RPG Adults
FAMINE ENRICHED PHARAOH
THURSDAY, MARCH 20
Genesis 47:13-26
Psalm 41
Much prayer, much power.
FAMINE ENRICHED PHARAOH
A Chinese proverb says: No food no virtue! Not even between father and son! Famine drives men to extremes, in order to survive. So it was in Egypt. And “…the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine” (Gen 47:13). There was no bread in all the land. Remember the seven lean and hungry cows and the seven thin ears of corn? The only food grain available was to be found in the storehouses erected by Joseph for Pharaoh during the first seven years of plenty. The Egyptians suddenly found themselves at the mercy of their king.
What will you not give in exchange for food to survive? The Egyptians were faced with this question. It was a matter of life and death. In the first year, it was money for food. “And Joseph gathered up all the money… in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house” (Gen 47:14).
After the first year, when the people’s money was exhausted, Joseph traded his food for their livestock. When their livestock was exhausted, they had only themselves and their land. So they came to Joseph and said, “Wherefore shall we die…? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh…” (Gen 47:19). And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. In a few years, there was a vast transference of wealth from the people to their king, thanks to one Hebrew mastermind! Furthermore, because of Joseph’s all-powerful influence, Pharaoh favoured Jacob’s clan, even above the Egyptians themselves. Look at Genesis 47:12: “And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread…”
Here we see the seeds of future discontent leading to the eventual oppression of the Hebrew immigrants. While the Israelites enjoyed Pharaoh’s hospitality and bounty, the Egyptians became impoverished slaves to Pharaoh who waxed richer and richer by reason of the famine.
THOUGHT: “In every thing give thanks…” (1 Thess 5:18)
PRAYER: Whether famine or plenty, may I always give Thee thanks, Father!