Looking back

Genesis 47:23-26

Have you ever entered into a relationship in a business or even a partnership and later, looking back, you understand it could have been a great deal worse?  If you were an Egyptian in the time of Joseph, and sold your land and yourself for food, it is the darkest days of your life.  Having always known freedom, it may be difficult to grasp the full effect of what these people have agreed to; they are Pharaoh’s and they must go where he tells them, and do what he tells them to do. 

But as they looked back on the deal they made, it was die or make a deal with the only thing they had left of value, themselves and their land.  And this was the deal; “Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh.  Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.  And at the harvest you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.”  And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.”

It was not that bad a deal, compared to what you and I pay in taxes, for the Egyptian’s were only paying 20% of what they made in a tax to Pharaoh.  But unlike you and I they gave up the freedom to go and do whatever their heart led them to do. 

Who owns you?  Who is your master?  Have you entered into any binding agreements?  I did at the age of twenty-seven, and so did you if you are in Christ!  Each of us who enter into Christ and all who enter into His covenant have given up our right to do as we please.

The apostle John states in John 8:31, “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  You and I may be as foolish as the Jews that Jesus is talking to, because they said in so many words, you are crazy, we have always been free; did you have the same thoughts?  What did Jesus set you free from?  It is sin that separates you from God, from sin that wants to place you in bondage and steal your hope and joy, and from fellowship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, just to mention a few.

From The Back Porch,

Bob Rice