Summary of passage: All the food (except that stored by Joseph) was eaten in Egypt and Canaan during the famine. Joseph brought all the money in payment for the grain to Pharaoh and when all of the people’s money was gone the people came to Joseph, begging for food.
So Joseph began exchanging food for the people’s livestock. When the people’s livestock was gone, they had nothing left to sell except their land and their bodies. So all the land became Pharaoh’s and the people were reduced to servitude. All except the priests who were protected and fed by Pharaoh.
Joseph instructed the people to begin planting again but to give one-fifth of their crop to Pharaoh. This became law for all land except the priests’ land.
The Israelites settled in Goshen, acquired property, and were fruitful. Israel requested to be buried in the Promised Land.
Questions:
8a) That the Promised Land was in fact his–enough so to spent eternity there. That he believed in God’s covenant with him and his people.
b) Personal Question. My answer: The Bible says our home is in heaven. Our inheritance is in heaven. We are children of God. We exist for heavenly rewards, not earthly rewards.
This life is temporary. We are to do God’s work here and work for Him. Our time here is short and we are to live each day to the fullest for we do not know when God will call us home. We should look forward to that day when we get to spend eternity with God. We should not be afraid. If our work is done, we shall depart to a better place.
9a) First, the people were to use money to buy grain. Second, they were to use livestock once their money ran out. Finally, they were to sell their land and bodies as payment.
b) Personal Question. My answer: So the people didn’t get used to handouts from the government. The people still had to earn their food and work for it. This gives people a sense of pride and keeps the country prosperous.
c) No.
d) Personal Question. My answer: Discipline of kids and money.
Conclusions: I found this interesting cause I never really knew how the Israelites ended up in bondage in Egypt. This is one reason at least. Fascinating.
I too find it amazing, how God reduced them to nothing through Joseph and Pharaoh and eventually made labor slaves of them, my thought is the potter reshapes the clay when he is not satisfied with the results., as God did with his chosen people the Isralites. As a whole we forget from time to time (or for some all the time) who is in charge. May all the Glory be to God Almighty. Amen.
Amen.
It is amazing that we are never to BIG to fall. No matter how mighty and powerful we become in our own eyes, it can be taken away in the blink of “GOD,S eye. We need to remember we are the creations and HE IS the creator. He created us for His glory not ours. Every knee shall bend and every head shall bow. Praise GOD. Amen.
God bless and keep you his.