Genesis 47:1-17 NKJV
47 Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.” 2 And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?”
And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.” 4 And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”
5 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”
7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”
9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” 10 So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
11 And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.
13 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
15 So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”
16 Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year
On behalf of his family, Joseph respectfully informed Pharoah of his brothers’ arrival at Egypt. The brothers then respectfully asked Pharoah for permission to dwell in the excellent and fertile land of Goshen, a request that Pharoah enthusiastically granted. Pharoah did so because earlier Joseph had correctly interpreted Pharoah’s dreams (Genesis 41) and, as a result, put in charge of the food storage arrangements that allowed Egypt to survive a dreadful time of famine.
Of this scene Luther writes, “Joseph is truly the image of an excellent ruler who ruled and did good on his own responsibility and through others by giving them an example. Consequently, the rest of the counselors or officials were aroused to show faithfulness and modesty in carrying out the duties connected with their calling. For after his father and brothers have arrived, he arranges everything in this way, lest they take possession of the land of Goshen without the consent of the king. Although he had decided by a special resolution to settle them there, he nevertheless does not want to occupy the land beforehand or to prejudice the king’s authority. But he orders them to tarry” (AE Vol 8).
Thus, by excellent example of respect and responsibility, Joseph not only kept Pharoah’s favor, but inspired many others to act similarly. Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” And St. Paul teaches us by the Spirit in I Corinthians 10:31, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
As God’s people, led by His Spirit and redeemed by Christ’s all-atoning death for our sins, we serve God in thankfulness by serving our neighbor. God doesn’t need your good works, but your neighbor does. And God is glorified by them. And your neighbor is blessed.
Let us pray: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me the opportunity to serve You through my neighbor. Amen.