JOSEPH #20 | JOSEPH IN EGYPT #2 | JOSEPH'S BUSINESS STRATEGIES #1
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3616
JOSEPH #20
JOSEPH IN EGYPT #2
JOSEPH'S BUSINESS STRATEGIES #1
Joseph moved in wisdom. He knew Pharoah's elevation of his rank from slave to Vizer of Egypt was fickle - based entirely on his successful performance or his neck will be on the block!
Thankfully
Joseph was not an academic forecaster. He started on a practical and proactive note after understanding the lay of the land.
1. As his first act, “Joseph...went through all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:46) on an inspection tour like Nehemiah did with regard to the fallen wall of Jerusalem.
He would have to become familiar with the people who managed agriculture, the locations and conditions of the fields, the crops, the roads, and means of transportation.
2. Then only did Joseph outline his plan, including an organization framework: “Now, therefore, let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt…, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine” (Genesis 41:33-36).
Thus the supply chain would perform continuously and demand would be satisfied without stock-outs.
3. Pharoah himself knew that the key to success was the commitment of senior management, and immediately empowered Joseph: “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, … Thou shalt be over my house, and according to unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou” (Genesis 41:39-41).
To show his faith in his new chief logistics officer, Pharaoh offered him a generous compensation package. He “took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck” (Genesis 41:42).
After building his decentralized warehousing system, “Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for [it was] without number” (Genesis 41:49).
The scheme worked very well and during the famine years, Egyptians did not suffer but prospered. “And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold unto the Egyptians, and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.”
3. International sales territories were set and global supply chains were even established with foreign countries. “And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy [corn]; because that the famine was [so] sore in all lands” (Genesis 41:56-57).
Today's lesson shows the powerful anointing of God's favour - upon just one man like Joseph who was appointed by God and gifted with wisdom to save the whole nation of Egypt and even other nations from starvation including his own people ( the nascent nation of Israel ).
Blessed with business acumen, he moved cautiously not drastically nor brashly.
Joseph used his market position as a sole supplier to perform several acquisitions that solidified the competitive position of Pharaoh’s Egypt. “And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.”
Thus because of God's favour, he gained the favour of man.
The primary focus contrary to so many teachings of motivational gurus is not to chant mantras like "Believe in yourself" but to keep a relational faith in God whose glory will be your rearguard ( "to cover your back" ). Read Isaiah 58:8.
Joseph immediately went about the work to which Pharaoh had appointed him. His primary interest was in getting the job done for others, rather than taking personal advantage of his new position at the head of the royal court. He maintained his faith in God, giving his children names that credited God with healing his emotional pain and making him fruitful (Gen. 41:51-52). He recognized that his wisdom and discernment were gifts from God, but nevertheless that he still had much to learn about the land of Egypt, its agricultural industry in particular.
This knowhow he slowly but surely mastered in the seven years of plenty which bore fruit when the seven leans years of famine finally hit. He was then poised to meet every contingency to the praise and glory of God.
