FoodinFAMINE

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-y'chi, which means, "and he lived." The title comes from Gen. 47:28: "And Jacob lived (haya - breathing, live, alive, save, quicken, revive, life, recover, remain alive, live prosperously, live forever, be restored to life or health, preserve alive, to revive from discouragement or death) in the land of Egypt (misrayim/masor/sur - Egypt, Egyptians/besieged places, fortified, limit, distress, fortress/lay siege, adversaries, assault, bind up, confine, to press upon, to compress) seventeen years. So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years."

     Looking at the Hebrew meanings of the words used in the above verse, we can say that Jacob (and his family) found their lives preserved, restored, and even prospered, in a place of danger, limitations and confinement. They found this preserved life because of the calling of God on Joseph's life. Joseph said: "...And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." (Gen. 45:5-7, excerpt). Joseph was ordained to keep Jacob/Israel alive during a time of severe famine, and for the sake of the future generations of Israel, in the unlikely nation of Egypt, ruled by Pharaoh. Because of the favor that Joseph had received from Pharaoh because Joseph was a man filled with the Spirit and wisdom of God, Pharaoh gave the best land in Egypt to be occupied by Jacob and his family. (see Gen. 45:16-20).

     There were still five years of famine to endure in Egypt after Jacob and his sons came to dwell there. (Gen. 45:6). As our reading begins in Genesis Ch. 47, we are presented with a strange series of facts regarding how Joseph, as second only to Pharaoh in Egypt, dealt with the famine: "Now there was no bread (lehem/laham - bread, food, grain, meat, loaves, shewbread, provision/fight, make war, to eat, overcome, devoured, prevail, engage in battle, consume) in all the land; for the famine (ra'ab/ra'eb - famine, hunger, dearth, hunger for Jehovah's Word, scarcity of grain/suffer hunger, allow to hunger, be voracious, to cause to hunger) was very severe (kabed/kabad - great, grievous, heavy, sore, thick, massive, abundant, very oppressive, burdensome/honor, glorify, glorious, gain glory, sore, made heavy, burden), so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished (laha - to burn, to be rabid, insane, exhausted by frenzy, languish, faint, madman, tongue thrust out longing for drink, driven by a demon, scared) because of the famine." (Gen. 47:13). The suffering in the famine was so great that it drove people mad with it. We should also notice the connection in meaning between bread or grain and warfare in the Hebrew word and root lehem/laham. We will discover that famine can result from a state of war. We will see that famine is also associated with spiritual warfare as well. I would also like to note that grievous heaviness in the Hebrew meaning associated with the severity of this famine is also related to the glory of God in the words kabed/kabad above. Scripture tells us that as the glory of God filled the temple, the priests that ministered there could not continue because of its massive heaviness. (see 2 Chron. 5:12-14). The prophet asked, "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap." (Mal. 3:2). This will have meaning in the last days as Christ returns also, because He comes with great glory, and the overwhelming brightness of His glory will destroy the wicked one. (see Isa. 40:5-8, Mt. 24:30-31, 2 Thess. 2:8). Jesus has given to the Body of His believers this same glory. (Jn. 17:22-24).

     As we read about Joseph's tactics for provision during the ongoing deep famine throughout the region, we should keep in mind that Jacob's and consequently Israel's survival are linked to Joseph's ongoing favor in his position with Pharaoh. Officially, Joseph has been entrusted by Pharaoh as a ruler over Pharaoh's household and everything that belongs to Pharaoh. He can only keep Israel alive as he pleases and enriches Pharaoh.

     This is how Joseph handled the distribution of grain kept in Pharaoh's storehouses during the famine: "And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house." (Gen. 47:14). 

     When the money failed because the people had given it all to pay for grain, they came to Joseph asking for more bread, saying to him, "Why should we die in your presence?" Joseph then told them to give him their livestock since their money was gone, and he would give them bread. Joesph fed them that year in exchange for all of their livestock, which became Pharaoh's. (v. 16-17).

     The next year of the famine, the people came to him again for bread. Because they had neither money nor herds left, they sold themselves and their land to Pharaoh so that they wouldn't die: "Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh...so the land became Pharaoh's." (v. 18-20).

     Joseph moved the people off the land and into the cities across Egypt, and decreed: "Then Joseph said to the people, 'Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land...in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.' So they said, 'You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants." (v. 23-25). Pharaoh took twenty percent. The Egyptian priests did not have to give up their lands because Pharaoh always continued to supply them with their ration of food.

     Pharaoh became greatly enriched because of Joseph's service to him, and the people remained alive although they had to give everything including themselves to Pharaoh. What would the world be willing to do to save themselves and their families from starvation? Scripture says that many will turn away from God and turn instead to a supernaturally evil, oppressive tyrant and his world-wide economic system.

     This brings me to what I see in this part of Joseph's story as a prophetic picture and warning.

     Famine is one of the catastrophes prophesied during the time before Christ's return. Jesus prophesied: "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." (Mt. 24:7-8). Because of one of the horses of the Apocalypse, wheat and barley will become scarce on the earth. (see Rev. 6:5-6). This black horse followed the horse that would take peace from the earth. As we saw in the Hebrew words lehem/laham used above meaning "bread", famine often associated with warfare.

