The Book of Genesis
Part 94
Chapter 47:13-21
In the brief study appearing in the December issue we noticed the faithfulness of Joseph as an administrator to his own family, we must now consider events and see whether or not this same quality controlled his dealings with the people of the land, the Egyptians.
The Egyptians
There are critics who accuse Joseph of enslaving the inhabitants of Egypt, buying them and all their possessions. The people apparently did not think so. “They said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants” (47:25). The people obviously concluded that service to Pharaoh on any basis was not too great a price for being alive under such circumstances.
Joseph’s policy throughout his wise administration was to economize and to save during the years of plenty so that there would be food for all during the times of the predicted famine. In order to execute his plan, he placed overseers over the land and taxed each harvest. In this manner he made preparation for the future emergency.
In his administration of the food supplies, Joseph did not break the morale of the people by distributing relief rations, he sold them the food. In his wisdom he maintained their independence. He continued this plan when their money was exhausted by accepting their cattle as payment, and finally by accepting their lands and their persons. This did not result, as some have suggested, in slavery. The people became tenants at a fair rental instead of being proprietors.
It has been intimated by students of history that some such nationalization of the land was a necessity to break the influence of the old aristocracy. It was the rich who were directly affected, not the rank and file of the nation. Joseph actually freed the ordinary working class from the power and domination of the wealthy.
The sympathetic understanding of the needs of the people is seen in that “he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end thereof” (v. 21). As the provisions were stored in the cities, the people would be sure of nourishment and survival if they were closer to the sources of supplies.
The career of Joseph provides many useful illustrations of those Christian graces that ought to be seen in the life of the believer. Peter writes, “Be pitiful, be courteous: … rendering … blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.” Paul could have said of Joseph as he did of Timothy, “I have not a man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.” Would to God that we had among the assemblies of His people, men who would so love and care for them!