Highlights of Obama’s Presidency

Barack Hussein Obama II, became the 44th President of the United States on January 20, 2009. In response to the Great Recession, President Obama signed into law economic stimulus legislation in the form of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010.

Other major domestic initiatives in his first term included the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, often referred to as “Obamacare”; the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; and the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010. Obama signed executive orders to limit carbon emissions and protect many illegal immigrants from deportation. Obama signed a major bipartisan bill that reduced the role of the federal government in K-12 education. In January 2011, he signed the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. President Obama also appointed Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court.

In foreign policy, Obama ended U.S. military involvement in the Iraq War, increased U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan, signed the New START arms control treaty with Russia, ordered U.S. military involvement in Libya and ordered the military operation that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

During his second term, President Obama has promoted domestic policies related to gun control, and has called for greater inclusiveness for LGBT Americans. His administration filed legal briefs urging the Supreme Court to strike down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and make state level same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional. In foreign policy, Obama ordered U.S. military intervention in Iraq in response to gains made by ISIL after the 2011 withdrawal from Iraq, continued the process of ending U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan, promoted discussions that led to the 2015 Paris Agreement on global climate change, brokered a nuclear deal with Iran, and normalized U.S. relations with Cuba.

A New Administration

Despite all of these actions, promises of change, and the forming of alliances to protect our country from terrorism, we continue to live in a world of violence, and trouble. However, we have been given the assurance by God that His everlasting kingdom will soon be established on this earth. This kingdom, based on a new administration under the leadership of His son Jesus, will bless all of the families of the earth. Christ will be “the Sun of righteousness” who shall “arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2) As the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace,” Christ and his church will bring joy, peace, and everlasting life to all who wish to live on a restored, perfect earth forever. In Christ’s kingdom, the earth shall be full of “the knowledge of the Lord.”—Isaiah 11:6-9, NASB

For additional information please see our related booklets and videos below.

Booklet
Christ's 1000 Year Kingdom
Christ’s 1000 Year Kingdom
Video
God's Promised Blessings to All Nations
God’s Promised Blessings to All Nations
Video
The Times of Restitution of All Things
The Times of Restitution of All Things
Booklet
kingdom_cover
Kingdom of God
Video
Bright Hope for the World
Bright Hope for the World
Video
The Way of Holiness
Way of Holiness
Booklet
Peace Through Christ's Kingdom
Peace Through Christ’s Kingdom

Copyright: americanspirit / 123RF Stock Photo

Joseph

As we study various characters in the Bible, we look to see how they were led of God, how they might inspire us, and how they reflect our Lord Jesus’ character since many figures in the Bible are referred to, or picture our Lord Jesus.

What would you do if your brothers hated you so much that they sold you into slavery? How would you respond if you were accused falsely of a crime that you did not commit and then thrown into jail for two years? Then, just as suddenly you were vindicated and not just recovered but given great authority and power. Would you exact revenge on the truly guilty parties or would you show mercy?

Out of jealousy Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. God overruled this experience because we know that the majority of the brothers wanted to kill him. Joseph ended up in the hands of Potiphar, a wealthy Egyptian. When Potiphar’s wife made advances toward him, Joseph resisted. Angered, she lied and told Potiphar that Joseph attacked her. Potiphar believed his wife and put Joseph in prison. There, Joseph waited for two years until Pharaoh sent for him to interpret his dream.

Joseph was favored of God and proved his loyalty. He trusted God and waited patiently for deliverance from prison. Even with his brothers, he did not return evil for evil. “You intended to harm me but God intended it for good . . . the saving of many lives.” (Gen. 50:20, New International Version) So too with our Lord Jesus. “When he was reviled, [he] reviled not again.” (1 Pet. 2:23) Ever faithful, Jesus said “not my will, but thine, be done.”—Luke 22:42

Joseph was brought to the throne of Egypt because it was God’s will. Neither Potiphar’s wife nor his brothers’ evil intentions could interfere with that. God used the natural course of events to test (and demonstrate) his servant’s obedience, faithfulness, and love for him. Similarly, Jesus suffered, proving his obedience and love for God and his plan. As a result, God highly exalted him with power to bless the world in due time.—1 Tim. 2:6

Illustration copyright

Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’s Dream

In Genesis chapter 41 we find that Pharaoh had two dreams and he was troubled greatly by them. He sent for all of the magicians and wise men of Egypt to interpret his dreams but none were able. Then Pharaoh’s chief butler, who had been in prison with Joseph, remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream, and the interpretation had come true! The butler told Pharaoh about Joseph, and Pharaoh had Joseph brought out of prison to interpret his dreams. In response, Joseph humbly said, “It is not in me: but God will give Pharaoh an answer.”—Gen. 41:16

Pharaoh’s first dream had seven fat cows followed by seven lean cows. The second dream had seven full ears of corn followed by seven thin ears. In the dreams, the lean cows devoured the fat cows and the thin ears of corn devoured the full ears of corn. Joseph said, “God has showed Pharaoh what he is about to do.” (Gen. 41:25) The dreams meant the same thing: seven years of an abundant harvest followed by seven years of famine in the land of Egypt.

In response to the interpretation, and Joseph’s suggestion that Pharaoh appoint a man to collect the surplus for the coming famine, Pharaoh made Joseph ruler over his whole kingdom and gave him a new name, Zaphnath-paaneah, meaning “bread of life.” Joseph stored the surplus food from the years of plenty so, when the famine came, no one died from starvation. He became the life giver of Egypt, a type of the greater life giver, THE CHRIST, who will reign supreme and will provide a complete provision of the bread of life for every member of our race in his kingdom. In Jesus was life, and he gave it on behalf of Adam and all mankind.

During the Gospel Age, only Jesus’ followers have fed on this bread, to be developed as a member of Christ’s body and, if faithful, glorified together with him in heaven. Then in the Millennial Age during Christ’s earthly kingdom, the world will hunger after righteousness. Christ and his body members (his bride, the church), will dispense to all mankind, the bread of life they will need to gain everlasting life.

Illustration copyright

Israel Goes to Egypt

Israel was the name given to Jacob at the time he wrestled with the angel at Peniel. Later, Israel was used as the name of the Hebrew nation and, in Genesis 49:28, the twelve tribes of Israel. In Genesis 42, we have the account when Israel was an old man, and a drought came over Egypt and all the neighboring countries, including Canaan where Israel was living with his eleven sons. The drought lasted many years and was so severe that no crops could grow. When their supply of grain was depleted and Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other? . . . I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”—Gen. 42:1,2, New International Version

By God’s providence, Joseph already lived in Egypt, and had been elevated to the highest position next to the Pharaoh, with supreme authority and rulership. Joseph’s brothers visited Egypt twice to procure food. During their second visit, Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers and invited the entire family to come and settle in Goshen. When the brothers brought news of Joseph back to Jacob, he said, “It is enough; my son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”—Gen. 45:28, New American Standard Bible

With his entire household of seventy persons, Jacob left his native land, but not before he had visited Beer-Sheba, where he offered sacrifices to God. Here, God appeared to him and told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt, because God would be with him and eventually turn his small family into a great nation.—Gen. 46:1-3

After they arrived (Genesis 47:1, Good News Bible), Joseph went to see Pharaoh and told him, “My father and my brothers have arrived from the land of Canaan. They have come with all their flocks, their herds and all that they own. They are now in the region of Goshen.” Pharaoh was pleased with Joseph’s brothers, and honored five of them by appointing them as overseers of his domestic concerns. Jacob, who seemed to be dying for years, lived longer than he expected. For seventeen years in Egypt, Jacob continued to put his faith and trust in God and enjoyed his remaining years in peace and safety with his twelve sons and their families.

Illustration copyright