Genesis 47:1-6: a reflection

1Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” 2From among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. 3Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.” 4They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”

When famine drives Joseph's family from their homeland, they find that God has already placed Joseph ahead of them, in a position to provide for them and settle them in the best of the land. Joseph presented his father and brothers to Pharaoh, the account says; and Pharaoh said, make your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in Goshen. Joseph's family had come out of Canaan because the famine was severe; they were in need, refugees seeking pasture and food. But God had, years before, placed Joseph in Egypt and raised him to a position where he could provide for them; so that when they came in need, there was already one in place to receive them and settle them in the best land. God had prepared provision through the one he placed ahead. This shows God's providence providing for his people through one he placed ahead of time. God provides for his people, often through someone he placed ahead of time. God's providence prepares provision before the need arrives. What looks like hardship may be part of God's provision, placed ahead. Trust that God may have prepared provision you cannot yet see.

Notice how God's provision was already in place when the need came. Joseph's family were driven from Canaan by a severe famine; they came to Egypt in real need, seeking food and pasture, refugees in a foreign land. But they did not come to an empty situation; God had, years before, placed Joseph in Egypt, through a long and painful path, and raised him to a position of great authority, precisely so that he could provide for his family and many others in the famine. So when the family came in need, there was already one in place to receive them, provide for them, and settle them in the best of the land. God had prepared the provision before the need arrived, through the one he had placed ahead. This reveals something reassuring about God's providence. God often provides for his people not by responding to needs only after they arise, but by preparing provision ahead of time, placing someone or something in position before the need comes. What looks, at one point, like hardship or a strange path, Joseph's earlier suffering and rise, can be, in God's providence, the very means of provision, placed ahead for a need not yet felt. This encourages us to trust God's providence, which may have prepared provision for us that we cannot yet see, placing what we will need ahead of the need. We do well to trust that God, in his providence, may have prepared provision for us ahead of time, placing what we need before we know we need it. Trust that God's providence may have prepared provision ahead of your need. God often provides through someone or something placed ahead of time. What looks like hardship may be part of God's provision, placed in position. Do not despair in need; God may have prepared what you cannot yet see.

That is worth resting in, for God's providence provides for his people through what he places ahead of time, and we can trust it, as God had placed Joseph ahead to provide for his family. We can despair in need, seeing no provision; but God had, years before, placed Joseph in Egypt to provide for his family when the famine came. God provides ahead. When you are in need and see no provision, do not despair; God may have prepared provision ahead of time, placing what you need before you knew you would need it. Trust that God, in his providence, may have prepared provision for you ahead of your need, placing someone or something in position before the need arrives, as when famine drove Joseph's family from their homeland they found that God had already placed Joseph ahead of them, in a position to provide for them and settle them in the best of the land, since Pharaoh told Joseph to make his father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; for Joseph's family had come out of Canaan because the famine was severe and were in real need, but God had years before placed Joseph in Egypt and raised him to a position where he could provide for them, so that when they came in need there was already one in place to receive them and settle them, God having prepared provision through the one he placed ahead, which reveals something reassuring about God's providence, that he often provides for his people not by responding to needs only after they arise but by preparing provision ahead of time and placing someone or something in position before the need comes, so that what looks at one point like hardship or a strange path, as Joseph's earlier suffering and rise, can be in God's providence the very means of provision placed ahead for a need not yet felt, which encourages us to trust God's providence that may have prepared provision for us we cannot yet see, so that we do well to trust that God may have prepared provision for us ahead of time.

Lord, when famine drives Joseph's family from their homeland, they find that you have already placed Joseph ahead of them, in a position to provide for them and settle them in the best of the land. Joseph presented his father and brothers to Pharaoh, the account says; and Pharaoh said, make your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in Goshen. Joseph's family had come out of Canaan because the famine was severe; they were in need, refugees seeking pasture and food. But you had, years before, placed Joseph in Egypt and raised him to a position where he could provide for them; so that when they came in need, there was already one in place to receive them and settle them in the best land. You had prepared provision through the one you placed ahead. Show me how your provision was already in place when the need came. Joseph's family were driven from Canaan by a severe famine; they came to Egypt in real need, refugees in a foreign land. But they did not come to an empty situation; you had, years before, placed Joseph in Egypt, through a long and painful path, and raised him to a position of great authority, precisely so that he could provide for his family in the famine. So when they came in need, there was already one in place to receive them and settle them in the best of the land. You had prepared the provision before the need arrived. This reveals something reassuring about your providence. You often provide for your people not by responding to needs only after they arise, but by preparing provision ahead of time, placing someone or something in position before the need comes. What looks, at one point, like hardship or a strange path can be, in your providence, the very means of provision, placed ahead for a need not yet felt. Take that to my heart. When I am in need and see no provision, keep me from despair; help me trust, Lord, that you may have prepared provision ahead of time, placing what I need before I knew I would need it, and that what looks like hardship may be part of your provision, placed in position by your providence.