March 22, 2013
Central Truth
Though trials often appear seemingly insurmountable, God's plan supersedes anything the world has to offer . . . especially to those who are called His children.
So Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all his father's household with food, according to their little ones. (Genesis 47:11-12)
1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”
7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.
13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” 16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”
Over the years, I've had many a business idea that was the surefire next best thing. Of course, none of them have been. And sometimes Jon and I, upon seeing someone cash in on a simple idea, will say, "Why didn't we think of that?!"
When reading Genesis 47:1-19, one might be tempted to marvel at Joseph's brilliant business strategy. Thanks to his gather-and-store-so-life-will-be-fine-when-there-is-no-more approach, Egypt was sitting pretty when times got tough.
But the idea wasn't his.
As Joseph and his family stood in front of the powerful Pharaoh, they rested in God -- offering the truth about who they were. "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers." (Genesis 47:3) The lowest of the low, the overlooked, the insignificant by the world's standards. But as Genesis 47 reminds us, God doesn't operate within the world's standards. These shepherds were royalty -- phenomenally blessed. They entered into the courts of societal authority wearing a royal seal that outtrumped even the world's most powerful leader.
Unlike Pharaoh, this royal line was anchored by "I AM" (Exodus 3:14), who has no beginning and no end. He writes the story before it begins. He always does what He says He will do. He told Jacob in Genesis 28:14: "[I]n you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go . . . ." He does this through his faithful servant Joseph there in the court of Pharaoh.
As I read this passage, I'm moved by Jacob and Joseph. Staring me right in the face are two keys to the faith: obedience and humility. Tethered to the One who sees and knows all, surrendered to the One who moves the heart of the king as He does the path of a river (Proverbs 21:1), resting in the promises of the One who never wavers, changes, or misrepresents.
Might I marvel not at a brilliant strategy, but at the One behind it.
So rather than, "Why didn't I think of that?," how about, "Why don't I think about that?"
1. What trials are you facing in your life today? Where are you turning for help?
2. Have you considered your royal pedigree as an adopted child of God? What promises has He made you? Have you owned them?
3. If you haven't accepted the gift of salvation, would you -- like Jacob and his family -- desire to rest in the abundant and available provision that God gives to His children in times of famine or feast? If yes, please share your desire in the comments section of the Watermark News or contact Watermark (214.361.2275) so we can join you on your journey.