Gen. 47 – Transition
Dear family and friends,
Genesis 47 discusses Israel and his descendent’s transition from Canaan to Egypt. Scripture States, ‘They brought everything with them.’ That was a huge move! They did not want to leave the land of Canaan. Yet, the severe drought and famine forced them to live in Egypt. Hungary, desperate refugees, were pouring into Egypt. The entire world was facing severe starvation. It was difficult for the Egyptian people and the refugees living in Egypt.
Genesis 47.11 – 12
And Joseph placed his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in Rameses’ land, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph nourished his father, and his brothers, and all his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.
Remember that during the seven years of plenty, Joseph stored the excess grain. Then when the famine began, Joseph directed the selling of bread until everyone’s money was gone. The Egyptians ran out of money and could no longer afford to buy grain. What did they do during the years of plenty? They did not know how severe the years of famine would be!
Genesis 47.15
And when money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in Canaan’s land, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, Give us bread; for why should we die in your presence? for the money is gone. And Joseph said, Give your cattle, and I will give you food for your cattle if your money is gone. And they brought their cattle to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses; and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
The inhabitants of Egypt were fortunate that The Lord God of Israel Prepared Joseph for that place and time. As Viceroy Joseph carefully planned and prepared for the depression. Joseph was the only one who prepared correctly for those challenging times. The world was fortunate that Joseph was at the helm. Even with Joseph at the helm, the desperation continued.
Genesis 47.18 – 21
When that year was ended, they came to [Joseph] the second year and said to him; We will not hide it from my lord that our money is spent; my lord also has our herds of cattle; there is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands; Why shall we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land is not desolate. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field because the famine prevailed over them; so the land became Pharaohs. And as for the people, [Joseph] moved them to cities from one end of Egypt’s borders to the other end of it.
Then Joseph gave life to the people of Egypt. Joseph gave them hope of a better tomorrow. He guided them to the lives of prosperity.
Genesis 47.23 – 25
Then Joseph said to the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh; lo, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass at harvest time, that you shall give the fifth part to Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for the seed of the field, and your food, and for them of your households, and food for your little ones. 25 And they said, You have saved our lives; let us find grace in my lord’s sight, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.
The world then, around 2178 From Creation, was in desperate straits because of the severity of the famine, yet we do not read of fighting, rioting, murdering, stealing, and terror in the cities and streets of Egypt. Why? Joseph cared for the people. He led them out of desperation.
Our world is experiencing an evil title wave of rottenness perpetrated by elected officials that do not care for their people. We have the power to change that, and I hope we prayerfully do so.
Dear Friends, I forgive anyone who has wronged me in any way this past year or in the past.
Dear Friends, I am sorry for any word or deed that I have done to you or any other in this past year and throughout my lifetime. I ask for forgiveness.
לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה תֵּכָּתֵבוּ וְתֵחָתֵמוּ
Lih Shaw Naw Toh Vaw – Tay Caw Tay Voo – Vih Tay Chaw Tay Moo
‘May you be inscribed and sealed in The Book of Living’
Shabbat and Rosh HaShannah share The Seventh Day. Let’s make Shabbat and Rosh HaShannah Prayerfully count! Good Sabbath and Yom Tov.
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk
