JOSEPH SERIES: MEETINGS, BLESSINGS, AND PROSPERITY

In Genesis 46, in his last communication with his brothers, Joseph instructed them what to say about their occupation when introducing them to Pharaoh. However, in Genesis 47, when he took five of his brothers to meet Pharaoh and Pharaoh asked them their occupation, they did not follow Joseph’s instruction. The brothers told Pharaoh what they were instructed not to say,” Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants’ dwell in the land of Goshen.” Pharaoh responds by reiterating his offer of residency in Goshen’s land and employment positions of overseeing his cattle.

Next, Joseph brought his father Jacob to meet Pharaoh and Jacob greeted Pharaoh with a blessing. Jacob shares with Pharaoh a bit of his pilgrimage, which he describes as “Few and evil,” and Jacob again blessed Pharaoh before departing.

As the famine years progressed, the Egyptians spent all their monies purchasing corn, then sold their cattle for corn, next they sold their land to buy corn, and finally sold themselves into slavery for food. Except for the land where the priest resided, Joseph was able to obtain all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, and he moved the people into designated cities. When the famine ended, Joseph gave the Egyptians seeds that they could grow the crop. He taxed them one-fifth of their increase and allowed them to keep the remainder for which they were thankful and willing to do.

The chapter ends by disclosing that the Israelites grew and multiplied exceedingly, and Jacob lived in Egypt, enjoying his fatherly relationship with Joseph for seventeen years. As he got close to death, he made this request to Joseph, “If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph complied, and satisfied Jacob bowed his head in worship.

So, once again, as I did in the previous blogs of this series, I will close this blog with points that I think are helpful for all of us to remember:

1. When someone who is informed about a situation shares relevant information with you, listen
2. Do as you are instructed.
3. In times of famine, God blesses His people with housing, provision, and employment.
4. One of the honors you can bestow on someone is a blessing.
5. Some hardships that we experience in life are self-imposed.
6. God will cause great men to favor you.
7. Countries suffer during times of famine.
8. A famine can cause you to lose everything that is important to you.
9. One man’s loss is another man’s gain.
10. Don’t touch the priest stuff.
11. When able give to the needy.
12. Be thankful when people are kind to you.
13. Taxation was implemented in the days of Joseph.
14. God’s plan is for His people to grow and multiply.
15. Give instructions for your burial to a responsible person.