FOOD ART - A MEXICAN FIESTA

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

The "Food Art" part of this blog is all about creating imaginative menus to enjoy with your family and friends.  I always hope to post some easy-to-pull-together meals that are festive enough for entertaining, but simple enough to be a regular weeknight meal for the family.  You can add your own personal flare to these ideas, but the basic organization here will get you started down your own path.    I just like to have a bunch of "go-to" tried and true menus for impromptu occasions.  This is one of the menus I've used a lot over the years that is simple, easy, inexpensive, but very festive.   

A GREAT MEXICAN MENU

Ahead are four great Mexican dishes that combine to make a perfect menu to serve on a day when you are bored with the same old American cuisine!  Put out the chips.  Melt some cheese.  Mix up a large picture of cold margaritas to go with these.  Soon you will have a feast!

 MENU:

MEXICAN FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY LIME DRESSING
TACO PIE
BLACK BEAN AND RICE CASSEROLE

SALSA AND CHIPS
FAKE FRIED ICE CREAM

A simple and elegant meal that invites fun and casual conversations to happen.

MEXICAN FRUIT SALAD WITH HONEY LIME DRESSING
1 cup cantaloupe chunks
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup kiwifruit
Red or Green Grapes
1 cup pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon orange zest
½ cup fresh orange juice
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup honey
¼ cup fresh lime juice
In a large clear bowl, combine 1 cup each: cantaloupe chunks, blueberries, kiwifruit slices, pineapple chunks and red or green grapes. Stir in 1 tablespoon orange zest, ½ cup fresh orange juice and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice. Whisk together with 1/3 cup honey and ¼ cup fresh lime juice; pour over salad and toss to blend. Serve in pretty stemmed dessert glasses, or side bowls. 

GAIL’S TACO PIE

Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls

Taco seasoning mix
Salsa

Corn chips
1 lb. ground beef 
½ cup chopped onion
Shredded lettuce
Tomato, chopped
Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (4oz.)
sour cream, optional

1.      Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a pie shell with the triangles from 8 Pillsbury

Crescent Dinner Rolls.

2.    Brown the onions in a skillet.  Brown the hamburger in the onion.  Mix onions and hamburger together and add taco mix to them in the skillet. 

3.  Crumble corn chips and put in the bottom of the pie shell.

4.  Pour hamburger and onion mix over corn chips. 

5. Pour salsa over this mixture.

6.  Sprinkle the top generously with shredded cheese, any flavor you prefer.

7.  Bake uncovered for 30 – 35 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes.

8. Top with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, sour cream and a little unmelted cheese.  

9.  Cut into slices and serve with sour cream on the side.

Black Bean and Rice Casserole

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed
1  small jar of salsa

1 teaspoon chili powder

½ teaspoon pepper

½ teaspoon salt

½  teaspoon cumin

½  teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 zucchini, chopped
1 can white shoe peg corn kernels
1 cup green or red peppers, chopped

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped mushrooms

1 small can green chilies
2 cups brown rice, cooked
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large pan over medium heat, cook beans and salsa for 5 minutes  Stir in spices..

2.   Add all of the vegetables to the mixture and cook for an additional 5 minutes, until veggies soften slightly.

3.   Mix in the cooked brown rice.

4.  Place mixture in a large casserole dish, sprinkle with cheese. Bake for about 20 minutes.

5. Crunch up some tortilla chips in the bottom of a clear or decorative bowl and pour the casserole mixture over the chips while hot.  Line the sides of bowl with whole chips and garnish the top with slices of avocado and olives.  Serve sour cream on the side.

 

    

 FAKE FRIED ICE CREAM

“Fried” ice cream with no frying involved. Just like what they serve in some Mexican restaurants.

Ingredients

1 (18oz.) box corn flake cereal

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

½ cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons cinnamon

 vanilla ice cream 

Any Favorite Toppings

Instructions
1.  Shape ice cream into 3 inch balls and place in a muffin tin to freeze very hard.

