Genesis 41:56
And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
The seven years of plenty came to an end and the seven years of famine began exactly as Joseph had predicted. The lack of food was in all lands and over all the face of the earth, and the famine grew severe in Egypt. Yet in all the land of Egypt there was bread, because grain had been laid up beforehand. As faithful ruler over Egypt, continually depending on God, Joseph had traveled throughout Egypt, commanded immense storehouses to be built, and with clear mind and excellent judgment had gathered the abundant food of the good years into the cities.
When all Egypt was hungry and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh told all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he said. Joseph then opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians. The stored supplies had been gathered in preparation for the famine, and the grain that had been saved was now sold to meet the need.
The famine reached across the earth to the land of Canaan, where it pressed hard on the district where Jacob lived. People from other lands traveled to Egypt to buy food, and Joseph's stored provisions gave Jacob and his family a way to obtain food and live. Because of that abundant provision made under the king in Egypt, ten of Jacob's sons journeyed there to purchase grain and were brought before the king's deputy.
Through Joseph God preserved Egypt from famine and kept the whole nation alive, making him a fountain and source of life to the people through his integrity. This physical deliverance was an object lesson illustrating the spiritual blessings offered to the world through connection with the God Joseph worshiped. Joseph's role in Egypt is a model for religious institutions today, that they are to be a benefit to the world. As Joseph brought blessing to Egypt, God desires to bring blessing to the world through His people today, with every worker in whom Christ abides imparting spiritual life to others and with sanitariums serving as rivers of life and healing for body and soul. Joseph's opening of the storehouses and selling of food in severe famine is an example of using available means to relieve people in distress, applied to relief work that can ease poverty and free the oppressed.