorified. He whom men once put on a gallows has been placed by God on His throne. Joseph received his place of exaltation in Egypt only because of his personal worth and the real service he did for the country and kingdom of Egypt. Philippians 2 shows the same thing: God has exalted Jesus (as a man) only because of personal worthiness and obedience to death.
Authority that feeds people
Being "over all the land" was not an honorary title. Egypt ate out of Joseph's hand.
J T MawsonThat title "Lord" carries another thought besides authority. It does mean authority... but it also means administration. God has made Him the great Administrator in this present day of His grace. The illustration of it in the Old Testament is Joseph... He was the lord in Egypt, and the life of every Egyptian depended on him. He was the one who had charge of all the supplies of life, and he administered those supplies for the good of the people. God has taken the Lord Jesus Christ and exalted Him to the throne in heaven to administer His grace. Since He was exalted, no soul has ever received any favour or blessing from God except through our Lord Jesus Christ.
One man over all — God's way of governing
One man, not a council, held Egypt's government. One writer sees God's own method there.
Hamilton SmithThis too is God's plan for the future government of the world. Not by parliaments or cabinets, not by counsellors and ministers, will God govern, but by "a Man discreet and wise" set over all. And all will be brought under His sway either by the day of grace or in the day of judgment — the years of plenty or the years of famine.
Kelly sets a limit on the picture.
William KellyThe despised and rejected One is exalted on His Father's throne, not yet on His own. He has all authority over a kingdom as wide as the world. It is a kingdom of a very special kind, which He received when He was cast out and away from His brothers.
Summary
- Set over — by God. Joseph rose "without any effort of his own"; Pharaoh's decree was God's providence at work.
- Set over — on merit. Joseph received the place for personal worth and real service — the same ground on which God exalted Christ.
- Set over — everything. Pharaoh kept his throne but put all authority into Joseph's hand. In the same way, God has given His Son supreme authority over creation.
- Set over — to feed. Lordship means administration. Every Egyptian lived by the man who held the food, and no one now receives a blessing from God except through Christ.
- Set over — by one Man. God governs by one wise man set over all, not by committees. People come under Him in the years of plenty or in the years of famine.