2. Place cereal in a food processor and process

until finely crushed (or place cereal in batches in sealable plastic bags and crush with rolling pin). Place crushed cereal in a large mixing bowl and mix in melted butter. Stir in sugar and cinnamon until well blended.
3.  Roll frozen ice cream balls in the crunchy mixture, pressing down to make it all stick and stay on the ice cream.
4.  Place in a pretty serving dish, drizzle with caramel or chocolate, add a dollop of whipped cream if desired, place a cherry on top and serve immediately.

 

SEASONS - TURNIP GREEN SOUP FOR NEW YEARS

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION - EAT RIGHT/LIVE RIGHT
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Here we are already on the very first day of 2017.  I have to admit I was ready for 2016 to turn the page. I am anxious for a better year to come to us all in 2017.  

That being said, I do not overlook the fact that even though the whole country had a pretty bad year last year; we all were blessed in unexpected ways in the midst of it.  I am most thankful to know that we have survived the very hard political, economic and socially changing culture battles in America for one more year.  I remain hopeful in spite of the odds and stand ready to take on the battles of another year.

Speaking of another year; some people are so superstitious about what to eat on New Year's Day.  

I find that very amusing, as I've had the same foods every year and had both good and bad years afterward.  So, I just laugh at the superstitions of our culture, but play along, mostly because I want to start the new year out healthy and what could be healthier than a good steaming hot bowl of turnip green soup?

It has become a tradition at our house.  

You get your greens and you get your black-eyed peas.  Throw in some broccoli corn bread and a salad and you have perfectly filling healthy meal.  

I think my recipe for turnip green soup is one of the best.  

We've experimented and changed it over the years until I think it may have evolved into a final perfection.

I share it with all of my readers here as a New Year's present, and am sending wishes for the happiest, most joyful and blessed 2017 that you can every imagine!


TURNIP GREEN SOUP

Ingredients:
1 pound cooked and diced ham
1 tablespoon extra pure virgin olive oil
1 package dry Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix
2 cans great northern beans
Three shakes of tobasco sauce
1 can pinto beans
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 cups chopped potatoes
3 cups chopped onions
1-1/2 cups sliced carrots
1-32 ounce package of freshly cut and washed turnip greens
2-48 ounce cartons chicken broth (may use beef if preferred)
2-15 ounce cans black-eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
1 (14.5 ounce) can Rotel tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions:
In a large stock pot with a tablespoon of extra pure virgin olive oil combine ham, onions, potatoes and carrots.  Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently for 7 to 8 minutes, or until ham is browned and onion and carrots are slightly soft.  Add turnip greens, and cook, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until wilted.  Add chicken broth, black-eyes peas, Knorr Vegetable Soup Mix, northern beans, pinto beans, tobasco sauce, garlic powder, Rotel tomatoes, crushed red pepper, and black pepper.  Bring all to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 35 minutes or until greens are tender.  Serve steaming hot.

(If you use the fresh frozen veggies instead of the canned this soup usually taste better - or you can go all out and use totally fresh veggies - your choice - always good no matter how you do it.  After Christmas I always freeze the left over ham slices and save it for this dish on New Year's Day.  We love it!)

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 100 JOSEPH REVEALS HIS IDENTITY

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Judah was deeply troubled that Joseph thought Benjamin had taken his silver cup.  He had offered himself as a substitute for Benjamin’s punishment, knowing that if he did not return with Benjamin his father would never forgive him.  He had also told his father that his own sons would be the one’s punished if anything happened to Benjamin.  This must have been a terrible time for Judah, who had done no wrong and was caught in the middle of Joseph’s scheme.

But, as Judah was pleading with Joseph, Joseph could no longer control himself and he cried out in a loud voice.  “Have everyone leave my presence!” 

When there was no one left in the room with Joseph, except his brothers, Joseph made himself known to them.  He wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him.  Even Pharaoh’s household became aware of Joseph’s state. 

Finally, Joseph said to his brothers; “I am Joseph!  Is my father still living?”

Upon hearing his words his brothers became terrified!  They could not speak or answer.

Joseph beconed for them to come closer to him.  He said; “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  So then it was not you who sent me here, but God.  He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.  Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says:  God has made me lord of all Egypt.  Come down to me; don’t delay.  You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me – you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.  I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come.  Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.”

