Written by: Elizabeth Barzell – Word for Life Trust
Genesis 47 v 1-6
Joseph went in to the king and said, “My father and my brothers have arrived
from Canaan with their flocks and herds and everything they own. They are now
in the land of Goshen.” Joseph chose five of his brothers to introduce to the
king.
The king said to the brothers, “What work do you do?”
And they said to him, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just as our ancestors
were.” They said to the king, “We have come to live in this land, because there
is no grass in the land of Canaan for our animals to eat, and the hunger is terrible
there. So please allow us to live in the land of Goshen.”
Then the king said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you,
and you may choose any place in Egypt for them to live. Give your father and
your brothers the best land; let them live in the land of Goshen. And if any
of them are skilled shepherds, put them in charge of my sheep and cattle.”
Notes
Canaan depended on rainfall each year for the water needed to grow crops, whereas
Egypt depended on the Nile river which overflowed annually and generously
watered the fields along its banks. Famine was rare in Egypt, but people
from Canaan were often depicted in ancient Egyptian records and reliefs (carved
stone paintings) arriving in Egypt to buy food in times of famine. In the
time of Joseph the Egyptians welcomed these folk, and Pharaoh's willingness
to employ and help Joseph’s brothers was not unusual.
How willing are we to share what we have in plenty with those who have little? Some of us are very active in speaking out about international injustice and the need to send food and medical supplies from one nation to another in times of need. Today let’s invite the Lord to apply this to our personal lives. Who in your family, circle of friends or wider group of acquaintances has needs which you could help to meet? What can you give and/or do to help? Perhaps you are in need yourself. To whom could you go to ask for help?
Members of the early church in Jerusalem responded cheerfully to the needs of others and “shared everything” (see Acts 4 v 32-37). This passage goes on: “No one in the group needed anything”. We Christians are called to share what we have with those in need, close and far away. Which of your possessions do you find difficult to share? Recently I lent my “new” car to someone who really needed a vehicle urgently, and it got pranged (“Ouch!”). I certainly needed the Lord’s grace as I said, “That’s OK, I forgive you.” May God help us all to become cheerful and willing “givers”.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me not to just talk about injustice but to do something
about it, and this means starting where I am. You have given me so much.
Please show me who is in need and help me to share willingly as You lead
me. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Genesis 47 v 7-12
Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and introduced him to the king, and
Jacob blessed the king.
Then the king said to Jacob, “How old are you?”
Jacob said to him, “My life has been spent wandering from place to place. It
has been short and filled with trouble—only 130 years. My ancestors lived much
longer than I.” Then Jacob blessed the king and left.
Joseph obeyed the king and gave his father and brothers the best land in Egypt,
near the city of Rameses. And Joseph gave his father, his brothers and everyone
who lived with them the food they needed.
Notes
“Then Jacob blessed the king and left.” How can we develop a lifestyle of blessing?
“As we learn to bless instead of criticising and complaining, we allow God
to work more freely in our lives” (John Kilpatrick, Pensacola, USA). We can
choose to bless situations and people, and we can even bless God. The power
of God is released when we pray prayers of blessing.
In the Old Testament, priests were responsible for blessing the people (see Numbers 6 v 27). Who are the priests today? Peter explained that we Christian believers are now “royal priests” (see 1 Peter 2 v 5-9). So we are the ones to give and receive blessings. Who are we to bless? Jesus said: “Pray for those who hurt you” (Matthew 5 v 44).
Jesus gave His life so that we can receive and give blessing. “Christ took away the curse of the law put on us. He changed places with us and put himself under that curse. It is written in the Scriptures, ‘Anyone whose body is displayed on a tree is cursed.’ Christ did this so that God’s blessing promised to Abraham might come through Jesus Christ to those who are not Jews. Jesus died so that by our believing we could receive the Spirit that God promised” (Galatians 3 v 13-14). James wrote that believers struggle to have a lifetime of blessing, and words of blessing and cursing flow from the same mouth (see James 3 v 10-11). How would you pray for someone who has been unkind or cursed you?
We bless the Lord when we recognise His goodness and love and respond with praise and worship. We also bless the Lord when we walk in love and forgiveness with one another and pray to bless each other.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of speech and prayer. Help me to be
able to bless others and to be able to forgive and bless those who persecute
and hurt me. May my life, words and prayers reflect the truth and love of
my Lord Jesus Christ, Amen
Genesis 47 v 13-17
The hunger became worse, and since there was no food anywhere in the land,
Egypt and Canaan became very poor. Joseph collected all the money that was
to be found in Egypt and Canaan. People paid for the grain they were buying,
and he brought that money to the king’s palace. After some time, when the
people in Egypt and Canaan had no money left, they went to Joseph and said,
“Please give us food. Our money is gone, and if we don’t eat, we will die
here in front of you.”
