When we left Joseph last, he was faring pretty well having just been
elevated to second in command next to Pharaoh. Little did Joseph know
when he gave Pharaoh counsel in regard to the coming famine that he would
soon be in a position of having to follow his own advice! You see, at
the time of Pharaoh's dream Joseph was just a prisoner, surviving at the
mercy of those who had authority over him. Now that he was free and out
on his own, we are provided with the opportunity of observing how Joseph
personally deals with reality in Genesis 41:45-49…
And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to
wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went
out over all the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he
stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence
of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven
plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up
all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and
laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round
about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as
the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without
number.
Many children look forward to the day when they have the opportunity of
being out on their own in this world. Growing up, I remember talking often
of the way I would conduct my life once I was out from underneath authority
and able to "be my own boss". When my children were younger, they always
said they couldn't wait to be a grown up and eat as much dessert as they
wanted! (Life is surely more complicated than that, amen?) Scores of young
people boast of the way they will handle particular issues of which they
might face. Yet in many instances our responses to the details of life
turn out differently than we predicted! Not so in the life of Joseph…
Pharaoh had freed him and given him a new name and he now had a fresh
start on his life. Likewise, the Lord has done the same for those of us
who are born-again…
2 Cor. 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Will we waste such a great beginning stretched out before us?? Because
his beliefs were deeply rooted in the Word of God, the counsel that Joseph
gave to others, he lived by himself! He heeded God's warning of famine
to Pharaoh and took God's Word seriously and then lived by it. We find
in our text today that Joseph exercised forethought and wisely prepared
himself for a prosperous future by gathering while it was time to gather!
As a matter of fact, he gathered so much food that he stopped numbering
how much he had! After having been imprisoned for so long, Joseph could
have employed this time on his own to "live it up"; yet he understood
a famine was coming and therefore lived responsibly.
Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass
on, and are punished.
Ladies, are you equally prepared for tough times? Would you live any differently
if you knew a similar severe set of circumstances was headed your way?
Do you regard heavenly reproof and adjust your daily activities accordingly?
Are you engaged in useful and important labors that will improve your
future? It's true that we have all eternity to celebrate our victories,
but we only have a short time in which to win them! Years of plenty will
end. Therefore, it is a waste of our time and effort when we get caught
up in chasing down material blessings and that which is not ultimately
satisfying to our soul! Are you teaching the children who are still under
your authority to diligently gather wisdom from the Lord while they are
still under your roof? One day when they are out on their own, they will
be faced with many opportunities and circumstances - even a time of famine.
Will they apply the wisdom of God that they have accumulated over the
years to their own affairs or toss it aside and "live it up" because they
are finally "free"? A large portion of our troubles - and theirs - could
be avoided if we would just attend to God's voice every day! He will show
us how to step out of the way of evil. However, those who slight God's
provision will be malnourished…
Isaiah 55:2
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour
for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye
that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Psalm 107:9
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Before the famine ever hit, Joseph was starving for that which was good
and right! He had an appetite for pleasing God and living for Him. What
is your strongest appetite today, dear lady? Where are your desires being
directed? What are some things you'd never give up; no matter how much
money you were offered for them? If you're not sure of your answers, check
out where most of your time and effort is being spent and you'll soon
discover them!
Matthew 6:21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Ladies, lost time is never found again, only answered for! We need to
remind our children of this truth as well as ourselves. He who has no
vision of either the future or eternity will never get a true hold of
the present and the way it should be spent. Joseph was diligent about
laying up in store a good foundation for himself against the time to come.
May we follow his prudent example - and his advice - and be as conscientious
to store up treasures in heaven while we still have time left to gather!
How could you make an investment in eternity today?
1 Tim. 6:19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to
come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
TIME
It's up to me to use it.
I must suffer if I lose it.
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003