So many of us are going through hard times and there are a number of prayer requests regarding that, at this time. I am posting this for those who are battling at this time as it has bought me such comfort. In all of this we have to believe and really KNOW that our God, the Father of Jesus Christ, is the God of the IMPOSSIBLE. Amen to that!
PROVISION, FROM GOD'S STOREHOUSE
INTRODUCTION
We are living in interesting times. The world continues in a state of recession. The season of abundance seems to have come and gone and now the season of recession seems to be entrenching itself. People are finding that times are difficult and the effects of this difficulty seem to be affecting the whole world. Economies are shrinking and jobs are being lost. Just this week I read an article about depression. It said that depression is on the increase because people fear losing their jobs and this has caused an escalation in depression. As I was contemplating these issues, I began to realize that there is a story in the Bible about a similar situation that took place.
Scripture Reading:
Genesis 41:53 - 42:2 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.” When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world. When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
1. LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE
Life can be very unpredictable. In this story, a long season of abundance had given way to a season of lack. Abundance had given way to famine.
Genesis 41:53 ‘The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end!’
Although they had been told that there would be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine, they must have wondered if things would ever change. Seven years is a long time and perhaps they thought that this was just how life was and now this change! But in life, things change. What we thought would never change can and does change. It is not always what we expected or anticipated. I once heard someone say: ‘Life is what happens while you are making other plans!’ So here we see that what they had lived with for seven years had now changed. As my father used to say: ‘Constant change is here to stay!’
2. ALL ALONG THE WAY GOD HAD A PLAN
However, despite the changeability and unpredictability, God had a plan. Today, in the things you are facing, you too can know that God has a plan. God had raised up Joseph over many years and had given him a strategy to be able to handle the challenges of the next season. The answer to the next season was already provided! God had used Joseph to put a plan in place that would make provision for the years of famine. The plan was that during the years of abundance, the surplus would be set aside and stored, so that when the season changed there would be sufficient provision to see them through the lean years. This plan that God had given Joseph had been implemented and now God’s plan would become a reality. The accounts and stories in the Bible are always about the fact that God has a plan to see His people through and to bring His people closer to His plan for them. You may be facing difficulties and challenges today, but let me remind you that God has got a plan for you in your situation!
3. OBEYING GOD CAN BREAK THE STRANGLE-HOLD OF LACK
Genesis 41:54-55 There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
Initially they seemed to ‘buck the trend’.
Genesis 41:54 There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food.
But eventually the challenges and difficulties also reached them. This is so true in life. We may feel like we are exempt, but sooner or later the challenges of life also touch our lives. The Pharaoh had very good advice:
Genesis 41:55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”
We see this kind of advice in the life of Jesus also. There was a wedding and at this wedding they had run out of wine. Mary, Jesus’ mother asked Jesus what He could do. Then she said these words:
John 2:5 His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."
The Pharaoh told the Egyptians to do whatever Joseph told them to do. Now Mary tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. In both instances it resulted in provision. And for you and I, as we will listen to and do what God tells us to do, it will open the storehouse to God’s provision and supply in our lives. In fact, Jesus Christ is the key to the provision from God’s storehouse. Whatever He says to you, do it!
4. AT THE RIGHT TIME GOD WILL OPEN HIS STOREHOUSE
Genesis 41:56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt.
Why Joseph waited until the famine had spread to the whole country before the provision was made available, I do not know. Why God seems to wait until our situation is severe before He brings relief, I do not know. But this seems to be a pattern. Perhaps God is waiting for us to come to the end of ourselves, so that we will truly depend on Him? But whatever the case may be, when it got to this critical point, Joseph opened the storehouses! In the same way, when the time is right, God will open His storehouse for you! A storehouse is a repository of abundant supply and a source of provision! Jesus Christ is our access!
John 14:6 Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’
John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands.
Just as Joseph opened the storehouses to meet the need, so, at the right time, God will open the doors to His storehouse to meet your and my need!
5. WHEN GOD PROVIDES, IT IS ALSO A BLESSING TO OTHERS
Genesis 41:57 And all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the world.
The storehouse of provision that Joseph had created in Egypt, became a blessing to the entire then known world. The blessing and the provision was not just for Joseph or the Egyptians. It was for everyone. The nations of the world came to receive provision from these storehouses. When God provides it is not so that we can keep it to ourselves, it is so that we can be a blessing to others in the process. It is interesting to read that all the countries came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph. Not from the Egyptians! Joseph was God’s man for that moment.
Hebrews 1:1-3 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.
Jesus is our access to all that God has pre-prepared and what He provides is meant to be a blessing to us and to those around us!
6. GO TO THE SOURCE FOR YOUR PROVISION
We often look to so many things for our provision and supply! Sometimes we may not even know what to do. But we must go to the source to find what we need.
Genesis 42:1-2 When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
Isn’t it strange that when there is a problem we start looking to everyone else to solve our problems. Jacob asked his sons: ‘Why do you just keep looking at each other?’ We do the same, we want our spouse to solve the problem, we want our parents to solve the problem, we want our employer to solve our problem or we want our government to solve our problem. But the truth is we must get to the source.
James 1:7 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Jacob was a wise old man and he told his sons to get to where the provision was. You and I must do the same. Stop looking to all the wrong sources, when God is the source and the provider!
(By: Andrew W Roebert )