Joseph answered, “Since you have no money, give me your farm animals, and I
will give you food in return.” So people brought their farm animals to Joseph,
and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, sheep, goats, cattle and
donkeys. And he kept them alive by trading food for their farm animals that
year.
Notes
Joseph was such a practical and prayerful man in his older years. How do we
ourselves - or how do we help others - find God’s direction for our lives?
How can we know what to do in times of crisis? If we want to know God’s will
we can ask God for wisdom. So important does God consider wisdom that He
gives it to everyone who asks! (see James 1:5).
The Bible does not provide a formula for believers to follow in seeking the Lord’s guidance. Nor does it provide a list of ways in which God leads, but it does give us a clear perspective on how to approach this vital area. The Holy Spirit uses a vast number of means to guide our lives. We need to learn to recognise His guidance.
The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew and there are two Hebrew words which are vital here. Darak means being led and guided to do the right/good thing - e.g., Psalm 25 v 4-5,9: “Lord, tell me your ways. Show me how to live. Guide me in your truth, and teach me, my God, my Saviour... He shows those who are humble how to do right, and he teaches them his ways.” However, Nahal means to lead with care. See Isaiah 40 v 11 - this verse speaks of the care and love of God who watches over us and gently guides our every move.
There is another example in Exodus 13 v 21: “The Lord showed them the way; during the day he went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud…”. This incident of guidance stresses the presence of the Lord. The Lord goes on ahead - and with us - to show the way. Let’s keep in step with Him.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please help me to receive more wisdom from You, and guide
me when I need to know what to do and how best to do it. Thank You for leading
me with care, and thank You that You never leave me. Help me to recognise
Your voice, Amen
Genesis 47 v 18-22
The next year the people came to Joseph and said, “You know we have no money
left, and all our animals belong to you. We have nothing left except our
bodies and our land. Surely both we and our land will die here in front of
you. Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we will be slaves to the
king, together with our land. Give us seed to plant so that we will live
and not die, and the land will not become a desert.”
So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for the king. Every Egyptian sold Joseph
his field, because the hunger was very great. So the land became the king’s,
and Joseph made the people slaves from one end of Egypt to the other. The only
land he did not buy was the land the priests owned. They did not need to sell
their land because the king paid them for their work. So they had money to
buy food.
Notes
Once again we see Joseph being practical. However, we also know that, although
this plan helped the immediate situation, in future generations the Israelites
would be treated very badly as slaves and would again need to be guided by
God to escape from Egypt. Remember Moses and the crossing of the Red Sea
as the Israelite slaves escaped from their captors.
Sometimes in hindsight we can see that what seemed a good idea at the time has not turned out as we expected or hoped. However, Paul wrote: “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called, because that was his plan... So what should we say about this? If God is with us, no one can defeat us” (Romans 8 v 28,31). Do you believe and live in the truth of these verses, or are you often overcome by the troubles and suffering of this life and fall into self-pity? Do you know that God truly is working for good in your life and loves you continually? Or when suffering comes, do you keel over and panic? Be honest with yourself and with God. Please also think of the people you have turned to for help in preference to seeking the Lord. We need to resolve to seek the Lord first; to lean on Him and not on others.
I believe that God wants us, His people, to show reliance on Him by requesting His specific guidance when we have any decisions to take. The act of inquiring of God reveals that we believe that God is interested in us, involved in our lives and has given us faith to seek His leading and to show us His best way and plan for our future.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please guide me to the purposes and plans You have for me.
Help me to recognise Your voice and speak to me in whatever way You choose.
Please increase my faith and help me to trust that You work for good in all
circumstances of my life, Amen
Genesis 47 v 23-26
Joseph said to the people, “Now I have bought you and your land for the king,
so I will give you seed and you can plant your fields. At harvest time you
must give one-fifth to the king. You may keep four-fifths for yourselves
to use as seed for the field and as food for yourselves, your families and
your children.”
The people said, “You have saved our lives. If you like, we will become slaves
of the king.”
So Joseph made a law in Egypt, which continues today: one-fifth of everything
from the land belongs to the king. The only land the king did not get was the
priests’ land.
Notes
“So Joseph made a law in Egypt, which continues today...” This is historically
proved. From the time recorded in this chapter, the Pharaohs were considered
owners of all the land and properties of Egypt. The independence of the priests
of Egypt is also attested by historical records. These facts all help to
increase our faith in God and our knowledge that the Bible is true.
The following was given to me by my father when I was about to leave home and move to college. He said he found it in a leadership book but did not remember its title:
“Opportunity: You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don’t
take.
Achievement: Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered,
you will never grow.
Contribution: Some people dream of contribution, while others wake up and work
hard at it.
Courage: Courage does not always roar; sometimes it is the quiet voice at the
end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow.
Never give up: Go over, go under, go around, or go through, but never give
up.
