“If The Money Is Gone” (Gen 47:13-26)

So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed." Then Joseph said, "Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone." (vs15-16)

The Lord gives us the terms of salvation because He is God, the One who rose from the dead, the Perfect Man, and the One that God's enthroned for salvation through His blood. Having earned peace, He gives it to whom He wills, and He chooses to only bless those that honor Him. He will be Lord and Savior. He has this right because you can't stand on your own. If you needed no Redeemer, then you could spurn His claims justly. But, because we've sinned, it's either Christ or hell.

Secondly, bow to Christ because of your need (Gen 47:19-20). We read, “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? But us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate. Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's”. Only sinners love mercy. Only those oppressed by guilt and fear actually trust Christ. It has to be DESPERATE, or we won't trust the Son. We'll say, “How can all these people be wrong, and Christ be the way?” It doesn't matter if we KNOW that He is true, until we are God-taught and poverty consumes us, we'll despise God. Be thankful, therefore, that you need Him. I know it hurts fighting sin, resisting the flesh, and bearing the hatred of men. I know that you and I forsake everything for Him. But, it is better to need Christ and to suffer FOR having Him, than to be fattened for the slaughter and made to eternally suffer for NOT having Him (Gen 47:22, 26).

Thirdly, the Lord saves us by His commands (Gen 47:23-24). We read, “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. And it shall come to pass 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”. He doesn't rule in theory, but He tells us where to go, what to do, and how to live. He takes CONTROL of us, and it is right. His commands are faith and love, and they are good. His influence upon us is liberating, right, and humility producing. He's called us to love men to God. This isn't bad or oppressive. He provides the pardoning payment, provides the power of the Spirit, provides the joy of obedience, and He shall provide heaven's pleasures eternally. It is RIGHT that He reigns, and He actually does.

Lastly, don't be deceived and make up your own god, finding fault with Jesus Christ, as if you made the worlds and created yourself.