Famine

 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.
Genesis 41:57 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/gen.41.57.ESV

God miraculously used Joseph to provide for the ancient world during a global famine. What his brothers intended for harm, God used for the good of many people. His brothers sold him into slavery, and in a rags to riches story, he became prime minister of Egypt.

God gave Joseph the wisdom and prudence to store up grain in the seven years of plenty, so that there was enough to go around in the seven years of famine. Joseph was a proper prime minister, who by definition is meant to be the leading public servant of the nation. He wasn't just out for lining his own pockets and belly.

Joseph looked out not only for his own people, but also for economic migrants/refugees from the natural disaster that ravaged the world. All very good, but what can we learn for ourselves? There's a spiritual lesson to be learnt in this story.

Joseph is a picture of Christ, the 'bread of life' who came from heaven to satisfy those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, in this spiritually barren world. Spiritually, the world is in famine, and we must come to Christ for the sustenance that our spirits need. Thankfully, Joseph's generosity is simply a pale shadow of the prodigious love of God for needy sinners like us.

'Heavenly Father, we praise You for the spiritual sustenance that is found in Christ. May we come to Him for the righteousness our souls must surely hunger and thirst for, in His name, amen'

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