Today’s scripture: Genesis 41:37-57 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
Ever go to the grocery store when there is a threat of a snowstorm? You probably know what I mean; no bread, no milk, and no eggs. It can be hard to find them anywhere. I have never quite figured that out. It’s not like we are having a famine like they did in Egypt.
Can you imagine a famine that was affecting the entire world? As far as the people knew at the time when Pharaoh ruled the land of Egypt, this is what was happening.
Pharaoh entrusted Joseph with much because Pharaoh sensed he was filled with the spirit of God. No one else had the wisdom and knowledge like Joseph. After all, he was able to interpret his dream. “I’m putting you in charge of the entire country of Egypt” v.41.
Can you imagine what it felt like to be Joseph? Joseph, who had been tossed out by his brothers and all but dead and forgotten, now in charge of the entire country. He must have felt blessed!
In the years before the famine, as the crops were abundant, many of the crops were kept behind in the storehouses for a time such as this. Now, when it was most needed, Joseph was able to bless others by making it available. I don’t know if he was over charging or being fair to the people in so much need. Considering how he was blessed after going through so much difficulty, I will look at the compassionate side of the equation.
This makes me think about the famine experienced today. We can have a Meijer, Walmart, Kroger, and a Marsh within a few blocks of each other in some neighborhoods. Yet many of our inner cities have abundant liquor stores, cigarettes and junk food, and not much food that is truly nutritious. That sounds like a famine in our inner cities. Organizations like NationsWell and Food Trust are doing work to change this famine in our inner cities by influencing policies and helping to create avenues where the storehouses can come downtown out of the farm land so that everyone has access to healthy nutrition. Joseph started a trend.
This also makes me think about how we can be experiencing famine in our lives today. I recall many folks telling me at some point in their lives how it can be difficult to feel Gods grace or how difficult it is to feel good about one self. These can sometimes be a source of famine in our lives. But Jesus shared with us that we are blessed. Always! Remember the Be Attitudes in the Sermon the Mount? Even those who mourn and are poor in spirit are blessed. That can be difficult to hear. It is not so easy to feel it all the time. We have our friends, our family, our churches and our Oasis groups (small group at Church) to remind us and encourage us when the famine sets in. We should also be there for others as well; just like NationsWell and Food trust.
Thought for the day: Let others help you with your famine, but also help others with theirs.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.