Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, February 15, 2025
Shabbat Shalom,
Grace 9 – Pharaoh Favored Joseph
By David Harwood
We’re about to look at the last explicit example of favor/grace in Genesis.
The last mention of someone “finding favor (grace) in” someone’s eyes focuses on Joseph. Here’s the background: Upon the basis of filial affection, Joseph vowed to bury Jacob in Canaan. However, he did not have the liberty or resources to fulfill this oath and the time to fulfill his promise had come.
What to do?
He appealed to the favor/grace that he had in the eyes of Pharaoh.
When the days of formal weeping passed, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s house saying, “If I’ve found favor (chen/charis) in your eyes, please say in Pharaoh’s ears, “My father made me take an oath saying, ‘Behold, I am about to die. In my tomb—which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan—there you must bury me.’
So now, please allow me to go up and bury my father, and then return.”
Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father just as he made you swear on oath.” (Genesis 50:4–6)
Joseph found grace in Pharaoh’s eyes. He was enabled to fulfill his vow through the favor given him. Joseph could not force Pharaoh to favor him, but Joseph was uniquely qualified to receive favor from Egypt’s king.
What qualified Joseph for this grace?
First, he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams. After that he came up with a plan to preserve Egypt during the foretold famine. He increased Egypt’s wealth, status, and authority, as he wisely stewarded that nation’s resources.
In the light of this, when Joseph showed up, do you think Pharaoh’s household liked who they saw? I’m sure they did.
After all, if someone cleared up a crisis of confusion for me, they would have favor in my eyes. Then, if he offered a strategy to get me through a looming disaster and then, then, successfully guided my household through the aforementioned calamity, he would have favor in my eyes. And finally, after he proved his loyalty, he secured my family’s prosperity and elevated my family’s status, well … I’d be glad to see him, too. My attitude would be, “What can I do for you?”
Joseph found favor/grace in the eyes of Pharaoh who enabled Joseph to fulfill his sacred oath. Look at this description of the results of the favor Joseph found:
So Joseph went up to bury his father.
Also all of Pharaoh’s servants, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt went up with him, along with all of Joseph’s house, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and cattle were left in the land of Goshen.
Chariots and horsemen also went up with him—it was a very impressive company. (Genesis 50:7–9)
That’s favor.
Let’s review what we’ve covered concerning charis/chen in Genesis:
We found that the Hebrew, chen, and the Greek, charis (found in the Septuagint and the New Covenant Scriptures), were considered synonymous.
Noah found favor in God’s eyes. God liked what He saw. He delivered Noah.
Abraham found favor in God’s eyes When God looked at Abraham, He liked who He saw. He ate with, and revealed Himself to, Abraham.
Angels looked favorably upon Lot. He found favor (grace) because he was a righteous man. Angels adjusted their assignment (!) so Lot might flee to a nearby city.
Joseph’s experience with those in authority was marked by their approval. He found favor/grace in their eyes. God was with him, helped him succeed, and gave him the favor he received.
Joseph looked upon his father with affectionate filial loyalty. When he saw Jacob, he loved him, and Joseph’s father found favor/grace in his child’s eyes.
Pharaoh looked favorably upon Joseph.
In Genesis, grace was given by the more powerful to those in need. Why? Because there was something about the recipient that stirred favor.
Perceiving this pattern is foundational to understanding grace as it is revealed in our Scriptures. Understanding this pattern is helpful to understand the experience of grace/favor in our lives.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 15-Feb-2025 17th of Sh’vat, 5785 Parashat Yitro
Ex 20:18-26(15-23) Isa 6:1-7:6; 9:6-7(5-6) Matt 5:13-20