Joseph turned to his brothers who were still in amazement and continued:  “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.  Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen.  And bring my father down here quickly.”

At that point, Joseph threw his arms around Benjamin and wept.  Benjamin embraced Joseph, weeping too.  Joseph kissed all of his brothers and wept over them.  Afterward they talked and talked.  They had a lot of catching up to do!

With all the commotion and the confusion of Joseph’s assistants, the news soon reached Pharaoh and all of his officials were pleased.  Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this:  Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me.  I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.”

Pharaoh also told them:  “Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come.  Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.”

So the sons of Israel did as they were instructed.  Joseph gave them carts as Pharaoh had commanded and he also gave them provisions for their journey.  He gave them all new clothes, and to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.  He sent ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded wit grain and bread and other provisions to his father for his journey back. 

He said goodbye to his brothers and sent them on their way admonishing them not to quarrel on the way.

They left Egypt in a daze.  When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan they told him that Joseph was still alive!  Then they told him he was ruler of Egypt!

Jacob was stunned. 

At first he did not believe them.  The carts full of provisions that Joseph had sent finally convinced him.

 Jacob’s spirit revived!  Can you imagine his amazement?  He was full of joy knowing that Joseph was still alive and he would see him again!  

God was granting Jacob unexpected happiness in his old age!  It was a glorious impossible that only God could have brought about.  

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 99 ANOTHER PROBLEM ANOTHER PLEA

As Joesph’s brothers finished their feast with him, Joseph gave instructions to the steward of his house to fill each man’s sack with as much food as he could carry and then put each man’s silver inside their sack.  Then he told the steward to put his own personal silver cup in the mouth of Benjamin’s sack along with his silver.  The steward did as he was instructed. 

When the morning came, the men were sent back home, riding on their donkeys.  When they had gone only a short distance, Joseph said to his steward “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?  Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination?  This is a wicked thing you have done.  

So the steward rode out and found them and spoke to them as Joseph had commanded.

Of course the brother’s were stunned to think this could be happening.  They answered Joseph’s steward with surprise and astonishment.

“Why does my lord say such things?  Far be it from your servants to do anything like that!  We even returned from the land of Canaan, the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks.  So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?  If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves!”

Did you cringe when you heard them speak those words to Joseph’s steward?  I surely did.  Never waste words in an important situation, the less said the better; like Jesus always admonished his servants later, let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no.”  The outcry of this brother surely brought them even more trouble!

“Very well!” said the steward.  “Let it be as you say.  Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame.”

All of their sacks were lowered to the ground and opened.  The steward mysteriously started with the oldest and ended with the youngest.  Of course the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack!

When the brothers saw this they tore their clothes.  This was their way of publicly stating to the world they were in mourning.  Surely they were in anguish!  The precious son that they had promised their father they would look after was wrongly sentenced to death!  They loaded their donkeys and returned to the city of Joseph. 

Joseph was still at his house when they arrived.  Judah and his brothers went straight to him and threw themselves at his feet. 

Joseph said “What have you done?  Don’t you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?”

“What can we say?” they answered.  “What can we say?  How can we prove that we are innocent?  God has uncovered your servant’s guilt.  We are now my lord’s slaves, we, ourselves; and the one who was found to have the cup.”

Joseph answered them; “Far be it from me to do such a thing!  Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave.  The rest of you go back to your father in peace.”

To their father in peace?  Are you kidding!!!

Judah, remembering his promise to their father pleaded with Joseph.  “Pardon your servant, my lord, let me speak a word to you.  Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself.  My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ and we answered ‘We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age.  His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’  Then you said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself. And we said to my lord, ‘the boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.’  But you told your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’  When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said.  Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy a little more food.’  But we said, “We cannot go down.  Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go.  We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’

Your servant, our father, said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.  One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.  And I have not seen him since.  If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’

So now if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant, my father, and if my father whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life, sees that the boy isn’t there, he will die.  Your servant guaranteed the boy’safety to my father.  I said, ‘If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all of my life.

Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.  How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me?  No!  Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father!”

