Genesis 41:48
And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
During the seven plentiful years Joseph gathered the abundant harvest and laid it up in the cities in preparation for the coming famine, placing in each city the food of the field round about it. The preparation began at the very opening of the fruitful years, with immense storehouses erected under his direction in all the principal places throughout Egypt and ample arrangements made for preserving the surplus, and the gathering continued through the seven years. The grain gathered was so great in quantity that it was beyond computation and could not be counted, so counting stopped.
In this work he acted faithfully and wisely and in dependence on God. The stored supply sustained Egypt while other lands were perishing and greatly enriched the kingdom, leaving Pharaoh indebted to Joseph's God and to Joseph himself, and it enabled Joseph to supply his father and brethren liberally with food without any tax required of them.
The seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine were events limited by a given time that were once only a matter of prophecy and then occurred within that time exactly in accordance with the prediction. This shows that predicted time periods are fulfilled as foretold and gives reason to trust chronological periods in the Bible extending to the second coming of Christ as appointed times revealed by God.
Joseph's storing in the years of plenty to provide for the famine is an example of serving as a faithful representative of God in a foreign land, in the same way institutions are to serve the world. He gathered and laid up food in the years of plenty so he would have means to relieve distress when poverty swept over the land, and acting his part means using as far as means are provided to break every yoke, let the oppressed go free, and relieve prevailing distress. It means refusing to look on distress and pass by like the priest and Levite, recognizing that what is done to one of the least of Christ's brethren is done to Him, and wishing for more means in order to relieve more distress.