And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families. And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's.
And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's. And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. (Gen 47:12-14, 16-17, 19-20, 26-28)
After moving his family into Goshen, Joseph settled down to the business of managing the grain storehouses and feeding the people of Israel and Egypt. He expertly managed their wealth; money, then cattle, then land, even the people themselves until Pharoah owned or managed all of it, except that which belonged to the priests, since that was already his or left for their wages. Joseph instituted a system of servitude and taxation that many have copied without the reasons for it.
Joseph has grown up, his family has settled down and both seemed to have learned from their earlier sIn and character flaws. Joseph is no longer young, brash, and arrogant, his brothers are no tolerant and accepting, even somewhat repentant of their earlier attacks against those that they disagreed with. Joseph has now learned to manage situations without using people, and his brothers are realizing the consequences of their actions. GOD is in the midst of it all, teaching and correcting those that He cares for, as a good father.
GOD is a perfect Father, and cares perfectly for those who are His. His chastens those that stray, and teaches all of His own from His Word. His Spirit speaks to us, never telling us anything that goes against His Word, to guide and direct, and accomplish His Will. He is conforming those that are His to the image of His dear Son, Jesus Christ, until the day He takes all His children Home to be with Him.
Until that day, we, the Church, who are His, are commissioned by Him, under direct command from the commander of the Lord's Army, to minister to the hurting as He gives the increase, to disciple one another in love and His Word, and to proclaim the Good News of Salvation through faith in the finished and perfect work of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary, to all whom we meet, and as we go, share the Gospel so that those who hear may believe, and believing have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD took your place, and you must trust what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided for Israel and Egypt through Joseph, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new heart in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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