2. Down and out!

There was no food in the whole nation. People were suffering from hunger. It lasted seven years.

All the Egyptians went to Joseph, Pharaoh’s right-hand man, saying they had no more money to buy grain. This resulted in them selling their livestock, which was enough to feed them for a year.

After that year, their money was gone and their livestock. They had nothing else left to sell but their land and even themselves as slaves. They had to sell all their means of supporting themselves and even lost their freedom.

Joseph stepped in when they were completely down and out, having nothing left. “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields.” There was a condition attached. They had to give 20% of their income to Pharaoh and live off the rest.

The Bible story of Joseph gives us a shadow of the life of Christ, pointing us to the redeeming work of Christ. Many instances in Joseph’s life show great similarity with that of Jesus. Joseph was sold for the price of a slave; so was Jesus. Joseph provided bread; Jesus is the Bread of Life! Joseph bought the people; Jesus bought you and me.

It seems that we must be brought down almost to our hands and knees, to be at our wit's end, before we submit to the Lordship of Christ – just as the Egyptians had to be thoroughly humbled before Joseph.

God can use financial disaster to ‘bring us to our knees’ so that we can acknowledge our need for Him.

We must realise that we have been bought – a takeover has occurred. We are no longer our own. When we are on our knees, we can cry out, “I can’t– but You can!” Pride comes before a fall, but humility comes before being raised up.

Just as Joseph provided for the people, Jesus can provide for us. However, this also comes with a condition. Seek His interests first, give Him the first of our income to acknowledge that we are merely returning what is His in the first place.

Honour Him with your money by giving Him the best part, and He will respond by providing all you need.