Cleansed to Stand Before the Ruler

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

CLEANSED TO STAND BEFORE THE RULER

Gen 41:1-16

41:1 When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. 3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. 4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. 5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. 6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted — thin and scorched by the east wind. 7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. 8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. 9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. 10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. 11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. 12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. 13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged." 14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 16 "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."

NIV

Once again, we see Joseph being lifted up from a bad situation, two full years spent in prison for a crime he did not do. Yet, the cupbearer came to his senses, or he wanted to look good in the eyes of Pharaoh as not a single magician or wise man could tell Pharaoh the meaning of his dreams. We also see that Joseph was cleaned up, no one appeared before Pharaoh dirty and in rags. Before we ponder Joseph's witness, we should consider the idea of Joseph having to shave and change his clothes before coming before Pharaoh, which could have two meanings. First, it could have been Joseph's desire to clean himself up, and have some self-respect before being presented to the ultimate ruler of Egypt. Second, it could have been the command of Pharaoh that everyone who stood before him should appear clean-shaven and rightly clothed. If it is the first meaning, we understand the idea of wanting the right appearance before we stand before the Lord God Almighty, the Ultimate Ruler of the Universe. However, it has nothing to do with our physical appearance, but rather our spiritual appearance, unless we consider being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus physically. Yet, the simple fact that we have been born again, or born from above and are adopted into the family of God, being His child and co-heir with Jesus, with our names written in the Book of Life makes our appearance perfect as we stand before our Father. If the meaning is the second, and it is by the command of God that we are cleanly clothed, then unlike Joseph having to do that before appearing before Pharaoh, God is the one who cleanses us in the blood of Jesus, so that we are clean, not of our own doing, but it is all of His. There is one other thought about feeling the need to appear clean and in the right clothes and that is when we enter the sanctuary at church. However, that should only be of our own desires and never to be put upon anyone else. Even if someone unshaven and in dirty clothes walks into the sanctuary, either already washed in the blood of Jesus, or needs salvation, our hearts always need to be pure and open accepting all who seek what they need in the sanctuary of our Lord. Still, we might look at the outside, but God looks at the heart. Joseph was cleansed to stand before Pharaoh, let us be assured we have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, no matter our outer appearance.