The Best of All the Land

Friday, June 12, 2020
And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.   Genesis 45:19-20

The Best of All the Land
Joseph was in Egypt for twenty-two years after his brothers sold him to some gypsies traveling through his homeland of Canaan. The day came when he found his brothers standing before him asking for help because there was a famine and they were out of food. They did not recognize Joseph. To make a long story short, Joseph eventually revealed who he was, and the story has a great ending.  Pharaoh told Joseph to tell his brothers to bring his father and only what they needed and come to Egypt to live in the land of Goshen, near Joseph. 

What a crazy story and wild ride.  Joseph could have reacted in revenge. He could have been bitter and angry with his brothers for selling him, and this would be the perfect opportunity for him to inflict some pain on them.  But even though they betrayed him, he received them with open arms.  He cried and told them to come near.  He not only would give them food, but he wanted them to move to Egypt to be near so he could take care of them, and his father. Pharaoh instructed Joseph to tell them to bring just what they needed because he was going to give them the riches of the land: And take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land. Genesis 45:18  Not only was he going to give them the very best when they arrived, he also provided them with all they would need to move – wagons for furniture, wagons for people, and provisions for the journey.  And Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes. Genesis 45:21-22  I am sure that no one was more surprised than Joseph’s brothers.  I can only imagine the fear that went through their minds when they discovered that not only was he alive, but he was the chief administrator of all Egypt.  

This story parallels our own story is many ways.  How we have betrayed our Savior, yet He still receives us, rescues us from perishing, and offers us the absolute best there is to have. God calls us into His glorious unknown and asks us to abandon our sinful desires, our “stuff”, our idols, our false saviors in order to relocate our hearts near Him.  And like Pharaoh did for Joseph’s family, He promises us the most glorious riches in return.  We need only to believe and go, and don’t look back. Whatever answers you believe lie in this world; you will find are empty but what He offers is guaranteed.

When we choose to follow Him there are things we must leave behind, to be able to accept what He will provide.  All He has for us is far better than anything we could drag along with us.  Yet, we insist on dragging many things that do nothing but serve as obstacles to the abundant life He has for us. Joseph promised his brothers that they bring nothing with them because he would provide them with everything they need. If they chose to go, the only thing they could do was trust him that he would make good on the promise he had made.  Our Heavenly Father makes us the same promise.  Follow Me – I will provide anything you need, and I am everything you need.

As God is exalted to the right place in our lives, a thousand problems are solved all at once.
– A.W. Tozer