Genesis 41:53-57

Verses 53-57

“Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said(Notice the precious manner in which the Lord shares His glory with His True Friends as the true and valid prophetic utterance is here still credited unto Joseph, despite all that Joseph did to ensure that God receives all the glory. As with all things, whatever we sacrifice unto God on the altar He always inevitably gives back to us more validly, more genuinely, in a manner approved by Him and therefore righteously and purely, than if we had simply clung to it in an attempt to retain it as our own in our ignorance or self-seeking.) The famine was in all lands, (I do not think we even realise how great the scope of the famine truly was, possibly even reaching across the entire populated earth of the time; I also cannot help but marvel at what God will allow in His infinite sovereignty and wisdom: firstly, to bring a single chosen family to repentance and healing; secondly, to position one of His True Children, in this instance Joseph, as a prototype of His Ultimate Child, Jesus the Christ, as a Saviour and Giver of Life and thirdly, for many generations of His Children to come, ourselves included, to learn about His Perfect Ways as we read of these events; His revealed Word) but in all the land of Egypt there was bread(Notice how even though it was grain specifically which was stored up in Egypt, it is the finished product that sustains and gives life, both in the natural, but also in the spiritual as a symbol of the Body of Christ, namely “bread” that is given here as a symbol of Hope – the Living Bread.) 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; (“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” – Jesus) whatever he says to you, do.” (Still being accustomed to refer to their leader in their time of need; their leader himself is fully aware in his wisdom that there is a greater leader than himself amongst them and instinctively, automatically directs them to the true God-appointed ruler for this season, namely Joseph. It is also quite interesting to note that despite having ruled wisely himself for an extended period of time, Pharaoh never once even attempts to raise an opinion or warrant an educated guess as to the ways of Joseph, but rather in his God-fearing humility defers to him wholeheartedly as seen in the phrase: “whatever he says to you, do”.) The famine was over all the face of the earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses (literally: “all that was in them”) and sold to the Egyptians. (It is important to recognise that Joseph was skilled in business and trade as well, making good use of the opportunity to prosper the land he has been given to steward, economically: truly our Joseph consistently keeps all areas and domains over which he has been appointed, in mind at all times.) And the famine became severe in the land of Egypt. So all countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.” (That very true severity which Joseph prophesied with which it would come, and reiterated again and again, lest any should claim that they did not know.)

53Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, 54and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55So 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.” 56The 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. 57So all the countries came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe in all lands.”

– Genesis 41:53-57 (NKJV)