上帝的恩慈超過我們的想像。歷史上或許再也沒有一個人像約瑟一樣，在那麼短的時間內晉升到財富和權力的巔峰。當上帝要拔擢一個人，祂就將其推至頂點。約瑟把他解夢的能力完全歸榮燿於上帝，法老也相信約瑟說的是實情，他承認是上帝指示約瑟，並宣稱約瑟「有神的靈在他裡頭」（41：38）。雅各書告訴我們，任何人向上帝求智慧，上帝就必賜給他（雅1：5~6）。法老也說約瑟「有聰明、有智慧」（41：39）。我們知道約瑟是個有信心的人，他一定不止在要覲見法老時求智慧，而是在每天的生活中都求上帝賜給他智慧。法老使約瑟在埃及居僅次於他的最高位，賜給他王服的裝飾，讓他坐在華麗的馬車上遊行全市，接受人們的跪拜和尊崇（參以斯帖記6：7~9）。約瑟並沒有白白忍受苦難，上帝報答了他。不過，任何地上的報酬若與將來忠信之徒在天上要得的賞賜相比就算不得什麼。

         約瑟完全融入埃及的文化了，他有一個埃及名字，又娶了埃及女子，安城祭司的女兒為妻。在豐年時期，他的妻子給他生了兩個兒子，他們的名字都有深遠的意義，足以表達約瑟生命的經歷，約瑟在他們的名字裡都提到上帝，並歸榮耀給上帝。上帝在我們生命的每個領域裡都應居首。我們應該不斷的思念祂，讚美祂的話也應常在我們口中（詩34：1）。約瑟這兩個兒子的後裔也成為以色列眾子中的一個支派。

         從約瑟為荒年所做的預備，我們看見他的聰明、大智、和不凡的行政能力。如同他在波提乏家中和在監牢裡時一樣，上帝再次使他亨通。當七個豐年時，約瑟積存了大量的五穀，據說足可維持十五年的食用；因此，不僅埃及在荒年時能賴以維生，還可供應許多其他的國家。正如約瑟對法老所言，七個豐年過後，大饑荒果真臨到埃及和所知的世界各地。約瑟的智慧給埃及帶來滾滾財源，許多人從其他國家前來向約瑟買糧食，埃及因此在這段時間內變得極為富裕。

         饑荒在歷史上總是扮演了重要的角色。亞伯拉罕在迦南地遭遇饑荒時下埃及，但上帝的恩典又將他帶回來。在以撒時也同樣有一場饑荒，但上帝指示以撒不要下埃及，因著以撒的順服，上帝在那個荒年大大的祝福他。這次，因著大規模的饑荒，上帝使約瑟的十個哥哥也下了埃及，在前來買糧的人中間。約瑟十七歲時夢見他的哥哥向他下拜，這個夢現在在他大約卅八歲時應驗了（42：6）。時隔廿一年，約瑟看起來一定與從前大不相同，談吐和穿著也像個埃及人，所以他的哥哥皆認不出他來。約瑟向他們說話嚴厲並不是由於氣憤或想虐待他們，而是因為想試驗他們是否為從前向他所做的事懊悔。約瑟使他們的良心不安，好叫他們畏懼上帝，並想起他們曾經如何對待年幼的約瑟。他的哥哥的確為他們所犯的罪過憂傷痛悔，並認為現在臨到他們的事是對他們惡行的懲罰。

         上帝是公正的，祂絕不會容讓罪行不受懲誡，但當人悔改，上帝也有憐憫和赦罪之恩。有時候我們看起來是懲罰的事，實際上是為我們好，使我們能悔改，否則我們就只有面臨永遠的刑罰──那比任何地上的刑罰更糟。當雅各聽見西緬被下在埃及的監裡，直等到他們把最小的弟弟便雅憫（約瑟唯一的親兄弟）也帶到埃及才能獲釋，他極為憂傷；自從失去了約瑟，他再也不肯讓這個最小的寶見兒子離他而去。