And so the brothers all waited patiently and hopefully for Joseph’s reply.  They knew whatever happened they would have trouble when they returned.  Either way, their father would have lost a son, whether it was Judah or Benjamin.

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 98 TRAVELING BACK TO EGYPT

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

For a long time Israel/Jacob was very stubborn about letting the brothers of Joseph take Benjamin back to the land of Egypt.  He did not want them to take him away! 

But the grain they brought was beginning to dwindle down, and they soon would be hungry again.   One day Jacob told them to go back to Egypt and buy more food.  Judah reminded their father that they had been warned that they would not be allowed to buy any more food unless they brought Benjamin with them.  They could not go without him.

Jacob in all of his sorrow asked the logical question:  “Why did you tell the man you had a younger brother in the first place?”

They replied:  “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family.  “Is your father still living?  Do you have another brother?”  We simply answered his questions.  How were we to know he would say, “Bring your brother down here?”

Then Judah said to his father, Israel (Jacob) “Send the boy along with us and we will go at once so that we all can live and not die.  I will guarantee the safety of Benjamin.  You can hold me personally responsible for him.  If I do not bring him back to you I will bear the blame before you all of the rest of my life.  By now we could have already made the journey and returned twice.  It is not good to wait any longer."  

Finally Israel agreed.  He really had no choice. 

He told the brothers to put some of the finest products of the land into their sacks to give to the man.  They took balm and honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds.  They took double the amount of silver, one amount to pay for new food and one amount to repay what had been returned to them, and they took Benjamin. 

Israel stayed behind and mourned.  He prayed for God to have mercy on all of them. 

The brothers hurried to Egypt and presented themselves before Joseph.  When Joseph saw them and that they had Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his household:  “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal, they are to eat with me at noon.”

The servant did exactly as he was told.  The brothers were very frightened when they were taken to Joseph’s house.  They thought, ‘we were brought here because of the silver that was put into our sacks the first time.  He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.’  

They went up to Joseph’s steward and said “We beg your pardon, our lord; we came down here the first time to buy food.  But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver – the exact weight – in the mouth of his sack.  So we have brought it back with us.  We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food.  We don’t know who put our silver in our sacks.”

“It is alright” the servant said.  “Do not be afraid.  Your God, the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks.  I received your silver.

Then the servant of Joseph brought Simeon out to them.  After they gladly and warmly greeted Simeon the servant took them into Joseph’s house and gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys.  They prepared their gifts for Joseph’s arrival at noon, because they had heard they were to eat with him. 

When Joseph arrived and greeted them, they presented their gifts and they bowed down to the ground before him.  He asked them how they were doing and he inquired about the health of their aged father.  He asked if the father was still living.

Once again, they bowed and answered Joseph that the father was alive and well. 

Joseph walked over to Benjamin and asked if he was the youngest brother.  They nodded and Joseph said “God be gracious to you, my son.” 

Joseph was so deeply moved at seeing his brother Benjamin, the only other son of his own mother, that he had to hurry out of the room and look for a place to weep.  He went into his own private room and wept.  He finally composed himself again, came back out and said “Serve the food.”

Egyptians do not eat with Hebrews.  That is detestable to Egyptians.  So they served Joseph by himself in one area of the room, the other Egyptians that were there in another section of the room, and the brothers of Joseph were separated into the section of the room with Joseph.   Joseph’s brothers were then seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest.  This astonished them, and they looked silently at each other in wonder  

When the food came, from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portions were five times as much as anyone else’s.  They did not know what to make of all this, they simply feasted and drank freely with him.  

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 97 TEN BROTHERS FACE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR SINS

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt and he sent his sons to buy some, since they had no crops that survived the famine where they lived.

Jacob decided to keep Benjamin at home with him while the other ten brothers went to Egypt.  He had already lost Joseph under their care, and he did not want to take a chance that harm could come to Benjamin. 

When the ten brothers of Joseph arrived in Egypt they were among throngs of other people wanting to buy grain.  Famine was everywhere.  No one had escaped it except for Egypt, and they only had escaped it because of Joseph’s wise management.  Now Joseph was widely known as the Governor of the land.  He was the one in charge of selling the grain. 

As Joseph sat approving purchases his brothers approached in the line of millions.  They did not recognize him.  The last time they saw him he had only been a young boy, now he was a mature man and he had changed a lot in appearance.  Joseph, however, recognized them right away.  He pretended to be harsh so they would not know who he was until he decided how to react to them. 

“Where do you come from?”  Joseph asked. 

“From the land of Canaan” they replied, “to buy food.”

As they were standing there Joseph remembered his dreams about the brothers bowing down to him and he said to them:  “You are spies!  You have come to see where our land is unprotected!”

“No my Lord,” they answered, “Your servants have come to buy food.  We are all the sons of one man.  Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

“No!” Joseph said to them.  “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”

Then they kept defending themselves.  “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan.  The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Joseph was beginning to enjoy the game a bit.  He kept prodding them.  “It is just as I told you:  You are spies!  And this is how you will be tested:  As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.  Send one of your number to get your brother, the rest of you will be kept in prison, so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.  If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”  And he put them all in custody for three days.

Do you think Joseph might have been reminding them how bad it is on one’s reputation when they lie about things?  They had all lied to their father about Joseph and what had happened?  Now they probably thought they were being punished for it.  The fact that they must bring Benjamin to a hostile environment to prove their innocence must have felt so frustrating.  In order to escape the trouble they had brought upon themselves, they would need to hurt their father once again, and possibly bring MORE trouble upon themselves.

How sad, but isn’t that what our Heavenly Father goes through every time we plot and scheme and lie ourselves?  

We are just like Joseph’s wayward brothers, blind to our own stupidity and our own lack of gratefulness for how God has blessed us over and over.  We tend to hurt the Father that we love all the time.  

We should be able to easily identify with the feelings of these brothers.  And they must have thought about this sad situation the whole three days that they were in prison.  

It is interesting that they had to be held three days in order to prove their innocence.  The same amount of time that Jesus Christ was confined to death in a tomb.  But the third day was coming, and Joseph’s brothers must have been very anxious to find out what would happen next.

On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:  If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.  But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.”

Here again we see symbols of the crucifixion of Christ.  One man was held as ransom for all.  A hopeless family was blessed with provision.  God also provided all we needed for salvation.  It was asked that they bring back their younger brother when they returned.  It is asked of all of us who have committed our lives to Christ to bring our brothers with us back into the Kingdom of God.  So much symbolism can be seen in this story.

The brothers set out quickly to obey Joseph.  As they were standing in front of Joseph they spoke among themselves, thinking that Joseph did not understand the Hebrew language, because Joseph had used an interpreter to deal with them:  “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.  We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress has come upon us.”  Ruben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?  But you wouldn’t listen!  Now we must give an accounting for his blood.”  Once again, interesting that he used words that portray an accounting for blood.  It what the blood of Jesus that saved us. It was His death on a cross that brought us closer to God.  Ruben is referring to the plotted death of Joseph that they gave to their father in a story.  Thank God the story of Jesus was not plotted, but real in every way.

All the while they did not realize that Joseph could understand every word that they said. Hearing their words of confession and remorse affected him to grief.  He turned away from them and began to weep.  

Can you see Jesus standing on the mountain weeping for Jerusalem?  I can't help but think of it.

Later, when Joseph was in control of His emotions, he came back to them.  He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.  Then he gave orders for their bags to be filled with grain.  He also instructed for each man’s silver to be put back inside their sack, and to give them provisions for their journey.  After this was done for them, they loaded their grain on their donkeys and left.

They walked a long way before nightfall.  When the evening came they stopped and one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey.  He saw his silver in the top of the sack!  “My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers.  “Here it is in my sack!”

They all begin to tremble and their hearts sank.  They knew now more than ever that they were facing the consequences of their long ago sin of selling Joseph into slavery.  They said to one another; “What is this that God has done to us?”

When they reached home they told Jacob/Israel all that had happened to them.  They said, “The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land.  But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies.  We were twelve brothers, sons of one father.  One is no more and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’  Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men:  Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.  But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men.  Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’ 

They showed the grain they had brought to Jacob/Israel and as each man emptied their sack, there was his pouch of silver!  When they and Jacob/Israel saw the money pouches they were very frightened!  Israel turned to his sons and said to them:  “You have deprived me of my children.  Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin.  Everything is against me!”

Ruben had always felt bad about Joseph.  He now felt terrible about this situation.  He said to his father:  “You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you.  Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.”

But Jacob was still unsure of the situation and he said “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left.  If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow.”

COME AS A CHILD LESSON 96 HOW JOSEPH SAVED EGYPT

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

He put his signet ring on Joseph’s finger.  Ancient kings used signet rings to designate authority, honor or ownership.  A signet contained an emblem unique to the king.  Official documents were sealed with a dollop of soft wax impressed with the king’s signet, usually kept on a ring on his finger.  Such a seal certified the document as genuine, much like a notary public’s stamp today. 

Later in biblical history we can read in Kings 21:8 of the evil Queen Jezebel taking King Arab’s signet ring and writing letters in Ahab’s name and sealing them with his seal.  The ring’s stamp gave her letters the king’s authority. 

In Daniel 6:17 a signet ring was used to seal a stone covering a lions’ den.  A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords that nothing might be charged concerning Daniel.

 A royal signet ring is also featured in Genesis 41:41 and Esther 8:8.  We read in Haggai 2:23; “On that day, declares the LORD Almighty, I will take you, my servant, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel”  declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you.”  In Haggai’s prophecy God is giving Zerubbabel encouragement and hope.  The governor is “chosen” for a unique and noble purpose. As God’s signet ring, Zerubbabel is given a place of honor and authority.  He sits in the place of the authority of God.  God is reinstating the Davidic line and renewing His covenant with David.  Judah still has a future as they look forward to the coming Son of David, the Messiah, who would one day overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.  But this is another story for another day!  

For now, just realize the power of the signet ring.  It means all authority of the King!  Joseph was given this much power over Egypt, yet he was a foreigner and a man who had educated himself after his childhood captivity and enslavement.  The one who had once been an innocent prisoner now stood with all the power of the land because of the ring on his finger. 

The fact that Pharaoh removed his own ring and placed it on Joseph’s finger also carries great significance.  It is as if this event wiped the slate clean for Joseph, and nothing would ever be held against his honor again, much like when the prodigal son came home and the happy Father gave him a ring and a robe. 

Pharaoh could have ordered another ring to be made, but he did not; he removed HIS ring and placed the only ring that made the signet within the power of Joseph.  What had once belonged only to Pharaoh now belonged equally as well to Joseph.  This showed Pharaoh’s great royal favor and was a token of the high office and great dignity to which Joseph was being promoted.

This act of “favor” has often played out down through the halls of history.  We know among the Romans when anyone was put into the equestrian order, a ring was given to him, even though originally none but knights were allowed to wear rings.  Sometimes rings were used to designate a successor in the kingdom, such as the time when Alexander was dying and he took off his ring from his finger and gave it to Perdicca and it was then understood though he did not express it, that Perdicca should become his successor.

In the Apocrypha 1 Maccabees 6 speaks of this act of the significance of rings:  “Then called he for Philip, one of his friends, who he made ruler over all his realm.  And gave him the crown, and his robe, and his signet, to the end he should bring up his son Antiochus, and nourish him up for the kingdom. 

In today's story, though Pharaoh was not pointing Joseph out as his successor to his kingdom, he did give him his ring as a mark of honor and trust.  It stood as a mark of Joseph being in place next to Pharaoh's viceroy or deputy and the ring contained all the rights for him to seal public deeds and patents.

Also, Pharaoh dressed Joseph in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain

around his neck.  Again, this was a way of showing honor and dignity and a way of proclaiming Pharaoh’s permission for Joseph to hold high power in the kingdom. 

The same honor was later bestowed upon Daniel when he revealed the meaning of the writing on the wall to the pagan king who let Jerusalem fall to waste.