     Famine is also very prominent in the world today. 318 million people in 68 countries are facing hunger now, which is double the amount from 2019. Famine has been officially designated in the Palestinian Territories, South Sudan, Haiti, Mali, Yemen, the Congo, Myanmar, with near famine conditions reported in Chad, Somalia and Syria. Most of these famine conditions have resulted from conflicts and weather changes. Myanmar's near famine is connected to a major earthquake that occurred there. Famine is steadily crawling across the surface of the earth at this time.

     In the United States, the fifth largest wheat producer in the world, three years of drought has affected the winter wheat yields in Kansas, and too much rain has reduced the spring wheat output in North Dakota. It was during the decade of the 1930's that the great plains of the United States, known for its rich soil, was renamed The Great Dust Bowl. Several factors, including poor land management, led to this devastation. On April 14, 1935, a dust storm came to that area that was so huge the date was later called Black Sunday. It was called this because what started out as a sunny day, became darkened as the sun was obscured by the thick cloud of black dust until "it was darker than the darkest night." The Dust Bowl lasted for years as once-rich prairie land turned to dry dust, and families abandoned their useless farms.

     Also occurring in the United States, $24 trillion dollars' worth in farms and farmland is currently up for sale. Very wealthy individuals, corporations, and even foreign nations are buying some of this land. Will farming continue on this land after it is sold? Hundreds of millions of acres of farmland in the United States have already been sold - to two entities, one being a foreign government.

     The top two producers of wheat in the world are Russia and the Ukraine. Ukraine's rich black soil is considered the most fertile land on earth, and that nation has been called "The Breadbasket of Europe." Both countries have been at conflict together for several years. Together they produce 1/4 of the world's wheat. What effect will their ongoing conflict have on their production of wheat?

     The global food chain has become very vulnerable.

     Conflicts, weather changes, and natural disasters like fire and flood can change the grain production of the earth in a moment. However, as we saw above, the people of God, Jacob/Israel and his family, were provided for in the middle of a severe famine. Both Joseph and Pharaoh guaranteed the provision for God's people in the territory of Goshen (meaning "to draw near"), also known as Rameses, in Egypt. This was the richest soil in Egypt. However, men pass away, as Joseph and this Pharaoh did, and the situation changed. God does not pass away, and He continued to see and hear His people until the day of their deliverance from Egypt and after.

     The prophet of God also wrote this as a correction to God's people from the LORD: "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. Bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all-the-tithes into the storehouse ('osar - treasury, store, supplies of food or drink, God's armory or magazine of weapons), that there may be food/meat (terep/tarap - prey, meat, fresh leaves, spoil, food, descending to battle like a lion, the spoil of the wicked/tear to pieces, feed, prey, catch, provide food) in My house, and try Me in this,' says the LORD of hosts, 'If I will not open for you (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the windows ('aruba/'arab - latticed like a dove-house or coop, a chimney for smoke to escape, a sluice for water to flow/to weave, to intertwine, to mingle) of heaven and pour out for you a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." (Mal. 3:8-10). Pharaoh received twenty percent of future earnings in addition to all of the money, herds, lands and servitude of his people that he had already received, while the LORD only asks for ten percent, and that ten percent is identified with the sacrifice of His Son, the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, who gave Himself as an offering, as indicated by the presence of the *aleph-tav in written Hebrew (see *note below). It seems a small, but spiritually powerful token for God to request from us. He would certainly be entitled to all that we have if He demanded it. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is worth far more than everything we own combined. (Mt. 6:31-34 and Mt. 13:44-46).

     We can see how the supply of the LORD comes to us as He spoils His enemies in spiritual and physical battle according to the Hebrew words terep/tarap above. We have a record in scripture of the LORD breaking a severe famine that had come upon His people by defeating and spoiling the besieging Assyrian army that had surrounded Jerusalem. (see 2 Kings 7:1-16). The enemy's bread that they left behind in their camp fed God's starving people.

     Not only does the LORD supply His people with physical bread, and His Word, the scriptures, as spiritual bread, but He also supplies us with the Bread of salvation and eternal life, Jesus. David wrote: "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his descendants are blessed." (Ps. 37:25-26).

     As we study these Sabbath reading portions, the special and peculiar characteristics of the Sabbaths of the LORD are revealed for us to learn. The Lord's Sabbath contains a special double provision ahead of time, as was the case with Joseph, Pharaoh and Egypt in order to carry His people through the time of rest in Him when His people cannot gather.

     If you would like to learn more about the loving provision of the Lord, you can join me in prayer: "Heavenly Father, Who owns the world and everything in it, I give You my thanks for the provision that You have made for me throughout my life, and the lives of my family. No matter the circumstances that come upon the world, You have shown Your faithfulness to me. Nothing is impossible for You as Your Son Jesus demonstrated when He multiplied the few loaves of bread to feed thousands. I hold up the bread, both natural and spiritual, that You have given to me, and I wave it before You in praise and thanksgiving. I pray for those who hunger and thirst at this time across the world. You have blessed us with abundance to share with others in Your name so that men will glorify You. Lead me in Your Word and by Your Spirit, and let me always trust in You for all things. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.