Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 41:55
And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Verse 55. When all the land of Egypt was famished] As Pharaoh, by the advice of Joseph, had exacted a fifth part of all the grain during the seven years of plenty, it is very likely that no more was left than what was merely necessary to supply the ordinary demand both in the way of home consumption, and for the purpose of barter or sale to neighbouring countries.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The people cried to Pharaoh, as to their king and common father. Compare 2Ki 6:26.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And when all the land of Egypt was famished,…. Their old stock and store eaten up, and the inhabitants ready to starve with hunger:
the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; as their common father, and knowing that he had stores of provision laid up in all cities against this time:
and Pharaoh said to the Egyptians, go unto Joseph; whom he had appointed over this business of providing and laying up corn against this time, and of distributing it:
what he saith to you, do; give the price for the corn he fixes or requires; for this was the principal thing they had to do with him, to get corn for their money.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
55. Go unto Joseph. It is by no means unusual for kings, while their subjects are oppressed by extreme sufferings, to give themselves up to pleasures. But Moses here means something else; for Pharaoh does not exonerate himself from the trouble of distributing corn, because he wishes to enjoy a repose free from all inconvenience; but because he hassuch confidence in holy Joseph, that he willingly leaves all things to him, and does not allow him to be disturbed in the discharge of the office which he had undertaken.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Gen 41:55. When all the land of AEgypt was famished The people of AEgypt soon consumed their substance; avarice, most probably, inciting them, at first, to export much of their corn to other nations; or, certainly, as Joseph exacted only a fifth part, they had enough left to have maintained them much longer than the famine lasted, had they managed prudently. However, in their necessity they apply to Pharaoh, who commands them to repair to Joseph, in terms which seem to imply arbitrary power; and indeed Josephus informs us, in his book against Appian, that the AEgyptians do not appear to have enjoyed their liberty, in any passages, for one single day; no, not under their own princes. All nations in the first formation of governments were subject, it is thought, to the arbitrary rule of princes. So says Justin, lib. I. cap. 1. Principio rerum populus nullis legibus tenebatur, arbitria principum pro legibus erant. “In the beginning of things the people were held together by no laws; the will of princes was instead of laws,” Plato, in his book of laws, gives the same account of the earliest ages. The testimony which this same Justin gives, lib. 36: cap. 2. though delivered by a heathen, and in a great degree not true, is yet so corroborative of the Scripture account, that it deserves attention: “Joseph,” says he, “the youngest of his brethren, had a superiority of genius, which made them fear him, and fell him to foreign merchants, who carried him to AEgypt, where he practised the magic art with such success, as rendered him very dear to the king. He had a great sagacity in the explanation of prophecies and dreams; nor was there any thing so abstruse, either in divine or human knowledge, that he did not readily attain. He foretold a great dearth several years before it happened, and prevented a famine’s falling upon AEgypt, by advising the king to publish a decree, requiring the people to make provision for divers years. His knowledge, in short, was so great, that the AEgyptians listened to the prophecies coming from his mouth, as if they had proceeded not from man, but from GOD himself.”
REFLECTIONS.Joseph’s provident care is now sensibly felt. The countries around, under the scourge of famine as well as AEgypt, come to buy corn, and are referred to Joseph, whose management, no doubt, in the sale, was as just and equitable as his prudence in providing had been singular. Note; It is highly our duty in times of dearth to open our store-houses; and neither by a fictitious famine, nor an unreasonable price, to grind the faces of the poor.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.
Ver. 55. Cried to Pharaoh. ] Though they knew he had deputed Joseph: so 1Ki 6:27 . I ; We should be as gods, if we had not businesses, cares, and fears, above any of our subjects, a said Augustus to his wife Livia.
a , , , , – Dio.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Chapter 35
Joseph Opening The Storehouses
“And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands
Gen 41:55-57
Joseph was so hated by his brothers that they could not speak peaceably unto him (Gen 37:4). Because he was so greatly loved by Jacob, they envied him. Because God revealed to Joseph that he would one day rule over them, his brothers were filled with jealousy. Therefore, being full of jealousy, envy, and hatred toward Joseph, his brothers sold him into slavery. But God was with Joseph. By several acts of divine providence, he wound up in prison in Egypt.
There he met the chief butler of Pharaohs court and interpreted his dream. Later, when Pharaoh had a dream which none of the magicians of Egypt could interpret, the chief butler remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him (Gen 41:1-14). Pharaoh called for Joseph and asked him to interpret his troubling dreams; and Joseph did so. God revealed to Joseph that there would be seven years of great abundance in the land of Egypt followed by seven years of great famine (Gen 41:28-32). Then, Pharaoh appointed Joseph to be ruler over all the land of Egypt, second only to himself (Gen 41:39-46). The seven years of great abundance came, then the seven years of great famine. We pick up the story at Gen 41:55-57.
As we read the 41st chapter of Genesis, there are numerous texts of Scripture which come to my mind. The spiritual lessons to be gleaned from this chapter must not go unnoticed.
