Genesis 41:34-36 KJV
Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
Nothing theologically profound today, but something very practical. The famine that hit Egypt not only impacted that land but all of Canaan as well. I do not know that the seven years of plenty had been in Canaan, but one might assume it. Yet only in Egypt was there food in store because only in Egypt had someone heard from and obeyed the Lord. I can see those in Canaan enjoying their plenty as if it would last forever, living as if there were no such things as famines, spending as if the plenty would last a lifetime. But it did not.
Cycles of plenty and then famine occur on some level to all of us.
I was speaking with a preacher friend a short while ago. He is now retired from the pastorate but still active and financially, secure. I asked him how he had prepared for this stage in his life and his answer was very simple. He said, "Brother McKenzie, I have always been a saver, not a spender." What great counsel. His advice had nothing to do with a particular plan or program to prepare for retirement. It was just this simple, save, don't spend.
The fact that we have it today is no guarantee that it will be there tomorrow. God's warning to Pharaoh and Joseph's counsel concerning it would make good wisdom for us all;
Store up against the famine.
Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
Nothing theologically profound today, but something very practical. The famine that hit Egypt not only impacted that land but all of Canaan as well. I do not know that the seven years of plenty had been in Canaan, but one might assume it. Yet only in Egypt was there food in store because only in Egypt had someone heard from and obeyed the Lord. I can see those in Canaan enjoying their plenty as if it would last forever, living as if there were no such things as famines, spending as if the plenty would last a lifetime. But it did not.
Cycles of plenty and then famine occur on some level to all of us.
I was speaking with a preacher friend a short while ago. He is now retired from the pastorate but still active and financially, secure. I asked him how he had prepared for this stage in his life and his answer was very simple. He said, "Brother McKenzie, I have always been a saver, not a spender." What great counsel. His advice had nothing to do with a particular plan or program to prepare for retirement. It was just this simple, save, don't spend.
The fact that we have it today is no guarantee that it will be there tomorrow. God's warning to Pharaoh and Joseph's counsel concerning it would make good wisdom for us all;
Store up against the famine.
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