We are rolling into chapter 42 of Genesis with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. שַּׁלִּ֣יט having power, ruler, having mastery, domineering, governor. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in Ecclesiastes and once in our chapter of Genesis. Here are all the uses. We see it used in the sense of not being in control of one’s own life. Ecclesiastes 8:7-8 For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? No man has שַׁלִּ֤יט power to retain the spirit, or שִׁלְטוֹן֙ power over the day of death. It is also used in reference to one in charge of others. Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the הַשַּׁלִּֽיט ruler: folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on the ground like slaves. Ecclesiastes 7:19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים rulers who are in a city. So this sense of a person who rules or commands; especially understood as having primacy of authority is the same sense we find our word in our chapter.
Genesis 42:6 Now Joseph was הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
Now we see that this is the time when God turns the tables on Joseph and his brothers. How will Joseph use his power over his brothers? Will he use it to harm them just like they used their power over Joseph to harm him? If you remember yesterday that God was building the skill of discernment through all the challenges he lived through. Discernment wasn’t the only character trait God was producing inside of Joseph which we will look at in the days to come. In the next couple of days, we will see how Joseph uses his skill of discernment to put his brothers in a position so that they would have to face their past evil they had committed against Joseph. This is what God does in our lives. He cares about us so much that he allows the realities of our lives that we face to push us toward dealing with our own sin against God. Because this is the best thing for us. If we recall the emotion of guilt leads us to forgiveness which we will see Joseph orchestrating the events in his brothers lives to bring this about. For today we’ll close with a reminder that while we don’t always know why we go through challenging times we can be confident that God is accomplishing over abundant goodness for us and those around us if we follow him. This is why Jesus is called not just the good Shepherd but the great one. Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
