The Offering
Genesis 45:16-28
Pharaoh is the one who invited Jacob and his family to live in Egypt.
When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.’ You are further charged to say, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Do not quarrel along the way.” So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. And they told him, “Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.” He was stunned; he could not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.” - Genesis 45:16-28
The offer to have a good life does not come from Joseph, but from Pharaoh himself.
He showed his gratitude and loyalty to Joseph by honoring his father and family.
Joseph is the savior of Egypt, so Pharaoh becomes the savior of Joseph’s family.
This is such a logical reaction to the news that Joseph’s brothers had come that we almost miss how rare such generosity and gratitude are today.
We can say it was nothing for Pharaoh, because of his great wealth, but if it wasn’t for Joseph, the people of Egypt would have starved. As Jesus has taught, all the money in the world is worthless compared to your treasures in heaven.
Pharaoh was not even a believer, but he knew how to say thank you.
Maybe there is a lesson in this for all of us who proudly profess our faith in public, acting like we alone are to be saved. Sure, we quote Jesus. Through his death and resurrection, we are saved, but look at what Pharaoh did for Joseph and his family.
Look at what Joseph did for Pharaoh and his people.
When we do for others, we do for God.
And all we do for God comes back to us a hundredfold.
So, we should be gracious, loving, giving, compassionate people, not because it will come to us in return, but because all of us are one. We are all God’s children.
As we journey through life, what can we do for others?
It is our question for this Lenten season.
More to come...