The one who took charge of this work would also have to direct a great many assistants, telling each one what he must do, and then making sure that the work had been properly done. Seldom in history has a greater burden been placed upon any one man.
Without waiting for Jo'seph's predictions to come true, or doubting in the least the words which had been spoken, Pha'roah decided to act at once. The first step was the choosing of a leader to carry out the plan of storing up food for the years of famine that were to come, and here the king made a very wise choice, indeed. To Pha'roah, there was only one man in his kingdom who could do the work which Jo'seph had suggested, and that man was Jo'seph himself. The king was deeply impressed by the faith of the He'brew prophet, and believed that he must be under the direct guidance of the LORD. A man of strong, upright character was needed for the task, and in this respect Jo'seph had proved himself second to none.
Pha'roah said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?" The courtiers made no reply, probably because they were jealous of one who was a foreigner, but the king at once appointed Jo'seph to the office. To remove any further jealousy, Pha'roah gave him the E'gyp-tian title Zaph'e-nath-pa-ne'eh, which means "God speaks." He also gave Jo'seph a signet ring as a token of his office as grand vizier of E'gypt, provided him with fine linen garments which were worn by only the highest officials, placed around his neck the gold chain which was the mark of prominent citizens, and caused him to ride in the chariot next to that of the king in a great public procession. The people of E'gypt bowed before him, honoring him as the ruler second only to the king. Thus was Jo'seph advanced from a forgotten prisoner to one who held a place of honor in the royal palace. We shall learn how well he carried out his duties in the next story.
