There’s a fair bit happening in this chapter, so I’ll attempt to summarize.
The first main section which bookends the chapter is the settling of Joseph’s family in Goshen. With Pharaoh’s blessing, Israel and his descendants are not only given the best ranch land, they are given all of Pharaoh’s livestock to care for, since shepherds are despised by Egyptians and nobody wants the job, and the nation of Israel are generational shepherds (see also ch46:31-34). They, like Joseph, are entrusted with Pharaoh’s riches. “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.’ ” (v5-6)
The second main section is how Joseph continues to make Egypt (specifically Pharaoh) wealthier, despite the famine. Eventually the people no longer had money to purchase food from Joseph, so he took livestock in exchange. The year after that, they no longer had money or livestock so Joseph took land in exchange. “So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he made servants of them from one end of Egypt to the other. Then Joseph said to the people, ‘Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.’ ” (v20-21,23-24) I’m not sure what this sounds like to you, but to me it sounds like paying taxes to the government… in fact this could be one of the earliest recorded instances of paying taxes – thanks a lot Joseph (just kidding, I understand the importance of paying taxes).
What really stuck out to me is this verse: “And [the Egyptian people] said, ‘You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.’ ” (v25) Interesting. That reminds me of this verse: “Dear friends… Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” (Php 2:12b) Just as Joseph (Pharaoh) spared the lives of the Egyptians and they in return became voluntary servants, God (through Jesus) has spared our lives, and we are called to be voluntary servants. Pharaoh received not only the people’s labor, but a portion of their produce helped build Pharaoh’s kingdom. God not only receives our labor, but what we produce (in conjunction with the Holy Spirit of course) helps build His kingdom, both on earth and in eternity.
Father God, we humbly come before You under the gift of Your grace. We commit ourselves as obedient servants of righteousness which leads to sanctification. Thank you for setting us free from sin, and enabling us to both receive and bear fruit that leads sanctification and eternal life. We know that Your free gift is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, so may You please teach us to become fully devoted followers and servants in response to the gift which we have received. For it is by Your grace alone we have been saved, not our own works. We are not our own, we were bought with a price. May we learn to honor You with all that we say and do. (Rom 6:15-23, Eph 2:8-9, 1 Cor 6:19b-20 par)
~ Conqueror in Training