Genesis 47:18-31 NKJV
18 When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.”
20 Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.
23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.”
25 So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.
27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”
And he said, “I will do as you have said.”
31 Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.
In today’s section of Genesis, we read of the result of the famine upon the Israelites who earlier were welcomed into Goshen by Pharoah’s favor. By now the Israelites’ money and livestock have been given to Pharoah for bread; all they have left to offer for food are their bodies and land. They plead with Pharoah and offer their own bodies as servants and laborers. Now they are enslaved, which sets up the opening chapters of Exodus for later consideration.
Here we see the plight of the Israelites and wonder why life had continued to be so hard for them. Luther writes that “it was because of God’s wrath and punishment for sins that God punished this people with famine and reduced them to the slavery they were compelled to bear on account of their sins. For if we sin, we should know that we must also bear the punishment. Now, therefore, they no longer have anything of their own, no money, no cattle, no fields, not even their own bodies. The king has taken possession of everything, not by seizure but by selling grain to his subjects” (AE Vol 8).
Luther’s analysis of the situation reminds us that we need always be aware of our own sinful nature, and that we deserve nothing but God’s wrath and displeasure because of our sins. So when God chastises us, we are to take it as His love and guidance, for as Hebrews 12:5-6 tell us, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”
Chastisement and correction from God are lovingly meant to teach, build up, and guide us to his path and ultimate glory. Even when life seems too heavy to bear, know that the Lord loves you and has demonstrated that love by giving up his Son, Jesus, in death to pay for all your sins.
Jesus received the punishment for all your sins in order that, through God-given faith and trust in Him, He receives you as His own child and will bring you to Himself on the Last Day.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your love and Your loving chastisement that I may grow in Your grace. Amen.