January 14, 2024
Reading: Genesis 41:41-57
Focus: Genesis 41:46 – Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt.
Father God, Thank You for all of Your blessings to us. Help us to be aware that we need to be like Joseph. Preparing for the days of need that are to come. Help us to be hope to those in need. In Jesus Name, Amen
When we left Joseph, he had just been raised from being a slave to being the second most powerful person in all of Egypt. That’s some serious corporate ladder climbing, right? But with the position came great responsibility. Now Joseph had to put the ideas which he had told Pharoah of into action. Joseph was not going to be fumbling around in the dark here. God had put him into all the positions he had been in to train for just this moment. First, he worked in Potiphar’s household. Not a huge undertaking but Joseph learned to manage a household. Then, Joseph went to prison where he became the manager of the prison. Here he learned to manage a much larger “household” (for want of a better word). Now, after thirteen years, Joseph has been positioned to care for an entire nation. To prepare for a time when food would be scarce, if not non-existent.
Personally, it would be a daunting task for anyone to take on, but Joseph was ready. Besides all he had learned in those thirteen years of household and prison management, Joseph also had to learn, and learn quickly, things like diplomacy, legislation, communication, negotiation, transportation, safe and efficient methods of food storage, building, economic strategizing and forecasting, record-keeping, payroll, the handling of transactions both by means of currency and through bartering, human resources, and the acquisition of real estate. He also had to learn to be a politician. He was literally thrown into the fire here. He had lived in Egypt all those years, but his world had been small and controlled by others. Now he was in control, and everyone was looking to him.
OK, Joseph, take a deep breath. What do you do next? The last sentence of Genesis 41:45 says, “. . . and Joseph went thorough out the land of Egypt.” That is exactly what he did. He toured the entire nation. He needed to know the people who grew the food, the locations of the fields, orchards and vineyards, the types of crops, roads and rivers and all of the types of transportation available. He had to know what storage facilities were currently available and how much more would need to be built to accommodate the increased harvests. He had to centralize the distribution and yet, at the same time, had to make sure that all villages and cities were equally provided for, even in the remotest areas. The food had to be equitably distributed according to need during the famine. Property management and real estate acquisition was also on his agenda as well. He literally became the head of Agriculture and Revenue for Egypt. I have no doubt that there were some that opposed his strategies but being second-in-command to Pharoah trumped all that opposition. I am sure that some officials thought Joseph was a little off in the head when he told them the numbers and sizes of the storehouses that would need to be built.
How did Joseph pull this off? Pharoah, because of Joseph’s interpretation of his dreams, placed his trust in Joseph. He raised him to a position that answered only to Pharoah. Pharoah acknowledged that God was with Joseph. He trusted that Joseph would keep his faith in his God and do the right thing for Egypt. Joseph’s leadership preserved Egypt during the 7 years of famine. This trust by the Pharoah was passed down to the people. They took their lead from Pharoah’s decision and also gave their trust to Joseph. This willingness to cooperate sparked community among the people. They came together and worked to prepare for the lean times to come. This enabled Egypt to become a regional power and trade center and they were able to assist their neighbors during the famine.
The Egyptians knew how to dry grain in such a way that it could be stored for long periods of time. Joseph took advantage of these methods. They also dried and preserved items like meats, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables. Many examples of these preserved foods have been found in tombs that have been explored. Methods of curing fish have been found in tomb hieroglyphics. I would not find it surprising to learn that, along with the grain mentioned in the Bible, meats, poultry, fish, fruits and vegetables had also been preserved and stored for use during the seven years of famine. Recently, grain silos have been discovered that could have been some of those built by Joseph. The silos contained some of the grain stored there. These silos were built to be airtight. Airtight silos protected the preserved food from the elements, pests, mold and mildew.
The seven years of plenty probably seemed to pass by swiftly. Time flies when you’re having fun, right? Now comes the famine. The people cried out to Pharoah who sent them to Joseph. That’s why Joseph was in the position he was. For such a time as this. Now, all the hard work of harvesting, preserving and storage was going to be put to the test.
