Genesis 47: 13-26

Genesis 47:13-26 (summarized)

There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace. As people ran out of money, they came before Joseph and asked for food. Joseph advised them to bring their livestock to him in exchange of food.  After a year, the people’s livestock all became Pharaoh’s. Famine was still observed so the people presented themselves to Joseph saying, “there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other. However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land. Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.” “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.

Message:

These verses made me understand the idea – God-given wisdom and special abilities are the foundation of efficient governance. Joseph was provided discernment by God and was given training in management, trading and some other skills by Pharaoh. A combination of these enabled Joseph to save his family and all others from a dreadful situation. At the time that people had no other option but to hold on to Joseph’s leadership and provisions, the man did not take advantage of the opportunity. Instead, he analytically decided on circumstances and carried out all of his tasks with excellence, thus making each person equally benefit from his service and the land’s produce. The ideas of proper food storage, bartering, and giving fifth of the harvest to the landowner were established by Joseph. These saved people from starvation and these ideas have become part of the system and are still observed today.

Application:

Using my God-given ability and acquired proficiencies, I will serve the schools where I am employed and the people who may be needing my help. I will always pray for God’s guidance to enable myself to serve everyone in a manner God requires me to.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for the enlightenment. Thank you for making me understand that You gave me a special ability to serve Your other creations, that I must use it together with my spiritual convictions so that better and beneficial results would be attained not only for my own gain Lord but for others’ as well. Lord, I don’t have Joseph’s discernment but I do have faith in You Lord and this I must employ as my guide in dealing with circumstances concerning leading people, managing resources and serving others. Father, guide me as I fulfill all these. This I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.