Joseph And Pharaoh's Provision For Gods People
Joseph's role in Pharaoh's court was pivotal in providing for God's people, the Israelites, during a severe famine, a narrative detailed in the book of Genesis. This provision was orchestrated through a series of divine revelations and Joseph's wise administration.
The narrative begins with Pharaoh experiencing two troubling dreams: one of seven fat cows devoured by seven thin cows, and another of seven full ears of grain consumed by seven thin, scorched ears [7]. When Pharaoh's wise men could not interpret these dreams, Joseph, then a prisoner, was brought before him. Joseph declared that the dreams were one, signifying that "God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do" [1]. He interpreted the dreams to mean that seven years of abundant harvest would be followed by seven years of severe famine throughout Egypt [7]. Joseph further advised Pharaoh to appoint a discerning man to oversee the land, gathering a fifth of the produce during the years of plenty and storing it for the coming famine [9].
Pharaoh, recognizing the divine wisdom in Joseph, appointed him over all of Egypt, second only to himself [6]. Joseph then diligently managed the collection and storage of grain during the seven years of plenty. When the famine struck, affecting not only Egypt but also surrounding lands, "all the land of Egypt was famished" [8]. The people cried to Pharaoh for bread, and Pharaoh directed them to Joseph, instructing them to "what he saith to you, do" [8]. Joseph then opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians and to people from other countries who came to Egypt to buy food [8].
This period of famine directly led to the relocation of Jacob's family, the nascent nation of Israel, to Egypt. When Jacob learned there was grain in Egypt, he sent his sons to buy some. This led to their reunion with Joseph, who revealed his identity to his brothers [6]. Joseph then sent for his father, Jacob, and all his household, assuring them that Pharaoh would provide them with the best of the land of Egypt [6]. Pharaoh welcomed Joseph's family, granting them permission to settle in the fertile land of Goshen [4, 5].
Joseph's administration during the famine extended beyond simply distributing food. As the famine worsened and the Egyptians exhausted their money, they traded their livestock for food. Eventually, they sold themselves and their land to Pharaoh in exchange for sustenance [2]. Joseph established a law that the people would hold their land from the king and give him a fifth of the produce as a yearly tax [10]. This arrangement ensured the survival of the Egyptian populace while consolidating Pharaoh's power and wealth.
The provision for God's people through Joseph was a direct fulfillment of God's providential plan. Joseph himself understood his role as divinely appointed, stating to his brothers, "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors" (Genesis 45:7). This event secured the survival of Jacob's family, allowing them to grow into a large nation in Egypt before their eventual exodus. Flavius Josephus notes that God forewarns humanity not to grieve them, but so that they might prudently prepare for what is to come [3].
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 41:25 (LITV) — And Joseph said to Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do.”
- Genesis “Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. -- Genesis 47:23”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 5, section 5: plenty of these years will be spent in the same number of years of scarcity, and that scarcity of necessary provisions will be very difficult to be corrected; as a sign whereof, the ill-favored kine, when they had devoured the better sort, could not be satisfied. But still God foreshows what is to come upon men, not to grieve them, but that, when they know it beforehand, they may by prudence make the actual experience of what is foretold the more tolerable. If thou, therefore, carefully dispose of the plentiful crops which will c”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 47 (introduction): Joseph informs Pharaoh that his father and brethren are arrived in Goshen, Gen 47:1. He presents five of his brethren before the king, Gen 47:2, who questions them concerning their occupation; they inform him that they are shepherds, and request permission to dwell in the land of Goshen, Gen 47:3, Gen 47:4. Pharaoh consents, and desires that some of the most active of them should be made rulers over his cattle, Gen 47:5, Gen 47:6. Joseph presents his father to Pharaoh, Gen 47:7, who questions him concerning his age, Gen 47:8, to which Jacob returns an ”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 47:1: Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh,.... After he had been with his father, had had an interview with him, and had took his leave of him for a time, he came to Pharaoh's court: and said, my father, and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; Pharaoh had desired they might come, and Joseph now acquaints him they were come; not being willing it should be said that they were come in a private manner, and without his knowledge; nor to dispose of them himself without the direction and approbation of Phara”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 45:16: Here is, 1. The kindness of Pharaoh to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake: he bade his brethren welcome (Gen 45:16), though it was a time of scarcity, and they were likely to be a charge to him. Nay, because it pleased Pharaoh, it pleased his servants too, at least they pretended to be pleased because Pharaoh was. He engaged Joseph to send for his father down to Egypt, and promised to furnish them with all conveniences both for his removal thither and his settlement there. If the good of all the land of Egypt (as it was not better stocked than any other l”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. VIII.--THE GODS OF THE DIFFERENT NATIONS. VARRO'S GENTILE CLASS. THEIR INFERIORITY. A GOOD DEAL OF THIS PERVERSE THEOLOGY TAKEN FROM SCRIPTURE. SERAPIS A PERVERSION OF JOSEPH. (part 2): dreams. Joseph being brought 137 before him, according to his summons, was able to expound them. Having narrated the proofs of true interpretation which he had given in the prison, he opens out his dream to the king: those seven fat-fleshed and well-favoured kine signified as many years of plenty; in like manner, the seven lean-fleshed animals predicted the scarcity of the seven fo”
- Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 41:50: And when all the land of Egypt was famished,.... Their old stock and store eaten up, and the inhabitants ready to starve with hunger: the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; as their common father, and knowing that he had stores of provision laid up in all cities against this time: and Pharaoh said to the Egyptians, go unto Joseph; whom he had appointed over this business of providing and laying up corn against this time, and of distributing it: what he saith to you, do; give the price for the corn he fixes or requires; for this was the principal thing they had”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 18.16: barely predict what will happen in future; but propose remedies for impending evils. Therefore Joseph, after he had uttered a prophecy of the changes which would take place in fourteen years, now teaches what ought to be done; and exhorts Pharaoh to be vigilant in the discharge of this duty. And one of the marks by which God always distinguished his own prophets from false prognosticators, was to endue them with the power of teaching and exhorting, that they might not uselessly predict future events. Let us grant that the predic”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 47:26: And Joseph made it a law - That the people should hold their land from the king, and give him the fifth part of the produce as a yearly tax. Beyond this it appears the king had no farther demands. The whole of this conduct of Joseph has been as strongly censured by some as applauded by others. It is natural for men to run into extremes in attacking or defending any position. Sober and judicious men will consider what Joseph did by Divine appointment as a prophet of God, and what he did merely as a statesman from the circumstances of the case, the complexion of the”