Genesis 47 - Planning and Stewardship

If ever there was a chapter to highlight the blessings that come to those who plan ahead and manage well it would be this one. Rather than reviewing the story, I would like to go directly to the applications for you and me.

1. The steward honors his benefactor. In verse 1 we see Joseph presenting his family before Pharaoh to receive his formal endorsement to settle hi la family in the best of the land. It must not be said that Joseph took anything at Pharaoh's expense, but hat it was freely given. The bounty that Pharaoh enjoyed was a direct result of God moving through the life of Joseph so Joseph could have taken a stance of entitlement, but he always gave honor to the position of authority. He gave credit to God and respect to Pharaoh.

2. The steward provides for his family. Joseph recognized that the reason for this blessing of position and wealth he gained for Egypt was for the purpose of saving the nation of Israel (now 70+ strong). The remnant to be provided for not by their own doing but through the providence of God.

3. The steward plans for the future. Nearly 10 years earlier, Joseph proclaimed to Egypt that a famine was coming and imposed a tax in the people to store up grain for the years of lean in the land. The people knowing that the famine was coming apparently did not store for themselves and found themselves purchasing their own food back from the government increasing the wealth of the central government.

Let me take a rabbit trail for just a moment. 1. I see the same thing transpiring in our own country. We have many of our elderly who are living in great poverty because they did not have adequate savings for their futures. Oddly, even seeing that, Americans largely do not save sufficiently for their retirement. (I hope to speak about retirement in depth in future chapters because their are biblical principles to apply to retirement). 2. I happen to live in an area where there are many military and government employees. Knowing that the government is not sustainable and that cuts naturally will come - I see many ill-prepared for cuts and will likely be in great need when they are confronted by losses. So it was with the people if Egypt. Because the didn't plan, they found themselves utterly dependent on the government.

4. A steward manages the wealth for the owner wisely. In the case of Joseph, he didn't amass wealth for himself, but all the money, all the livestock and even the land and the people were sold to Pharaoh. Because of the lack of planning on the part of the people they found themselves in bondage.

5. God directs the wealth of the nation. Even the wealthy didn't last long in times of famine. God can remove or amass at His discretion. Because Joseph wisely looked to God for wisdom he was blessed in the time of famine. Joseph grew in wealth. His family multiplied greatly. The rest if the nation was at his mercy. Joseph also amassed a fortune for his master Pharaoh.

6. A steward is merciful. Joseph provided well for the people so they would have plenty. He imposed a 20% tax on the crops that the people planted and allowed them to remain in their land to work it. 80% remained theirs to feed themselves and to reseed the land. The people recognized that Joseph had saved their lives and they willingly submitted to service for the country in repayment.

7. Wisdom is opposed to foolishness. Even at this time you can see how a root of dissension was growing between the Hebrews and the people of Egypt. Jacobs family enjoyed bounty while the people if the land were now captives in their own land. No matter whether being blessed or in want foolish set themselves apart from the wise. As children of the living God it should be no surprise that the world is hostile to us and to God himself. They must justify their stand because they have no other power to depend on.

8. This is all temporary. Jacob wisely told Pharaoh "the years of my pilgrimage" he saw that his true home was not in Egypt. it wasn't even in Canaan. It was in Heaven for he was Gods chosen and selected for eternal blessing. His years here were hard but that is nothing compared with the blessing he looked forward to in the presence of God. If we focus in planning for every eventuality and forget that we have an eternal destiny in heaven, we have lost it all before we begin. Every one will live eternally - the question is where.

I have a card in my purse that says, "if I die tonight, my soul will be in H______ tomorrow. We only have this short pilgrimage to determine our ultimate destination. Please send me a note and let me know where you will be.

May God richly bless you as you seek him and as you serve him.