Before we move on to Genesis chapter 42 in our continued study of the
life of Joseph, I want to take the time today to review chapter 41. In
looking back on all the various events that have taken place so far, how
would you describe Joseph's eleven-year climb to the top? What have you
personally learned from Joseph's path of success? What can we, as Christians,
learn from Joseph's plan to guide Egypt through the years of abundance
and famine? One of the sweetest things about studying the Word of God
is that the Holy Spirit can take scripture and minister to each one of
us in a specific and personal way though we are all reading the same blessed
words! It would be a shame for us to read these holy and historical accounts
of saints gone by without listening hearts, amen? As I personally look
back, what stood out most of all to me in chapter 41 is summed up in verse
56:
And Joseph opened all the storehouses....
I would have like to have been there at that very moment! Can you visualize
what effect this act must have had on these famished people as they witnessed
the abundance of food to be had? Can you imagine how Joseph must have
felt in knowing that he could supply more than sufficient help for the
hunger pains these people were experiencing? But yet, there was to be
a cost put before them all before they could ever taste of the provisions…
Let's consider for a moment the meaning of the word "storehouse". As you
know this word is a compound word, one word made up of two words. 'Store'
is defined as: to furnish, to supply, to replenish; to stock against a
future time. In a general sense, 'house' is defined as: a building or
shed intended to use as a habitation or shelter, a dwelling place. Putting
the two words together, we get a combined look at the picture this word
paints for us in scripture today... 'Storehouse' means: a building for
keeping grain or goods of any kind, a place for keeping treasures or supplies.
Amos 3:10
For they know not to do right, saith the Lord, who store up violence and
robbery in their palaces.
Ladies, in looking back on Genesis chapter 41, I want each of you to consider
your storehouses today. Are you doing right? Do you have anything put
away for the purpose and intent of furnishing, supplying or replenishing
others? As Pharaoh pointed hungry, suffering people in Joseph's direction
for help, could others point hunger-stricken people in your direction
for assistance? Are you as prepared as Joseph was to meet the needs of
thousands if necessary? Could you wisely guide others through years of
abundance as well as famine? Would you be as willing as Joseph was to
share your abundance? If the doors of your storehouses were thrown open
before a lost and dying world today, what exactly would spill out before
the people's waiting eyes? You must consider the contents for God's hand
is upon our storehouses today - one way or another. He has the power to
make us either plenteous or void altogether of prosperity. We must therefore
soberly regard every choice we make. We block God's blessings by our own
disobedience… However, it is the Lord's delight to bless His faithful
children! Have your choices caused you to store up sin that would bring
God's wrath upon your life?
Deut. 28:15-20
But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of
the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes
which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee,
and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt
thou be in the field. Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. Cursed
shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase
of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Cursed shalt thou be when thou
comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall
send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest
thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish
quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken
me.
Yes, God's children must avoid the practice of vile sins and live out
righteousness and in turn receive God's blessing! Just as Joseph charged
the people for the food they came for, there is going to be a cost to
you and me; there is a price to pay should we desire God's blessing upon
our lives. We must hearken diligently to God's voice if we would avoid
the threat of the loss of prosperity…
Deut. 28:2-6
And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou
shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. Blessed shalt thou be
in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. Blessed shall be
the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy
cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. Blessed
shall be thy basket and thy store. Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest
in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Our storehouses are actually a picture of the depth of our relationship
with the Lord. Joseph's storehouses were full of wholesome, satisfying
foods because his relationship with the Lord was pure and profound. What
a pity today that so many of God's people live shallow Christian lives
and not at all to the glory of God! Ladies, it is imperative that you
and I are storing away treasures with which to furnish empty people, with
which to supply hurting hearts, with which to replenish struggling souls
- found in our relationship with Jesus Christ. Joseph willingly and widely
opened the doors of his storehouses because his sufficiency was rooted
in the Lord. He had no fear of running out of grace to help in time of
need no matter how many came to him…
Psalm 33:7
He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the
depth in storehouses.
Yes, we've taken some time to review Genesis chapter 41 today, but we
must often review our own lives too. What is the status of your walk with
the Lord right now? Are you busy filling storehouse after storehouse with
the richness of the treasures you've found in Christ or have you only
barely filled one? How many people beside yourself are you prepared to
feed spiritually? Are there any storehouse doors you've kept locked to
man because of your unwillingness to open yourself up to people? What's
been dwelling inside of you all these years? More than just a few wretched
crumbs, I hope…
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003