- Scripture: Genesis 47:13–31
- The Anchor: “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'” – Luke 9:23 (ESV)
In today’s passage, Joseph provides food for people in all the land. The famine wasn’t just in Egypt and Canaan; it reached farther into the surrounding nations as well. The nations all grew weak due to the famine. Throughout the famine, Joseph collected all the money that was exchanged for the grain and brought it to Pharaoh’s house. When the people in the lands ran out of money, they exchanged their livestock for food, so that they may live. After their livestocks were all exchanged, the only thing left for the people to trade in were their land and themselves as slaves to Pharaoh. However, Joseph gave them seeds to plant and only placed a 20% tax on their labor so that the people would still be able to feed their families. He didn’t buy the land of the priests, since they had a special allowance from Pharaoh. At the end, the people of the lands say that Joseph has saved their lives and that they will willingly be servants to Pharaoh because of Joseph’s generosity.
I look up to Joseph’s honesty and care for others in this passage. First, it says that Joseph brought all of the money to Pharaoh’s house. This reminds me of the tax collectors in the NT (like Levi/Matthew) who would gather taxes but then also tax extra to gather profits for themselves. Joseph was not like these tax collectors because he was honest with his money and he did not withhold any of it from Pharaoh. Additionally, Joseph put in the 20% tax. People probably have different viewpoints on whether this tax was high or low, but I think it’s low and that it shows Joseph’s mercy as the prime minister. Joseph definitely could have taken all of the people’s crops and money, but he decided to let them subsistence farm. He knew that the people had to pay for the food in some way, but he was highly lenient and caring to the people. I’m not really in a boss position in many organizations, but if I am ever in that type of role where I have authority over some people, I want to act like Joseph with honesty, leniency, fairness, and care.
One famous title for Jesus is that He is the Bread of Life (John 6:35). In this passage, the people trade in their money, their livestock, their land, and even themselves to get the grain that keeps them alive. I was wondering, how much would I sacrifice and trade in to get more of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. Would I trade in my money? my dreams? my possessions? my closest people? even myself? This reminds me of the story of the rich young ruler, who couldn’t let go of his worldly things in order to follow Jesus. Maybe back in the day, I thought I was way beyond this rich young ruler, but looking at the story now, it would pain me greatly to let go of all the other things that I have. The truth is, Jesus is the only thing that can truly save us. Like the grain that was literally their food, Jesus is our spiritual food that feeds us every day. The hardest command is this: “And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'” Luke 9:23. The verse that was on the back of our brown Winter Retreat 2024 hoodie. I was reminded of this verse just yesterday while I was talking to my close friend, and I am reminded of this verse again. Am I willing to deny myself and sacrifice everything I have just to follow Jesus?
Reflection
- You reflected on Joseph’s integrity as a manager, contrasting him with corrupt tax collectors. When you are in a position of responsibility—whether in school projects, sports teams, or relationships—how can you ensure your integrity and care for others reflects the character of Christ?
- You identified the “cost of following” as a major theme, paralleling the people trading everything for physical bread with your call to trade everything for the Bread of Life. What is one specific “worldly possession” or “dream” that you feel is hardest to hold with an open hand before Jesus right now?
Prayer
Lord, thank You for providing for my physical needs just as Joseph provided for Egypt. More importantly, thank You for being the Bread of Life. Help me not to be like the rich young ruler who held too tightly to the things of this world. Give me the grace to deny myself daily, to take up my cross, and to find that trading my life for Yours is the greatest exchange I could ever make. Amen.