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53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.” 56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands. ~ Genesis 41:53-57
Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 41 where we have seen Joseph ascend the second most powerful man in the world. Joseph arose to such a lofty position because God gave to him favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh. The favor of God means to be acceptable before God with the ability to receive His will for our lives. In the Bible God's favor is likened to a battle shield which surrounded those engaged in a battle. This shield was as long as a man was tall and they were built together to provide protection in all directions. One day I asked the Lord, "Lord, why do you bless me so?" His answer was to the point, He said two simple words, "My Son!" As children of God, we experience His favor due to the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross. When God favors us it is that He is favoring the Lord Jesus who has shared with us His blessing and position.
In v.53-54 of today's passage we read, "53 Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread."
Seven years of plenty were given to Joseph to prepare for the famine that God told him was ahead. If the storehouses were mishandled, or if Joseph was negligent in his duties, then everyone below him would have suffered. Everyone's success was based upon Joseph's success. The Lord Jesus Christ lived a perfect life and He died a perfect death on our behalf so that we could realize His success in our walk with God.
The famine began right on schedule according to the dreams of Pharaoh and the interpretation of Joseph who had proven himself to be the prophet of God, seeing beyond what could have otherwise been expected. To guess a few years of bumper crops was possible, but to guess seven years of blessing would be followed by seven miserable years could only be revealed by God. And so we see the prophet, the priest, and the king represented in Joseph and thus picturing the Lord Jesus Christ.
The phrase "In all lands" in v.54 means that this was an immense and wide-ranging famine. Twice in Genesis, there were localized famines in Canaan with food remaining available in Egypt, but this time the famine encompassed the whole region. And, as it turned out only Egypt had food and only because they prepared in advance. There will come a day when you and I will stand before God and He will ask us why He should let us into His heaven. If we have prepared properly we will be admitted. The only ticket for admittance into heaven is the Lord Jesus. Simply trusting Him to be our Savior will seal our eternity forever.
In v.55 of today's passage we read, "So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, 'Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.'"
The people of Egypt cried to Pharaoh because food was in short supply. Physical food is good for the body but spiritual food is good for the soul. One impacts the temporal while the other the eternal. The Lord implores us to store up His word in our soul as we store up food for our body. If bread which satisfies for a day is important, how much more God’s bread which He sent from heaven, the Living Word, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pharaoh pointed the people to Joseph. Just as there was only one man to look to for help, there is only one Source of life, and He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Soon, those who have trusted the Lord Jesus as Savior will be raptured up into heaven to be with Him for eternity. It will be at that moment the Great Tribulation will begin. Another famine will take place during that time, life on earth will be hard for all. For those who did not believe on the Lord Jesus as Savior will have to endure those wicked days which will someday cover the whole earth as is pictured in this story. To avoid the Tribulation, I urge you to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior right now. Confess to God that you know that you are a sinner and you cannot pay the penalty for your sin. Invite the Lord Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior.
In v.56-57 of today's passage we read, "56 The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. 57 So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands."
The seven year famine that hit Egypt that year was rare due to the influence of the Nile River. With the famine in full gear all over the earth and with Joseph in charge of the food for all the people, his newly given name, Zaphnath-Paaneah, was fully realized. Through the wisdom that God gave to Joseph, he became known throughout Egypt and the whole world as "the savior of the world."
Yet again, Joseph was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of this just underscores that the answer for man has always been the Lord Jesus Christ. Man’s redemption is tied up in this one Man who came doubly fruitful, saving all humble enough to believe His words, both Jew and Gentile. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is the hinge upon which all of history rotates. It opens the door of heaven and it also shuts the door of heaven. The door into heaven is open now through His shed blood but there is coming a day when the door will be shut. For all who resist the free gift of forgiven sin, they will be shut out like those who pounded on the door of Noah's ark. I implore you if you've not to come through the door of the Lord Jesus do so today while there is still time because when the door shuts, it will be too late.
