The Joseph CallingSample

The Famine That Leads to Freedom

F. B. Meyer in his book, The Life of Joseph, describes a time in the life of the twelve sons of Jacob in which they were driven from their lives of self-satisfaction to an unlikely place to save their lives. Many years earlier, they had thrown their youngest brother into a pit, then sold him into slavery. Thirteen years later, he became the second most powerful person in Egypt. Now the world was experiencing a famine, and Joseph controlled all the stored grain of Egypt.

As long as the hills were green and the pastures clothed with flocks, as long as the valleys were covered over with corn and rang with the songs of reapers, Reuben, Simeon, and the rest of them would have been unconcerned and content. But when the mighty famine came, the hearts of these men were opened to conviction. Their carnal security was shattered. They were being prepared for certain spiritual experiences they would never have dreamed. And they were being prepared for the meeting with Joseph. This is how God deals with us—he breaks up our nest, he loosens our roots, he sends a mighty famine that cuts away the whole staff of bread. Then, at such times—weary, worn, and sad—we are prepared to confess our sins and receive the words of Christ when he says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28 NIV).

Joseph was a type of Christ in the Old Testament. The famine was an event designed to bring the brothers to repentance and a saving knowledge, both physically and spiritually. The tragedy of the famine created the circumstances that led to freedom for these men, for they had been in bondage to a wicked crime against their brother for many years. It was forgiveness from Joseph that led to that freedom.

Is your life passing through a time of famine? Are your supplies limited? Is God leading you into directions that you would not normally seek? Perhaps this is God's hand creating circumstances for his purposes. Now is the time to look attentively as he directs you to unlikely sources.