Since my purpose is to point out pictures of Christ on this website, let me tell you that this passage is chock full. I see Jesus Christ all throughout these few verses.
- Let’s start at verse 46 – “Joseph was thirty years old . . .” when he began his service to the Pharoah. Jesus was thirty when He began His teaching to the Jews.
- Joseph was harvesting grain for the future famine. Jesus called the fields ‘white for harvest’ (John 4:34). Jesus came to bring people into the ‘storehouse’ of salvation.
- Pharoah said of Joseph, “I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.” Of Jesus we read, “Thou didst set Him over the works of Thy hands.”
- Joseph said, “God hath made me lord of all Egypt” and we know Christ as “Lord over all.”
- Joseph was arrayed in royal vesture by Pharoah. Jesus Christ is crowned with glory and honor by God.
- When Joseph was paraded before the people, “And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” (Genesis 41:43) When Jesus Christ returns, “So that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” (Philippians 2:10).
- Joseph, alone, was seen distributing bread to a starving world. Jesus, alone, distributes the Bread of Life to all seekers.
- Joseph’s Egyptian name ‘Zaphenath-Paneah’ means “revealer of secrets.” Jesus Christ after He was rejected by His own brethren became the Revealer of secrets and the Savior of the world.
- Joseph was the savior of the known world during a time of absolute famine. Jesus is the Savior of all the world.
- Joseph had the resources to meet the needs of the people. Jesus has the power, riches and resources of heaven and all eternity to meet all of our needs.
We, as Christians, must be Joseph to our communities. There is coming a time of famine and poverty that this country has never seen. Already there are stores in this country that have shelves that are empty of food and other necessities of life. There are Christians who are saying that God has told them to “Prepare, Prepare, Prepare.” Our churches must become beacons of hope shining to our neighbors. Most churches think of missions as being overseas in other countries but Jesus, Himself, said it this way, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). Note that Jerusalem, home, is listed first. This is not just telling others about Jesus. This is being Jesus’ hands and feet and reaching out to meet the needs of others around us. We need to build storehouses that will be used, now and later, to help those in need. To feed our church, our families and our communities when there is no food to be had. We need to plan as Joseph did. And not just food. The basic necessities of life will be needed as well. Hygiene products, baby needs, adult hygiene needs and other items that will be in short supply.
It is my belief that our planet is winding down to the Tribulation. Pestilence is already spreading in waves across our planet. Famine and hunger will follow. I do not know when those days will actually arrive but we must be as prepared as Joseph was for ourselves and for those who will need food and basic life needs. And we must be prepared for as long as we are able. As I said before, there are cities that even now are suffering food shortages. Christians everywhere are being told by God that we need to prepare and stock up, not only for ourselves but for our families, our churches and our communities.
I have the strongest feeling that we have almost arrived at the end of the years of plenty and the years of famine are rapidly coming our way. As the church, we must be like Joseph. Building and filling storehouses to take care of us in the lean times to come. I am not the only one who has had this revelation.
I don’t want to scare you but at the same time I do want to scare you. I want you to KNOW that we are heading for a food crisis that we have never experienced before. It is already a reality in many places here in the United States. I can’t adequately express the feelings of urgency that I have about this. Prophecy from Christians I know is telling me that we need to prepare and very soon.
Are we the wise virgins or the foolish ones? Will we be prepared or will we be caught short?
Father God, Help us to be like Joseph. Help us to be ready for a time of famine. Help us to prepare well enough to be ready to serve others as You did. Bless the ‘loaves and fishes’ we collect to feed and care
for others. Help us to be willing to serve as Joseph did. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Food for Thought
- What would have happened if Joseph hadn’t accepted Pharoah’s promotion?
- What skills do you think Joseph developed while he was a slave?.
- Do you believe that we are facing an end-times famine in the near future? Why or why not?
- Would you build a storehouse against future famine? Why or why not?
- Can we be a Joseph in our church and communities? How?
