Joseph - the Provision of God

 

Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. (Genesis 41:44–49 ESV).

 

As we begin to close into the last part of Joseph’s story we can see it is not just a story about smart economics, creating an enormous “rainy day” fund for the time when rains would be scarce for seven years. Nor is it simply a story of a king’s trust in a prisoner’s interpretation of a dream. At its core this is a story about the abundant love of God, immense and free. This account is a picture that points to the infinite love at the very core of God’s heart, revealed to us ultimately in Jesus. It is aqt the core of God’s greatest provision for His children.

 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians gives us a wonderful prayer from the apostle. He asks that these believers would have the power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:18-19 ). Joseph’s immeasurable stockpiles of grain picture for us a tiny part of God’s amazing, infinite love and care.

 

A measureless supply, prepared in advance for the benefit of many people who would be affected by famine, including Joseph’s family, and among them his enemy brothers—this is also a picture of God’s boundless love stored up in advance for us while we were still his enemies (cf. Romans 5:10). In the meantime, also reflecting God’s goodness, Joseph’s heart will be a warehouse of overflowing love, waiting to be reconciled with his brothers and united with his family again. God will work that miracle in your life as well. Trust Him for His provision, no matter how dark it may be now!