Genesis 45:16-20: a reflection

16The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan. 18Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’ 19Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”

When Pharaoh hears that Joseph's brothers have come, he responds with striking generosity. He invites Joseph's whole family to come and settle in Egypt, promising them the good of the land, the best it has to offer. And he adds a telling instruction: do not concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. They were not to cling to the possessions they would leave behind, for something far better awaited them.

Notice the invitation, and the instruction not to cling to what they were leaving. Pharaoh offered them the good of all Egypt, abundant provision, far more than they had; and he told them not to worry about the belongings they would leave in Canaan, for what awaited them was better. To cling to their old possessions would have been foolish when the good of all Egypt was being offered them; the greater gift made the lesser things not worth clinging to.

That instruction, do not cling to your belongings, for the good of the land is yours, has an echo for us. God offers his people good things, provision, and finally an inheritance far greater than anything we would leave behind. And to cling anxiously to lesser things, to the belongings and securities we would have to let go, is as foolish as clinging to old possessions when the good of all Egypt is offered. Do not cling anxiously to the lesser things you might have to leave behind, when God offers you far better. Hold the belongings and securities of this life loosely, as the family was told not to worry about theirs; for what God has for his people is greater than what they leave behind. Let the greater good God offers free you from clinging to the lesser things, as the good of all Egypt freed Joseph's family from concern for their belongings in Canaan.

Lord, when Pharaoh heard that Joseph's brothers had come, he invited their whole family to settle in Egypt and enjoy the good of the land, telling them not to concern themselves about their belongings, for the good of all Egypt was theirs; the greater gift made the lesser things not worth clinging to. Let that instruction echo for me. You offer your people good things, provision, and finally an inheritance far greater than anything we would leave behind. And to cling anxiously to lesser things, to the belongings and securities I would have to let go, is as foolish as clinging to old possessions when the good of all Egypt is offered. Keep me from clinging anxiously to the lesser things I might have to leave behind, when you offer me far better. Help me hold the belongings and securities of this life loosely, as the family was told not to worry about theirs; for what you have for your people is greater than what they leave behind. Let the greater good you offer free me from clinging to the lesser things, Lord, as the good of all Egypt freed Joseph's family from concern for their belongings. Loosen my grip on lesser things, and fix my hope on your greater gift.