Genesis 47:1-31

God is a protector and a provider.  When the famine of the land threatened to take the lives of so many in both Canaan and Egypt; God had a plan.  He had sent Joseph ahead in order to use him to protect and provide for the people.  God opened the doors, God gave the wisdom and God, once again, demonstrated to all of us that He is worthy of all of our faith and trust.
JOSEPH PROVIDED FOR HIS FAMILY: The land of Egypt was under Joseph’s control and he was very well aware of both his family’s needs as well as the Egyptian culture.  The land of Goshen would give them room for their livestock on fertile soil as well as provide a physical separation between them and the Egyptians who would have been offended by their farming practices.  God really does know all that we need and what would be best for us.  He is also completely able to meet those needs according to all of His riches.  There is really no need for us to worry or fret over these things.  We have and all powerful God who is perfectly aware of all of our circumstances.  We really can trust Him and rest in Him.  Our job is to trust and obey.  His job is to provide and protect.  If He fails to provide what we think He should; we must trust Him knowing that this if for His glory and our eternal good.
JOSEPH PURCHASED THE NATION: The people of Egypt spent all of their money on the grain Joseph had stored.  Then they traded all of their livestock.  Next they traded all of their land.  Finally, they sold themselves as slaves.  Once Pharaoh officially owned everything, Joseph settled the people on the land gave them seed and told them to plant and allowed them to keep 80% of all they grew.  Basically, Joseph instituted in Egypt a 20% income tax rate that was applied across the board.  I think the IRS could learn something for this system.  Once again provision was made for the people and they were able to prosper in accordance with their work.  Joseph knew that it was of no use to have a nation of slaves who worked at nothing.  Caring for them all would have been impossible and the nation would have fallen apart.  Joseph instituted a work based incentive that promised to reward those who worked hard.  God wants us to be workers.
JOSEPH PROMISED HIS FATHER: As Jacob got older, he realized that he would soon be dead.  Prior to his death he made Joseph promise not to bury his body in Egypt.  Jacob knew that the land he had been promised would eventually belong to his descendents.  He continued to believe and trust in the promises of God right up to his death.  His life had been hard, but he realized that he was a part of a much bigger plan that God had for his life and that of his family.  This conviction was a constant source of comfort to him as well as hope during the dark times of his life.  The promises of God should provide peace in the midst of problems.  When we become angry, sad, and lose hope; it is usually because we have taken our eyes off of the promises of God.  Since God is always faithful to keep His promises we can have hope no matter how bleak our circumstances might appear.

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