FIVE TYPES OF MANTLES THAT JOSEPH WORN: REV V.J. SIGUDLA
GENESIS 37:1-10
1. INTORODUCTION
Quite intriguing to know that a mantle is the sign of Power, Authority, status, anointing, recognition and setting apart of a person.
In all walks of life, people are recognised through these garments of honor, garments of shame such as with the inmates, garments of horror or terror as you come across robbers with face cloth that covers them from recognition. Football clubs with their beautiful soccer outfit, political parties with their political parties outfit. Majors and army generals, and Air commanders etc., all these people bear a mark and brand of who they are and represent. Throughout the Holy Scriptures we see the same scenarios as far as mantles or garments of honor and dishonour are concerned.
• Prostitutes had their own garments that made them to be recognised even today these garments tells you as you drive around South Africa, that these ladies are prostitutes.
• Gays have their own way of dressing
• Schools have their own school uniforms
• Hospitals and clinics have their own mantles
• Kings and Queens are recognised with some special dresses they are always wearing.
How you dress tells us something about you even if it is not all about you. bit by bit it will unfold who you are through the manner in which you wear. Parents also need to take serious care how your children wear from home. It is not the parents who chose the clothes but it is the children. As a parent check what kind of clothes these children boys and girls brings at home after shopping.
2. JOSEPH SPECIAL MANTLE OF RECOGNITION AS A DREAMER.
Something important about these mantles is that you do not make them yourselves, other people make them for you or you copy them from other people and nations
2.1. Joseph’s father made the mantle for Joseph and it was a garment to introduce him to his brothers as a dreamer.
2.2. This garment caused lot of hatred amongst the brothers.
2.3. This garment caused separation between Joseph and his brothers.
2.4. This garment caused ill-feelings amongst the same blood brothers.
2.5. This garment caused a long time separation between Joseph and his brothers.
2.6. His Father put it on Joseph and his brothers took it off from him in the Shechem.
2.7. This was the end of the first episode about the garment of honor; the garment introduced Joseph to a pit. Wrong English wording Joseph was PITTED. Because of this mantle.
2.8. The plan of God was to bring Joseph to this transition to yet another place or level.
2.9. Most of us have gone through this experience
3. JOSEPH SECOND MANTLE [SPECIAL SLAVE MANTLE]
3.1. Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites. His cousins since his brothers could not contain him. They are the sons of Ishmael the son of Abraham, thus they were his official cousins.
3.2. In Egypt he was bought as a special slave in the house of Pharaoh the king.
3.3. He was still wearing this special slave mantle or garment.
3.4. When pharaoh’s wife saw Joseph, the mantle made him very special and God was with him though he was far away from his blood brothers.
3.5. The woman demanded favour from Joseph and Joseph realised in the plan of God there was no woman to be favoured.
3.5.1. Check on your God given plan that you do not allow things to destroy God’s for your life as Joseph did.
3.5.2. If it comes to a push run away from those things that want to destroy God’s plan in your life.
3.5.3. Joseph left the mantle in the hand of this woman who wanted wrong favour from Joseph.
3.5.4. That mantle of a Special Slave introduced Joseph the world of lusts and he was able to overcome by running away and the Mantle was left there. That very mantle was used as a wrong witness or testimony by the woman of lust as he said to his husband” Look at the garment of this Hebrew slave who wanted to molest me” The king believe without any investigation.
3.5.5. Joseph was thrown alive in jail and given another mantle of prison.
3.5.6. Wrong English wording Joseph was POTTED. Put into a jail pot were his character was to be cooked.
4. THE THIRD MANTLE FOR JOSEPH WAS JAIL GARMENT.
4.1. The mantle was put on him again by a jail official.
4.2. Soon the jail official saw something special in the life of Joseph.
4.3. The jail official soon promoted Joseph to take care of all the prisoners.
4.4. The mantle will always speak on your behalf.
4.5. There inside the jail, two in one prisoners came into the jail. The baker standing for “Bread” and the Cup Bearer who stood for “Wine” two in one, Jesus the bread of life that was broken for our sins and the cup of wine that stands for the blood of Jesus that was poured out for the forgiveness of our sins.
4.6. The Baker was told that in three days’ time he will be killed and the Cup bearer was told that in three days’ time he will be released.
4.7. Remember Jesus the bread of life was broken for our sins, hence the Baker was killed.
4.8. Joseph met the two in one persons in Jail. Jesus is everywhere with us no matter which place.
4.9. Joseph made a plea to be remembered and he was never remembered until two years have passed.
WHY TWO YEARS. JOSEPH WAS PUTTED. [Wrong English wording]
4.9.1. Time was not yet ready for Joseph to be heard by the king and the Egyptians.
4.9.2. God is the God of time and not of mistakes, he is never too early nor too late.
4.9.3. Joseph had to wait for God to prepare the ground and after the ground was prepared, Joseph was released.
5. THE MANTLE OF STEPPING OUT OF JAIL. GENESIS 41:14 [fourth]
Pharaoh’s Dreams
1Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. 2In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. 3Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. 4Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up.
Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh. 15Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.”
16“It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”
5.1. Joseph had to wait until someone dreamed and there was no interpreter of the king’s dream.
5.2. He was then remembered and he was immediately fetched.
5.3. Joseph shaved and changed his clothes. verse 14
5.3.1. The shaving means removing all the past disturbances.
5.3.2. Shaving means I am clean from all things that hurt me.
5.3.3. He then himself changed the prison garment, no one changed it, but he himself changed the evil mantle.
5.3.4. It was indeed the end of the evil mantle.
6. THE FINAL MANTLE OF LEADERSHIP.[ the fifth]
37Joseph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials. 38So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40You will be in charge of my court and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” GENESIS 41:37-40NLT
41Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.” 42Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck. 43Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44And Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt without your approval.” GENESIS 41: 41-44 NLT
6.1. Joseph was finally dressed with the last mantle of authority. Verse 42.
6.2. Joseph was now powerful than ever before in a foreign land.
6.3. Joseph was in full charge of the land of Egypt since the king and the people were now ready to be led by this man. The problem with us as Christians we want to lead people who are not yet ready either we too are not yet ready character-wise to take the leadership.
6.4. Let us allow God to lead the way and humble us as needed.
6.5. Finally his name was also changed and was called with another name. Verse 45
45Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah.[ Jewish legends say each letter of Joseph’s Egyptian name means something. Linking them all together, the name is “Seer – redeemer – prophet – supporter – interpreter of dreams – clever – discreet – wise.”
He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of on.
6.6. He also was given a wife and many other things as a leader.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you. Matt 6: 33”
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