The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 47:20-21,27,
"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... Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number."
"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... Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number."
I see two starkly different outcomes here.
God brought a severe famine to Canaan and Egypt. He used the famine to move his chosen people (Jacob and his offspring) to Egypt. Until Jacob left Canaan for Egypt, he too suffered from the famine. Now, however, following the move we read, "They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number."
The Egyptians experienced the inverse. Through dreams God gave Pharaoh, and gave the interpretation of those dreams to Joseph, Joseph devised a plan to salvage Egypt during the famine. However, for the Egyptians, it came at a price.
Seven bountiful years, where Joseph stockpiled grain for Pharaoh were followed by seven years of a devastating famine. When the famine hit, Joseph sold the grain for Pharaoh until all the money in the whole region was used up, "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." Verse 14.
God brought a severe famine to Canaan and Egypt. He used the famine to move his chosen people (Jacob and his offspring) to Egypt. Until Jacob left Canaan for Egypt, he too suffered from the famine. Now, however, following the move we read, "They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number."
The Egyptians experienced the inverse. Through dreams God gave Pharaoh, and gave the interpretation of those dreams to Joseph, Joseph devised a plan to salvage Egypt during the famine. However, for the Egyptians, it came at a price.
Seven bountiful years, where Joseph stockpiled grain for Pharaoh were followed by seven years of a devastating famine. When the famine hit, Joseph sold the grain for Pharaoh until all the money in the whole region was used up, "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." Verse 14.
Following that, since everyone's money was gone, all the livestock was collected by Joseph for payment of grain, "So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock." Verse 17.
Following that, the people paid for grain by selling all their property to Pharaoh and were reduced to servitude, "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." Verses 20-21.
A stark contrast between the outcomes of God's chosen people versus the others during this catastrophic event brought by God.
I can't help but think of the two outcomes that await all following a much more catastrophic event God will bring. When the Lord comes to judge all people at the end of this age, some will go into eternal bliss while the others will find a horrific eternity that awaits them.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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