Also, one cannot help but recall the story of the evil villain named Haman telling the king that one who honors him should be dressed in fine linen and given a purple robe and a gold chain and led through the city with someone proclaiming his honor.  Then the king gave it to Mordecai and crushed the evil plot of Haman to his own disgrace and he was humbled by having to lead the horse and make the public announcement. 

All through the ages rings and robes and gold chains have been used to honor men and show them in a place of authority.  One cannot help but pause here to remember how Joseph had been stripped of his beautiful coat of many colors and robbed of the heritage and authority of his Father's house as a young boy.  Now God had restored all that Joseph had lost and more.  Good men should not worry about their innocent loses; they should do as Joseph did and wait on God, who sees and knows all, to restore what was wrongfully done to them.  The scales of justice always swing around to those who follow God in due time.  

Pharaoh gave Joseph a chariot and made Joseph second in command.  When Joseph rode by people shouted “Make way!” because Joseph was in charge of all of Egypt and the people looked up to him with great respect. 

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all of Egypt.” 

Joseph was given the Egyptian name of Zaphenath-Peneah.  This name means “revealer of secrets.”  Some have even translated it to mean “Savior of the World.”  The Spirit of God in Joseph had revealed very important and valuable information, valuable enough to have saved the lives of all the people in all the land.  Pharaoh recognized this and appreciated this.  He honors Joseph with the new name and the new name commands the total respect and loyalty of the people of the land.  One day God will give each and every one of us a new name, a name that will proclaim the purposes He designed for our lives, a name that will replace the lies of the world and announce the truth of God.  A new name was an honorable thing for Joseph.  He would not longer be remembered as that slave, that prisoner, that man who had nothing.  

Joseph was given Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, as a wife. 

It would seem that Joseph had no choice in the giving of his wife, but God used this marriage to strengthen Joseph's new position as a national leader. 

The city of On was also known as Heliopolis, 'The City of the Sun.'  It was the center of worship of the sun god, Ra and it was located 10 miles northeast of modern day Cairo.  This pagan woman and her family certainly would not have been Joseph's choice had he been given power over the decision, nonetheless, it happened.  I can imagine that a few of the family gatherings might have been very uncomfortable though, and maybe the children might have been a bit sheltered from their grandfather!  Joseph certainly would have NEVER participated in any type of pagan worship.

The high priest in On, Joseph's Egyptian father-in-law held the title of "Greatest of Seers."  When Joseph married into this family, he joined a social class befitting a national leader.  Also implied in the marriage arrangement was Pharaoh's confidence that Joseph, too, was a 'seer,' or prophet, of the highest caliber.  The Egyptians believed in many gods, so they would not have thought this arrangement strange.  We do not know whether or not Asenath was truly a pagan, or if maybe there might have been a chance that she became a believer in The One True God of Joseph.  I like to hope that was the case.  At any rate, though it was a strange arrangement of a marriage, Joseph did not sin by taking Asenath as his wife.  He was given no choice in the matter.  

Further, the Old Testament Law had not yet been given.  The New Testament teachings regarding marriage did not yet exist.  There were no laws or guidelines set at the time of Joseph.  All marriages were honorable.  In addition, God worked through Joseph's marriage for it to serve as a blessing to many and to become an important part of the history of God's people.  

 Joseph was only thirty years old when he was given charge of Egypt under Pharaoh.  He began to travel throughout Egypt and during his time of reign the land produced abundantly.  When the crops came in Joseph collected all the food produced for the next seven years and stored it in the cities.  He put the food grown in the cities fields inside storage buildings within that city.  In other words, each city was commanded to store away its own grain.  

The quantities of grain Joseph stored were like the sands of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.

During these times of plenty Joseph and Asenath had two sons.

They named the first born Manasseh and Joseph said “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”  

He named the second son Ephraim and on his birth Joseph said:  “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” 

The seven years of abundance passed quickly, and just as the dream had foretold, the seven years of famine came.  There was famine in all the lands, but Egypt had food!  

When all of Egypt began to feel the famine the people cried out to Pharaoh and Pharaoh told them to go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you to do.  So Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. 

 Soon the famine spread throughout the whole world and all the people of the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph.