MARCH 18, 2025 – FRUITFUL

READ: Gen. 47:13-27: Now there was no bread in all the land … And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. … Then Joseph said,  Give your livestock … Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh …  Look, here is seed for you… you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. … So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.

Under Joseph’s management, an immense amount of grain had been stored, enough to sustain the population even as the famine continued. Buyers from other nations came, but eventually, the Egyptians themselves could no longer afford to purchase grain. They began selling their land to Joseph, who transferred ownership to Pharaoh.

In the end, they even offered themselves as servants to Pharaoh to ensure their survival. Joseph provided them with seed to plant for future harvests and established that they would give a fifth of their produce to Pharaoh.

While Joseph’s wise administration saved many lives, including those of the Egyptians, it also benefited his own family in an extraordinary way. The text contrasts the Egyptians’ hardship with the situation of Jacob’s family.

Verse 27 states that the Israelites, unlike the Egyptians, did not suffer loss. Instead, they were blessed with fertility and increased their possessions. They became exceedingly numerous.

Though they were strangers in Egypt, they had their God with them, who richly provided for all their needs, including material blessings. It was vital for them to remain thankful to the LORD, to maintain their separation from the Egyptians, and to refrain from worshiping foreign gods.

What kind of prosperity do we, as the church, enjoy today?

Sing: Ps. 65:5