Genesis 47:13-26 – Wise Rulership

Joseph, by the grace of God, has been given the ability to provide for his family and protect them from ruin. Now, God leads him to save the kingdom of Egypt from complete destruction. It probably would have made Joseph happy to be able to go and live in Goshen with the rest of his family, but his job will not allow it. When he sees his father and brothers well settled in Goshen, he returns to his work.

The famine in the land is so severe that the people are ready to die. We are entirely dependent upon God for survival. All our wealth will not keep us from starving if there is no rain for 2 or 3 years. We are at God’s mercy, so it is wise to keep ourselves always in His love.

If all the Egyptians had done for themselves in the 7 years of plenty as Joseph did for Pharaoh, they wouldn’t be in difficulty, but they didn’t listen to the warning and went on thinking that tomorrow would be like today. But God provided for His people, the Israelites, and they are fed for free. Everyone else is forced to part with all their money, livestock, land, and freedom to save their lives.

Joseph is careful to govern matters so that Pharaoh has a just advantage, and the people are not utterly ruined. He allows the people to live on and enjoy the land they have sold. He gives them seed to sow in their fields and food to live off of, and they in return pay a rent of one-fifth of the yearly profits to Pharaoh. These are easy terms, and they show Joseph’s God-given wisdom.