Famine

READ GENESIS 47:13-27

Genesis 47:13–27 NIV

13 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 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. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is all gone.” 16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17 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. 18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.” 20 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, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land. 23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.” 25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s. 27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number.

There was no food.

Those are the first four words of the section of Scripture we are going to study tonight.

They say a lot can be derived from the introduction of a chapter or a book. The introduction will give the reader a sense of where the story is going.

These words… do not give much room for hope. They say that water is the element of life… but all of us in this room understand that no living thing or person can survive very long without food.

And what’s worse, this reality is the result f an ongoing famine.

This famine was severe. The people in Egypt and Canaan were suffering deeply in this season. In fact, Genesis 47:13 said both areas wasted away because of the famine.

Joseph’s family… has settled in nicely in the Goshen area of Egypt. They were separated from the rest of Egypt as they were identified as shepherds for this separation to take place.

The beginning of Genesis 47 explains that the family (per Pharaoh's command) is living in the “best part of the land.” In other words, Joseph’s family is taken care of.

The middle portion of chapter 47 shows Joseph attending to national matters that were taking place.

Now… why would the Bible give us details regarding these matters?

One: because Joseph continually operated in the favor of God. He was successful at all that he did because he feared the Lord.

Two: Because after revealing his identity to his brothers, Joseph explained that God was using Joseph to save lives.

Genesis 45:5–7 NIV

5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

So what we see here in chapter 47 is how God used Joseph to do that very thing - to save lives in this severe famine.

So as we dive into this, we are going to see Joseph completely reform the agricultural system in Egypt.

This reform was needed in order for the people and nation to survive. BUT… how many know that seasons of change… can be difficult?

What are some MAJOR changes we might face in life?

Age:

Kids growing up

Bodies not able to do as much

Health concerns

Economy:

Financial plans not as strong as we hoped

Cost on the rise

Family:

Loss of a loved one or spouse

Major relocation's or career changes.

Egypt was facing some MAJOR change with this famine. God had warned this nation that this was coming… and they did well to store up provisions in response to the warning… but things were getting desperate… and methods were going to have to change.

Joseph… was the man appointed by God… to lead the change. He had been sent to this place “to save lives.” Chapter 47 shows us how.

As we study this, I want us to see some important details that we might miss in the story. These details are important as we consider how seasons of change might impact us. The first one is actually a point you will not find in the text… but as you read it… you realize it is absent on purpose.

One: Joseph Had a Good Reputation With the People.

Now… there is no direct mention of this anywhere in the text we are studying. SO how is it that I came to this conclusion?

One: there is no mention of grumbling against Joseph.

In view of the great needs of the people, Joseph will end up receiving all their money, livestock, food… and freedom… in exchange for provisions.

On the immediate surface, someone might think, “Joseph just took EVERYTHING away from these people! He was ruthless, selfish, and he took advantage of them in this season of hardship.”

And yet… the people DID NOT grumble. In fact, in verse 25 they declared that Joseph had saved their lives! This tells me that Joseph operated in an honorable way toward the people and toward the calling God placed upon his life.

Joseph was NOT trying to strip the people of all they had… HE WAS TRYING TO SAVE LIVES! And the people recognized his efforts as such.

Sometimes fundamental change can be difficult to receive because we question the motives behind the proposition.

The reputation and the motive of the leader can make or break a season of change. EVEN IF THE CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN, people tend to hesitate if they begin to detect selfish agendas or ideologies.

This is true in the workplace, in your home, in social groups, in communities, in politics, and even in the church!

For Joseph, his reputation wasn’t something that was establish overnight… remember, he helped lead the people through seven years of prosperity that led up to the famine. If he had mismanaged that season, they would have NOTHING to fall back on.

God set up a backup plan through his servant, Joseph and because of His faithfulness, the people of Egypt now had a way to survive the famine.

Interestingly enough, the Egyptians had done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment from God… but God’s mercy and grace is displayed throughout this entire story.

The people trusted Joseph with the change as Joseph trusted God with the details.

Two: Joseph Took Care of Immediate AND Future Needs.

Joseph wasn’t working just to find an answer for the day… He was trying to set up a long-term plan to help the nation survive beyond the famine.

If the food in storage was given out only for consumption… there would come a day when that provision would run out. But… if what they had was invested… then more would be available in the days to come.

I’m sure we have all heard the phrase, “give a man a fish… feed him for a day… teach a man to fish… feed him for a lifetime.”

The people knew how to farm and grow crops… but the needed resources to do so were gone. So Joseph resets the way things operated in Egypt.

First, Joseph takes care of immediate needs.

In verse 14, a transaction takes place between the people and Joseph. Money is given in exchange for grain.

The original word used here literally means “that which is broken” or that which has been threshed. This is grain in the form of rations.

A ration is an allowance. It is a determined amount given to be spread out over a certain amount of time. With rations, you hope that what you have will be enough to get you through the allotted time ahead.

Pretty soon, all the money was gone but the famine continued.

Secondly, Joseph continues to meet immediate needs with a bit more supply.

Verses 15-16 show the agreed exchange of livestock from the people for food from the storehouse. There is a bit more sustenance in this transaction as the livestock given were of greater value.

This is the only passage in the Joseph story that the Hebrew word for food (lehem) is used.

But even with this increase, the need continues on.

The famine is proving difficult to overcome. If the storehouse is continually hit… it will soon run dry. So what is the next step? Cut off all food supply and let the people starve. NO!!! That is NOT what God sent Joseph there to do!

Lastly, Joseph invests and reforms the system

The cost is great… but so is the risk. The people have no money, they have no livestock… all they have is land and freedom.

So Joseph makes a deal with them - their land and freedom… for seed. This seed is given to be planted. The people will wok the ground that now belongs to Pharoah BUT… they keep 80 percent of the harvest, while the other 20 percent goes back to Pharoah.

The people can now begin to get back on their feet, and the storehouse is replenished.

But it would require… investment. The people would have to give all they had and Joseph had to trust they would indeed manage the seed according to plan.

Thus, the system is reformed, the people would survive, and the storehouse would be replenished.

Joseph… under the direction and wisdom of the Lord… led the people through the famine. He continued to operate in the calling of God on his life and Egypt was saved because of his faithfulness.

Three: The Favor of God Outlasts Any Famine

I realize I have been pushing the point regarding God’s favor throughout the last several weeks… but I want to hit it one more time.

Joseph remained in the favor of God… even while living in unfavorable circumstances. Now as ruler of Egypt… Joseph doesn’t allow for his favorable circumstances to move him out of God’s favor.

If you have nothing at all but the favor of God in your life… you have all that you will ever need.

Houses, lands, money, provision, freedom, livestock, etc. All these things are good to have… but God’s favor is something that is GREAT to have.

Joseph successfully led this change because of God’s continued favor. That favor continued because of Joseph’s commitment to the call. He knew God brought him to where he was for a reason.

Stay faithful to God… no matter the circumstances. Because God maybe using you for something greater than you could ever imagine.

If leading change… do so with good character, integrity, and no hidden motives. Remain honorable in the eyes of the Lord.

If giving help… do so for immediate needs and future needs. Take a risk, make an investment… you might just be saving a life.

ALWAYS Trust the Lord for guidance and direction.