         約瑟對待他哥哥的方法很有智慧，他們的為人將因此得到改善。當我們能從我們的錯誤中學習，我們的智慧就會增長，上帝也能藉此教導我們許多事。

         主啊，智慧是您賞賜給向您祈求之人的禮物。我們現在祈求並支取您賜智慧的應許（雅1：5）。奉主耶穌基督聖名，阿們！

English

         The kindness and grace of God is beyond our imaginations. Probably no one else in history has risen to wealth and power in such a short period of time as did Joseph. When God exalts someone, He does it to the fullest. Joseph had given all the glory to God for his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams, and Pharaoh believed what Joseph had said as truth and confessed that it was God who had shown him (41:38). We are told in the book of James that if anyone asks God for wisdom, it will be given liberally (James 1:5, 6). Pharaoh also exclaimed that Joseph was “discerning and wise” (41:39). We know that he was a man of faith and most assuredly he had prayed that God would give him wisdom, not only for when he faced Pharaoh, but for everyday life. Pharaoh gave Joseph the highest position under him in his kingdom, arrayed him in royal fashion, and paraded hem through the city in a beautiful chariot with all the people bowing before him to show him honor (cf. Esther 6:7-9). Joseph’s patient suffering was not in vain, for the Lord rewarded him. However, any earthly rewards we might receive are nothing in compassion to the coming heavenly rewards for faithful believers.

        Joseph became fully integrated into the Egyptian culture. He was given an Egyptian name, and married an Egyptian girl, the daughter of the Priest of On. During the time of abundance, she bore him two sons whose names were significant in expressing the life of Joseph and, in naming them, God was referred to and given the glory. God is to be central in every area of out lives. We should continually think of Him and his praises should continually be on our lips (Psalm 34:1). Joseph’s sons’ descendants came to be included as a tribe among the children of Israel.

         We see Joseph’s cleverness, great wisdom, and extraordinary administrative abilities in his preparation for the famine. Again, God gave him success and favor, as He had done in Potiphar’s home and in prison. During the seven years of plenty Joseph collected a huge quantity of grain. It has been suggested that there would have been enough gathered to last for 15 years, so in this way, not only Egypt could live during the famine, but many other countries as well. Just as Joseph had told Pharaoh, after seven years of plenty a great famine did indeed strike Egypt and the whole known world. Joseph’s wisdom once again brought success and prosperity. Many people from other countries came to buy from him and so during this time Egypt would become tremendously wealthy.

         Famines have always played a role in history. Abraham went to Egypt during a time of famine in Canaan, but the grace of the Lord brought him back to his land. There was another famine in the time of Isaac, but he was told by God not to go to Egypt, and because of his obedience, God blessed him greatly that year. With this great, extensive famine, God caused Joseph’s ten brothers to leave for Egypt and be among those who came to buy from him. The dream Joseph had when he was 17 years old was now fulfilled when he was about 38 as they bowed down before him (42:6). After 21 year, Joseph would have looked quite different, shaven, speaking and dressing like an Egyptian, they did not recognize him. He spoke harshly to them, not out of anger or cruelty, but because he had a plan to test whether they were repentant for what they had done to hem. He gave them a hard time, dealing with their consciences, so that they might have the fear of God in them and be reminded of how they had treated young Joseph. They did express their guilt and anguish for that sin and said what was happening to them was punishment for their evil deeds.

         God, in his justice, never lets sins go unpunished, but He is also merciful and forgiving when there is repentance. Sometimes what may seem as a punishment actually works out for our own good so that we may come to repentance, without which there will be eternal punishment – a lot worse than any earthly punishment. When their father Jacob heard that Simeon had been left there in prison until they would bring the youngest brother Benjamin (Joseph’s only full brother), he was in great sorrow, for after losing Joseph, he was not willing to let his precious, youngest son go.

         Joseph was very wise in his dealings with his brothers. They were to become better people because of it. When we learn from out mistakes, we can increase in wisdom and the Lord can teach us many things.

         Widsom, O Lord is Your gift to those who ask. We are asking and claiming Your promise to give wisdom liberally. (James 1:5)