And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
During Egypt's seven years of plenty Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, an immense and immeasurable surplus until it was without number and numbering was left off. The gathering belonged to the plenteous years foretold in Genesis 41:28-54, when seven years of plenty were to be followed by seven years of famine. At the very opening of the fruitful years he began preparing for the approaching famine by directing the erection of immense store-houses in all the principal places throughout Egypt and making ample arrangements for preserving the surplus of the expected harvest. That same work of careful storage continued through the seven years until the amount laid in store was beyond computation, in preparation for the famine that followed.
Those seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine were once only a matter of prophecy, and the events limited by them were fulfilled in accordance with the prediction. This fulfillment shows that predicted events occur, often within a given time. It proves that the chronological portions of the Bible point to the time of the second coming of Christ. By wisdom given by the God of Joseph, the stored grain gave Egypt enough while other lands were perishing and greatly enriched the kingdom. It left Pharaoh and his rulers indebted to God and to Joseph, and it allowed Joseph to supply his father and his brothers liberally with food without any tax upon them.
Joseph in Egypt is an example of service whose effects reached the world, seen in the abundant grain he gathered there. His gathering and storing of food to meet widespread poverty and distress shows what it means to act the part of Joseph. It means using the means the Lord provides to relieve prevailing distress, to break every yoke and let the oppressed go free, instead of passing by people in need. It means wishing for more means in order to relieve more distress.
During Egypt's seven years of plenty Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, an immense and immeasurable surplus until it was without number and numbering was left off. The gathering belonged to the plenteous years foretold in Genesis 41:28-54, when seven years of plenty were to be followed by seven years of famine. At the very opening of the fruitful years he began preparing for the approaching famine by directing the erection of immense store-houses in all the principal places throughout Egypt and making ample arrangements for preserving the surplus of the expected harvest. That same work of careful storage continued through the seven years until the amount laid in store was beyond computation, in preparation for the famine that followed.
Those seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine were once only a matter of prophecy, and the events limited by them were fulfilled in accordance with the prediction. This fulfillment shows that predicted events occur, often within a given time. It proves that the chronological portions of the Bible point to the time of the second coming of Christ. By wisdom given by the God of Joseph, the stored grain gave Egypt enough while other lands were perishing and greatly enriched the kingdom. It left Pharaoh and his rulers indebted to God and to Joseph, and it allowed Joseph to supply his father and his brothers liberally with food without any tax upon them.
Joseph in Egypt is an example of service whose effects reached the world, seen in the abundant grain he gathered there. His gathering and storing of food to meet widespread poverty and distress shows what it means to act the part of Joseph. It means using the means the Lord provides to relieve prevailing distress, to break every yoke and let the oppressed go free, instead of passing by people in need. It means wishing for more means in order to relieve more distress.