Divine Sovereignty
Here is an example of Gods glorious sovereignty. It is written, The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters: he turneth it withersoever he will (Pro 21:1). It was no accident that Pharaoh dreamed what he did when he did. Gods time had come for Joseph to be delivered from prison and exalted to a position of great honor. Pharaohs dreams were but the instrument employed by God to accomplish his purpose.
The hand of God is manifest in the whole history of Joseph’s life. God was behind the scenes, secretly, sovereignly accomplishing his own purpose. Nothing happened by accident. God who is above all, ruled and overruled all the events recorded in Genesis 37-50, all the creatures, and all their actions, good and bad, to accomplish his will and purpose concerning Joseph and his chosen people (Gen 45:5; Gen 50:20; Isa 46:9-11; Act 4:26-28; Joh 6:37-39).
Gods sovereignty, as it is revealed in the life of Joseph, extends to all men and women, righteous and wicked, all the elements of nature, the weather, the crops of the field, and the cattle, all the nations of the world, and even to the dreams of men! Our God is in the heavens; he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased (Psa 115:3). Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and in all deep places (Psa 135:6).
Foolishness
The story of Joseph also shows us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness. Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1Co 1:20). For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1Co 3:19).
In Josephs time, Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, was the most advanced civilization of the world. It was the center of learning, science, education, culture, and philosophy. But the Egyptians were idolaters. Hence, they had no true wisdom. The light they had was darkness. The magicians of Egypt were impotent. All their wise men could not decipher the meaning of Pharaohs dream and tell him what God was about to do. So Pharaoh had to turn to Joseph, the only man in the land who knew God, for instruction.
Faith’s Wisdom
Does that not demonstrate something of the wisdom of faith? Psa 25:14 declares, The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him. God makes known his counsels, his purposes, and his truth, not to the wise, the mighty, the noble, and the great people of the world, but to them who believe him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. All true knowledge begins with faith in Christ.
Mystery of Providence
Joseph certainly demonstrates the fact that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to them who are called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28). How this story of Joseph demonstrates the goodness of Gods providence toward his elect. How we need to lay this to heart! We, too often, become so occupied with our present circumstances that we forget the promise of God. That should never happen.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace.
Behind the frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.
Remember, Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof (Ecc 7:8). Believers should ever, be of good cheer, faint not. Sorrow may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. So it was with Joseph. For a season he suffered wrongfully, but in the end God vindicated him and exalted him, so that he said, God hath made me forget all my toil, and hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction (Gen 41:51-52).
Faithfulness
Certainly, Joseph stands before us as an example of faithfulness to God. In the greatest trials, adversities, and surroundings, Joseph walked with God. Though he had no godly companions and lived in a heathen land among idolaters, he never became one of them. He maintained a strong testimony to the truth of God and the grace of God. Even in Egypt, Joseph glorified God, and there God honored Joseph, as it is written, Them that honor me I will honor (1Sa 2:30). Let us lay these five lessons to heart. Our God sovereignly rules all things. The wisdom of this world is foolishness. The secret of the lord is with them that fear him. All things work together for good to Gods elect. God honors those who honor him.
Joseph and Christ
However, this story of Joseph and his opening of the storehouses is intended by God the Holy Spirit to reveal and magnify the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, and to show us the glory and grace of God in him. The parallels between Joseph and Christ that are to be found in this chapter are numerous.
1.As Joseph, in due time, was delivered from prison, so Christ was raised from the dead at Gods appointed time (Psa 16:9-11).
2.As Joseph was the revealer of secrets, so Christ reveals the things of God to his people (Joh 15:15).
3.As Joseph warned of coming danger, and urged men to make provision for it, so Christ warned sinners of the wrath of God and urged them come to him for salvation (Mar 16:16).
4.As Joseph was wonderful in counsel, so our Saviors name is Wonderful Counselor (Isa 9:6).
5.As Joseph was exalted over all of Egypt, so Christ has been exalted over all things (Rom 14:9).
6.As Joseph was worthy of his exaltation, so Christ is worthy of his (Heb 10:11-14)).
7.As Joseph was, upon his exaltation, invested with the glorious apparel of Pharaoh, so the man Christ Jesus exalted is clothed with the glory which he had with the Father before the world was made (Joh 17:1-5).
8.As Josephs power and authority were publicly owned and acknowledged by all men, so all men shall one day publicly own and acknowledge Christ as Lord (Php 2:9-11).
9.As Joseph was given a wife by Pharaoh, so God the Father has given his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, a bride (Joh 6:37-40).
10.As Josephs marriage was planned and arranged by Pharaoh, so the marriage of the Lamb was planned and arranged by the Lord God in eternity (Eph 1:3-6).
11.As Joseph was 30 years old when he began his lifes work, so the Lord Jesus Christ began his public ministry when he was thirty years old (Luk 3:23).
12.As Joseph went forth on a mission from Pharaohs presence, so Christ came into this world to do his Fathers will (Heb 10:5-10).
13.As Josephs exaltation was followed by a season of great plenty, so Christs exaltation was followed by a time of great grace, poured out upon the earth (Act 2:16-21).
14.As the years of plenty were followed by years of famine, though Joseph was still on the throne, so these last days, these perilous times, are years of great famine, though Christ is still on his throne (Amo 8:11-12; Rev 5:6; Rev 10:1-11).
15.As in the days of famine, Joseph opened the storehouses of Egypt to all who came to him, so now the Lord Jesus Christ opens the storehouses of Gods abundant grace to all who come to him (Joh 4:10; Joh 7:37-38).
Opening the Storehouses
Joseph opened the storehouses in Egypt by royal authority (Gen 41:41; Gen 41:44-45). Pharaoh gave all things into Josephs hands, all food, all authority, all power. When the people came to Pharaoh for anything, he said, Go to Joseph! Even so, by Gods royal design and decree, all things pertaining to life and godliness, all grace, all mercy, all salvation, all life, and all heaven, have been given into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father has put all things in Christ (Joh 3:35-36). All power and authority belong to Christ (Joh 17:3). All the fulness of the Godhead is in Christ (Col 2:9-10). All the fulness of grace and glory are in Christ (Joh 1:16; Col 1:19). The only way any sinner can get anything from God is to go to Christ. He has everything (Eph 1:3-4). Why? For it pleased God! God is determined that in all things Christ might have the preeminence!
Joseph was the only fit person to open the storehouses (Gen 41:53-55). He was the only one who knew what was going on and what must be done. Joseph had prophesied that the famine would come. No one else knew about it. Joseph planned the crops, and built the storehouses, and had them filled before the famine came (Gen 41:35-36; Gen 41:49).
Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ is the only fit Person to open the storehouse of Gods mercy, love, and grace to needy sinners. As Joseph foreknew the famine in Egypt, though he did not cause it, our Lord Jesus Christ foreordained the fall and famine of humanity, though he did not cause it. (Gen 2:17). As Joseph built the storehouses and filled them in anticipation of the famine, so Christ, in the covenant of grace, provided for the needs of his people before the world began. The storehouse of grace is Gods covenant (Eph 1:3; 2Ti 1:9). The provision is Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev 13:8).
Christ filled the storehouse. In the fulness of time the Son of God came to this earth in human flesh. He obeyed the law in order that his people might have perfect righteousness before God. He died on the cross that we might be justified through his blood. The storehouse is full. Let all who are hungry come. Sinners find grace abundant and free in Christ. He alone has the capacity to contain all fulness. He alone has the wisdom to distribute all fulness. He alone has all fulness forever, immutable and undiminished though all his people draw upon it continually (2Ti 1:12; Php 3:20-21).
And Joseph opened all the storehouses” (Gen 41:56).Joseph became the savior of all people, Jews and Gentiles. He opened the storehouses and dispensed the bread of life to the perishing multitudes. His resources to do so were immeasurable (Gen 41:49). What joy it must have given Joseph to see the people coming to him and to give them the bread they needed. That is why he built the storehouses in the first place and filled them, so that the people might eat and live. Christ became our Surety, our Substitute, and our Sin-Offering, so that sinners might be saved by him (Mat 1:21; 1Ti 1:15; Luk 19:10).
Though the storehouses were filled, they would have brought no glory to Joseph, and would have done no good for the people, if he had not opened them. Josephs glory was not that he had plenty, but that he was delighted to distribute it. This is the glory of our Redeemer – He delighteth in mercy! He has plenty, and he delights to distribute it. His chief glory is his goodness (Exo 33:18-19). Our Savior cries to men, Ho, everyone that is thirsty, come ye to the waters! Christ is the Bread of Life. He bids hungry sinner to eat and live. Christ is the Water of Life. He calls thirsty souls to come and drink.
Then, we are specifically told that Joseph opened the storehouses when the people cried for bread (Gen 41:55-56). When hungry sinners cry for bread, Christ opens the storehouse and feeds them (Mat 7:9-11; Luk 11:5-13). Lost sinners who cry to him will be heard (Rom 10:13). Needy believers who cry to him will be heard (Heb 4:16). As often as we cry to him for the bread of his grace, he gives it.
Joseph opened the storehouses to all who came (Gen 41:57). They were opened not to the Egyptians only, but to all nations. All who came to Joseph got bread. Even so, our Lord Jesus Christ opens the storehouse of grace to all who come to him, Jew and Gentile, black and white, rich and poor, male and female, old and young (Mat 11:28). Whosoever will, let him come, and take of the water of life freely (Rev 22:17). Jesus Christ is the mighty Savior, able and willing to save unto the uttermost all who come to God by him (Heb 7:25).
As Pharaoh said to the people, Go to Joseph, so I say to you, whatever your souls need is, Go to Christ! He has all power and authority. He alone can open the storehouse of heaven. He will open the storehouse to all who come to him. Eat the Bread he gives, and you will never hunger again. Drink the water he gives, and you will never thirst again.
Fuente: Discovering Christ In Selected Books of the Bible
famished: 2Ki 6:25-29, Jer 14:1-6, Lam 4:3-10
Go unto: Gen 41:40, Gen 41:41, Psa 105:20-22, Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5, Joh 1:14-16, Phi 4:19, Col 1:19
Reciprocal: Gen 42:6 – he it was Est 3:1 – above all the princes Psa 105:21 – made Joh 3:35 – and