Tues.’s Devo - When All Else Fails… God Has A Plan!!!

Read Gen. 47:12-27 Today’s scripture blesses me in a very personal way. My husband came home last night with concerns about his future at the place he works. They are restructuring and looking for ways to cut and it may greatly affect us. When I read today’s reading I saw it in a brand new way. The famine has been going on for years and the people have run out of money to buy grain so they come to Joseph who is the only one with grain. Joseph tells them to give him their cattle and he will give them grain. God reminded me that Israel kept the kings cattle, so Israel and all his sons got all the cattle of the land. So not only did God provide for Israel and his family but they prospered and multiplied during the time of famine. Everyone else lost their money, land, and cattle. Israel received free land, abundant grain, and now everyone’s cattle. Verse 27 sums it up, “Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.” As for the people, they felt blessed too because they gave everything they had to Joseph and he in turn gave them land and seed to plant and the ability to make their own way during this hard time. He only required one-fifth of their increase. The priests were exempt like Israel. So the ones that prosper during hard times are the ones who “draw near” and the priests whose business is the Lord’s. I’m sure that his priests were not godly priests but they were a type of God’s priests. We are to be a part of God’s priesthood who dwell in the presence of the Lord and we are called to live in the land of Goshen (“drawing near”) so that the famine of the world doesn’t affect our production and our prospering. I feel much better about our future! Lord, thank you for bringing a word in due season. Your truths are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. (Prov. 25:11)