Master gardener Gregory Bratton has helped start nearly 100 urban farms across Chicago. For decades, he has worked to bring fresh vegetables to urban neighborhoods. Local volunteers are very willing to invest time in these gardens, especially when they and their communities benefit directly.
We might not think of Joseph as an agricultural planner, but he was! In Genesis 41, Joseph had interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams about seven years of plenty and seven of famine, and as a reward was made second-in-command over the entire land of Egypt. What did he do with that power? Followed his own recommendation to collect grain during the good years in preparation for the lean years.
Joseph’s wise plans of setting aside a fifth of the harvest per year enabled him to collect all the money in Egypt for Pharaoh (v. 15); to collect all the livestock in Egypt for Pharaoh (v. 18); and to buy all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, except for that belonging to the priests (vv. 20–22). Talk about successful investing! There was no injustice or exploitation involved. His actions kept people alive not only in Egypt but throughout the ancient Near East (Gen. 50:20). The “servitude” (v. 21) was more than fair in that time and culture. In fact, Joseph seems to have been rather gracious, asking for only a fifth of the harvest-to-come when he distributed seeds, when he could have, since he had a monopoly, demanded it all (vv. 23–26).
Joseph combined wise agricultural planning with wise rulership. If he had actually attempted harsher measures, he would likely have sparked bitterness and rebellion (see Prov. 18:23). Although Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery (Gen. 37), God’s plan for saving their lives ironically involved Joseph buying the entire Egyptian population as “debt-slaves.”
Go Deeper
We learn in this story that God has larger purposes for suffering. What are His purposes in suffering or bad times in general? How about in your life specifically?
Pray with Us
Holy God, it is easy to look at Joseph’s story and see Your hand at work. Remind us to trust Your plan when our own lives become hard. We know that You are always good.
“You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord.”Genesis 47:25
