Genesis 47 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The famine was severe. There was no food. Our lives feel like this sometimes don’t they?
All of us have some kind of built-in measurement for how much stress and suffering we can experience. Once life breaks through that barrier, we crumble. What has been your breaking point? Are you there now? When the punches of life land faster than you can blink, where do you turn?
The famine was severe. There was no food.
Joseph had many options. He didn’t have to look out for these Egyptians. After all, they weren’t “his people.” He could have hatched a plan to take the food and money and run. Everyone trusted him. He certainly had his own issues to deal with in addition to all these people who were not getting their basic needs provided. Many people today would simply say, “Sorry, I wish I could help, but I can’t.”
Joseph took responsibility. Utilizing God’s wisdom, he came up with a system. The money gathered together had run dry, so Joseph asked the people to exchange their animals for food. After there were no more animals, he allowed the people to trade in their land for food. Eventually, the people were desperate enough to work as slaves of Egypt and farm the land with only a 20% tax. These were desperate times, but Joseph found a way through it. He not only got through it, but he also took it upon himself to lead others through it.
During times of famine, who do you lead? Is it just yourself… or others as well?
You can teach a lot of things, but you can’t teach spiritual maturity. Famine produces faith. It tests our resilience and determination. It requires us to trust when there is no good reason. God uses famine to produce relentless followers. The road to unshakeable spiritual maturity is paved directly through pain and suffering.
You know what?… when famine comes, many will quit. Many will stand by on the sidelines and only look out for themselves. Many will come up with every excuse and justification not to do the right thing. Many will look internally instead of to God and crumble under the pressure.
The famine was severe. There was no food. How does this translate today?