Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine.
And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”
Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread. Gen 47:13-17 (You should read through vs. 27)
We can learn a lesson from Egypt, the big government of that day.
Times got hard.
Things were very severe and the money failed! (You did catch that didn’t you?)
The government had subsidized the food industry and therefore owned it.
The people came to the government and said, “Help us!”
The government took over their livestock and gave them food for it.
Now livestock was the workhorse of the day. The government now owns the job industry and when you work, you work for the government.
But after a year, the government handout of food wasn’t enough and the people came back and said, “Help us!”
They promised their land and their own servitude in exchange for food.
The government agreed.
The government now owned the food, the work industry, the land, and the people.
The people now had to work land, they didn’t own, with livestock, they didn’t own, and then pay taxes to the government at the rate of 20% right off the top.
This is what happens when people become dependant on the government.
Meanwhile, Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. Gen 47:27
Those dependant upon God, living in the same famine-raged land, HAD POSSESSIONS, GREW, and MULTIPLIED EXCEEDINGLY.
This is what happens when people become dependant on God.
He Blesses!