Modern day Josephs?

I've been looking at the story of Joseph in Genesis lately.  It's a well-known story, so well-known it's tempting sometimes to mentally tune out, thinking that we already know all it has to teach us.  But today, looking at Joseph interpreting Pharoah's dreams, something  struck me in a different way.  The WordLive notes talked about how Joseph, having learnt through his experiences to trust God and give all credit to him, is then set up as second in command of all Egypt.


Not only is this a rapid rise for someone who had begun the day a prisoner, and who had come to Egypt as a slave, but it is interesting that Joseph was an outsider in Egyptian culture and politics.  His trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob marked him out.  It marked him out as the only person who had any idea what Pharoah's dream was about, but also marked him out as the one who wanted to follow and act on what God had to say.


What I like is that Joseph, for all we think of him as a dreamer, a person focused on the spiritual, is also actually very practical, immediately coming up with a plan to store a fifth of Egypt's produce in the good years to distribute in the famine.  I wonder if perhaps he was hoping that Pharaoh might pick him when he talked about finding a "discerning and wise man?"  Probably he realised that this could be his only chance to get out of jail.


Whether he had himself in mind or not, Pharaoh is wise to pick him.  Not merely because it seems that Joseph is good at his job (his experience as Potiphar's administrator and in jail must have helped there) but because he is able to listen in to this mysterious God who helped him interpret the dream.  Joseph, a stranger and outsider, sheep farming nomad by birth, is put in charge of running the ancient world's superpower!  A person who worships some foreign God is to be second in command in a country where the king was seen as a god!


All a bit surprising, isn't it? Of course, we don't know what Joseph did, besides the rationing system.  But he certainly didn't hide himself away with whatever people also worshipped his God, and avoid any contact with government or those who worshipped the Egyptian deities or Pharaoh himself.  As the WordLive writer says,  "Joseph was able to implement righteous systems within an unrighteous society."     


Perhaps modern Christians should seek to do the same.  I don't mean trying to impose a theocracy or using the sort of language some American politicians are fond of to suggest our country is God's chosen land.  I mean that Christians should be willing to get involved in government at whatever level, and to seek to stand up for God's values of justice, righteousness, peace and love in a society that struggles with these things.  I know many people mock political leaders who display their faith, and I find it sad.  Because those values are the ones that most people would want in leaders, rather than corruption and hunger for power at any price.  We are in the world, and we can't be wholly removed from it.  We can't make it perfect, but we can make it better.


Oh, and you might find this interesting.  Thanks to Greg for drawing it to my attention.