“There is grain in Egypt” (Genesis 42:2)

Famine came to all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and his family would soon run out of food; but God, in His providence, never forgets His people. Long before, He gave the Egyptians supernatural warning of a coming famine, and led them to fill huge granaries during years of plenty. Jacob, trusting that God didn’t want his family to die, told his sons, “‘Why do you look at one another?’ And he said, ‘Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die’” (Genesis 42:1-2). He didn’t know this was all part of a much larger plan. 

 Believer, when it seems everything is against you, God’s already made a way. You may be completely unaware of where help will come from, but when it comes, you’ll glorify God. God can make the source of distress, a channel for His blessing. Jacob didn’t know the grain in Egypt was in the hands of his beloved son, Joseph; he opened or closed the granaries at will. Similarly, the riches of providence are in the absolute power of our Lord Jesus Christ, who dispenses liberally to us. 

 Just as Joseph was ready and willing to feed his family; Christ is ready and willing to take care of His Church. Our responsibility is to go after the help which is provided for us: we must not sit still in despondency, but take advantage of the opportunities God provides. Faith trusts that God wants us to survive and prosper. 

 At the lowest point of his life, David didn’t give up, but looked to God for help. When David’s men were ready to stone him because their families had been kidnapped, David asked God, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”. God said, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” (1 Samuel 30:8). David obeyed God and won a great victory. 

 Dear saint, when things look bleak, turn to God, and He’ll make a way, where there seems to be no way.