And lastly, character: Every person is the architect of their own character.
Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do, is who you become.”
This anonymous quote sits very well with Romans 12 v 2, which in the Good News Bible is entitled, “Life in God’s service”: “Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” The Bible is God’s true word and is just as relevant today as when first written.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your written word, the Bible. Thank
You that You have amazingly made it relevant to people of all races, ages
and generations. Help me to understand its truths and apply them to my life.
Please renew my mind, in Jesus’ name, Amen
Genesis 47 v 27-31
The Israelites continued to live in the land of Goshen in Egypt. There they
gained possessions and had many children and grew in number.
Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, so he lived to be 147 years old. When
Israel knew he soon would die, he called his son Joseph to him and said to
him, “If you love me, put your hand under my leg. Promise me you will not bury
me in Egypt. When I die, carry me out of Egypt, and bury me where my ancestors
are buried.”
Joseph answered, “I will do as you say.”
Then Jacob said, “Promise me.” And Joseph promised him that he would do this.
Then Israel worshipped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
Notes
“Promise me you will not bury me in Egypt.” Jacob (also called Israel) now
believed fully in the promises and purposes of God. Jacob’s roots were in
Canaan and he knew from the vision God had given him that one day there would
be a Jewish homeland established there. He was therefore able to face his
own death with peace and security that God’s purposes would be fulfilled.
How do you feel about death? As Christians we have a glorious future. Because Jesus died for us, because the Father adopted us, because the Spirit is given to us, there is now no question! We are heirs of the Father and all the blessings of eternal life are for us. We do not need to return to Canaan but we go onwards to heaven in God’s timing.
Until then, mortality (being alive on planet earth) means suffering, for us and for nature. Sometimes our sufferings seem very significant and impossibly hard to bear. However, God, the Holy Spirit “helps us in our weakness”, and as we read before: “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8 v 28). This does not mean that everything that happens to us is good. There’s far too much pain in the world for that to be true, but Paul writes that God is at work in all things, joys and suffering. As we read on, Paul tells us what God’s good is: likeness to Jesus.
What a wonderful thought and exciting destiny! God wants us to be like Jesus. And He is committed to transform us into Christ’s likeness. Even suffering, if it helps us to learn Christ-likeness, is a blessing from the Lord, and Jesus will be with us in every circumstance, joy and suffering.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that You have plans to bless and give me a hope
and a future. Help me to know that when I die I have a glorious future awaiting
me with You in heaven. May this hope strengthen me in times of trouble. In
Jesus’ name, Amen
Genesis 48 v 1-7
Some time later Joseph learned that his father was very sick, so he took his
two sons Manasseh and Ephraim and went to his father. When Joseph arrived,
someone told Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” Jacob was weak,
so he used all his strength and sat up on his bed.
Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land
of Canaan and blessed me there. He said to me, ‘I will give you many children.
I will make you the father of many peoples, and I will give your descendants
this land for ever.’ Your two sons, who were born here in Egypt before I came,
will be counted as my own sons. Ephraim and Manasseh will be my sons just as
Reuben and Simeon are my sons. But if you have other children, they will be
your own, and their land will be part of the land given to Ephraim and Manasseh.
When I came from North West Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Canaan,
as we were travelling towards Ephrath. This made me very sad, and I buried
her there beside the road to Ephrath.” (Today Ephrath is Bethlehem.)
Notes
“Your two sons … will be counted as my own sons.” The twelve tribes of Israel
are frequently described in the Bible, and I always used to find this very
confusing because when I compared lists there are actually thirteen tribal
groups. Levi is not included in some lists; this tribe was called to provide
priests and worship leaders. On other lists, the tribe of Levi is included
and Dan’s tribe is omitted. It’s all explained by this passage. What happened
is that Jacob adopted Manasseh and Ephraim, and these two sons of Joseph
became heads of two tribes and the name “Joseph” was dropped. Thus thirteen
tribes!
I believe this detail helps us when we see someone else getting the credit for what we have done when we ourselves have been unnoticed or unremembered. Genesis reminds us that contribution is more important than recognition. God never slumbers or sleeps and He knows all we think and do. When others forget to thank us, God notices and does not forget. One day when we meet Him face to face we may be privileged to hear Him say: “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
When I was a theological student, one professor said: “God does not call you to be successful, God calls you to be faithful.” Sometimes God gives precise instructions for our lives, as with Noah for the building of the floating ark. But when the Lord called Abraham to move to a new country He didn't give precise details. Abraham had to keep following one step at a time, and when he wandered off track the Lord guided him carefully back. God loves us more deeply than we can ever imagine and He sees all that we do for Him - and calls us to obedience.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that You love me and watch over me all the time.
You have called me to be faithful and obedient. Help me to respond with willingness.
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and come and reign in my life today and always,
in Jesus’ name, Amen
word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes