Post by Woody Williams on Aug 24, 2006 6:41:37 GMT -5
Text for the Day -- Genesis 47:13-19
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Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very
severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because
of the famine. Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land
of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that
they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. When
the money from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan was
spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, 'Give us food! Why
should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.' And Joseph
answered, 'Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in
exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.' So they brought
their livestock to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in exchange for
the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. That year he
supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock. When
that year was ended, they came to him the following year, and said to
him, 'We cannot hide from my lord that our money is all spent; and
the herds of cattle are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight
of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Shall we die before your
eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food.
We with our land will become slaves to Pharaoh; just give us seed, so
that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become
desolate.'
Devotional
----------
Joseph instituted new policies in Egypt on order to provide food for
the people. It ultimately involved people giving their money,
livestock and land to Pharaoh for bread. It was extreme but in the
end it saved the people. However, beyond that point it created more
slavery and dependence on Pharaoh. The people eventually suffered
greatly. Later, the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh became
necessary because the people of Israel had become slaves and were
without their own freedom. The Pharaoh literally played God with
people's lives.
Prayer
---------------
Let your justice rule and freedom be real for all people, Lord. Amen
----------
Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very
severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because
of the famine. Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land
of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that
they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. When
the money from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan was
spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, 'Give us food! Why
should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.' And Joseph
answered, 'Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in
exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.' So they brought
their livestock to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in exchange for
the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. That year he
supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock. When
that year was ended, they came to him the following year, and said to
him, 'We cannot hide from my lord that our money is all spent; and
the herds of cattle are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight
of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Shall we die before your
eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food.
We with our land will become slaves to Pharaoh; just give us seed, so
that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become
desolate.'
Devotional
----------
Joseph instituted new policies in Egypt on order to provide food for
the people. It ultimately involved people giving their money,
livestock and land to Pharaoh for bread. It was extreme but in the
end it saved the people. However, beyond that point it created more
slavery and dependence on Pharaoh. The people eventually suffered
greatly. Later, the confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh became
necessary because the people of Israel had become slaves and were
without their own freedom. The Pharaoh literally played God with
people's lives.
Prayer
---------------
Let your justice rule and freedom be real for all people, Lord. Amen