Freedom
The extent of the authority for the Project Manager is "the land of Egypt." Of course, there is no way to deliver a nation without having authority over all of it. This plan cannot just be applied to a few cities. It must involve the whole nation. This is the concept of freedom, which is provided by true authority. The military establishment protects the external borders of a nation. The law enforcement agencies and the business establishment protect the internal borders. The business establishment provides freedom for employees and customers.
Free enterprise must be free. But if it is under the power of Satan, it is not free. The employees are not free; and the customers who buy products conceived and dedicated to the purpose of evil are not free. The only way to run a business in free enterprise is to run it under legitimate authority. That means that God has to sponsor the project. "There is no authority except from God" (
Rom. 13:1a).
A good project, as well as a good product, must meet the needs of mankind. This is the purpose of business and the purpose of government. Joseph's project will prevent the nation of Egypt from starving. The part of the human body that corresponds to freedom is the part under the head - the neck. The yoke around the neck symbolizes loss of freedom (
Gen. 27:40;
Deut. 28:48;
Isa 10:27;
Jer 27:1-11, 30:8;
Lam 1:14). The picture shows the neck (freedom) in relation to the head (authority). The succeeding verses explain the other points in Joseph's pitch as shown on the picture.
