Genesis 47:21

Genesis 47:21 says, And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.  Joseph moved the people to the cities.  If the land was unproductive, there was no sense in having to go all over the country to feed them.  As followers of Christ, we need not remain in a place where we are spiritually desolate, but need to come to where God can offer us spiritual nourishment.  Verse twenty-two declares, Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.  The land of the priests was not bought, and Pharaoh gave them their portion of food.  There should always be a difference between what is dedicated to God's use and what is not, and we as Christians should always support those who are set apart doing God's work, such as preachers and missionaries.  The land of the priests was not productive, but God through Pharaoh provided for their needs.  Verse twenty-three declares, Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.  Joseph told the people that he had bought them and their land, but he was going to give them seed to sow.  This would be for when the draught was over.  He then told them that a fifth of what they harvested would belong to Pharaoh.  When we become a follower of Christ, I believe that God will bless us with enough to meet our needs, but everything we have really belongs to Him.  I believe that we should also set aside a portion of what God blesses us with to support those who are doing His work, again preachers, missionaries, and such.  Verse twenty-five states, And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.  The people told Joseph that he had saved their lives and that if they could find mercy in his sight that they would be Pharaoh's servants.  We, as followers of Christ, have found mercy with God and He has saved our lives spiritually, so we should likewise be willing to serve Him.  Verse twenty-six says, And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.  Joseph made it a law that a fifth of everything the people produced would go to Pharaoh, except for what the priests produced.  God has asked of His people a tenth of what they produce to be set aside for His work, and the reward is much greater.  Verse twenty-seven declares,  And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.  Israel and his family lived in the land of Goshen and grew and multiplied exceedingly.  This was what God had promised Abraham all those years ago.  God's promises will always come true, even if it is years after they are made.  Verse twenty-eight adds, And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.  Jacob lived long enough to see God's promise being fulfilled, but not long enough to return to the Promised Land.  We may not live long enough to see God's promises fulfilled in this lifetime, but we can rest assured that His promises will be fulfilled.  Verse twenty-nine adds, And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:  Before Jacob died, he had Joseph promise to not bury him in Egypt.  Verse thirty continues, But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.  Jacob wanted to be buried with his fathers, or ancestors.  Though I don't believe that it matters much where our final resting place is in this world, I believe that as followers of Christ we will ultimately be called out of this world to live with our brothers and sisters in Christ in His Promised Land.  Verse thirty-one states, And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.  Jacob wanted to be certain that Joseph would carry out his promise.  Though Joseph had the ability to fail to keep his promise, God never will fail to keep His.