City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47 During the seven plentiful years the earth produced abundantly, 48 and he gathered up all the food of these seven years, which occurred in the land of Egypt, and put the food in the cities. He put in every city the food from the fields around it. 49 And Joseph stored up grain in great abundance, like the sand of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured. 50 Before the year of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph. Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore them to him. 51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. ‘For,’ he said, ‘God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.’ 52 The name of the second he called Ephraim, ‘For God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.’ 53 The seven years of plenty that occurred in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55 When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph. What he says to you, do.’ 56 So when the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57 Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth.”

Genesis 41:46-57 (ESV)

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”

Matthew 10:16 (ESV)

Megan’s Musings

This passage is chock-full of business lessons: 

1. Don’t hide behind a high position. Joseph had become the second in command in all of Egypt, right behind Pharaoh. He could have said, after thirteen years of slavery in Egypt, I have earned the right to rest, eat, drink, and be merry. No, not for Joseph. Despite his high position, he doesn’t just give orders, he goes in person throughout Egypt to assess the situation and provide solutions. All of his years of work ethic and leadership have come to this moment, to save the known world from starvation. 
2. Prepare for future problems. Joseph knew a disaster was coming, and he prepares thoroughly for it. Proverbs 6:6-8 says: “6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” Interestingly, the Book of Proverbs predates Aesop’s fable of The Ant and the Grasshopper. 
3. Involve others. Preparing for seven years of famine isn’t done by Joseph himself, he involves everyone in the plan. It takes many people to make it a success. 
4. Have a balanced life. Joseph isn’t just focused on work, he focuses on his family and his relationship with God. The name Manasseh tells the reader Joseph did not forget his family entirely, he stops thinking of his past hurts and hardships. The name Ephraim says God was with Joseph in his most difficult moments, and even made him successful. 
5. Be trustworthy. All of Joseph’s years of building trust with others have come to the moment in time where Pharaoh trusts Joseph with the well-being of his people. 
6. Practice wisdom. Joseph doesn’t just give the Egyptians grain, after all, they would have taken more than they needed, or even racketeered their grain to starving foreigners. Joseph knew how to move the economy forward even in tough times. The benefits of Joseph’s wisdom and discernment (Genesis 41:33, 39) reaches far beyond the land where foreigners are also suffering from famine. 

Application

God does not guarantee an easy or a successful life on this earth. Joseph’s success was due to choosing good work ethic and faith in God despite his troubles. Jesus told his disciples they would have trouble, and to be smart while also being pure in heart. 

Maybe the troubles you are experiencing now are preparing you for a great responsibility later. Or maybe you’re in a peaceful season. Whatever your work or life season looks like right now, be wise and discerning and pure of heart.   

Prayer

            Dear Lord, help me to be wise and discerning and pure of heart in my work and my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.