Page 1 of 1

Why are we told about Egypt's taxes?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 6:55 pm
by mattrose
I have a little side question. Don't know if anyone will be interested enough to answer.

I have been preaching through the story of Joseph.

The ending of the story is pretty long and often neglected.

For example, the author of Genesis spends significant space (47:13-26) to tell us the inner-workings of some large-scale changes that happened within Egypt during the years of famine. WHY? Why is it important for the reader of Genesis to find out that the Egyptians pretty much happily entered into servitude to Pharaoh?

It doesn't seem to have much to do with Israel
It can even be read in such a way as to put Joseph in a bad light

Why do ya'll think we're given this 'extra' information? Any thoughts?

Re: Why are we told about Egypt's taxes?

Posted: Tue Jun 19, 2018 8:18 pm
by MMathis
My parents lived next do to a woman that grew up in Germany. She said that the promise of work and healthcare were welcomed in Hitler's rise to power. Also true in Castro's Cuba. Bernie Sanders would be your guy here if follow the logic.
Maybe that's what the warning.

Re: Why are we told about Egypt's taxes?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 12:49 am
by robbyyoung
mattrose wrote:I have a little side question. Don't know if anyone will be interested enough to answer.

I have been preaching through the story of Joseph.

The ending of the story is pretty long and often neglected.

For example, the author of Genesis spends significant space (47:13-26) to tell us the inner-workings of some large-scale changes that happened within Egypt during the years of famine. WHY? Why is it important for the reader of Genesis to find out that the Egyptians pretty much happily entered into servitude to Pharaoh?

It doesn't seem to have much to do with Israel
It can even be read in such a way as to put Joseph in a bad light

Why do ya'll think we're given this 'extra' information? Any thoughts?
Hi Brother Matt,

After meditating on your request for a reasonable and biblical solution regarding Genesis 47:13-26, I believe the answer is given in verses 7 & 10. Jacob's blessing on Pharaoh is what brought all the wealth of the powerful nomes into Pharaoh's house, legally and without bloodshed. God often shows how He extends mercy and blessings to gentile nations through His chosen people, and Jacob is shown to be one of those instances in Egypt's unsullied relationship with Israel. Moreover, for the Jewish audience, this shows how God honors the patriarch's gift of blessing not only his own house but also foreign leaders. All in all, the people were saved from starvation and lived peacefully with their new neighbor, Israel, until Genesis 15:13-14 came to fruition. Hopefully this helps :)

Blessings!

Re: Why are we told about Egypt's taxes?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 8:07 am
by mattrose
Interesting! So one of you thinks the passage serves as a warning for how quickly oppressive governments can form... and the other sees it as a sign of God's blessing that power was increased peacefully.

Re: Why are we told about Egypt's taxes?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:19 am
by TruthInLove
Hi Matt,

Many people see Joseph as a type of Christ. I personally see this whole account as typolgoical of the Messianic age. I can elaborate more if you or anyone are interested but just to plant some seeds, some highlights to consider include:
  • multiple redemptive-themed situations
  • allusions to the concept of 'doubling' and its use in prophecy
  • repeated use of the numbers 5, 7, 12 and their multiples
  • hints at the Sun and all its connections to Egypt, Pharoah, Jacob/Israel, Joseph, God and the Messiah
  • various connections to the account of Abram leading up to his encounter with Melchizedek
All of these make this entire account bristle with eschatological significance. Of course much more could be said but it gets somewhat involved.

Specifically, regarding your question of the reduction of the people of Egypt to servitude, I think a foreshadowing of Christ's offer of salvation to Gentiles and his equipping of them to work humbly in God's fields and bear fruit for the Kingdom are reasonable prophetic prefigurements.

- Carmine

Re: Why are we told about Egypt's taxes?

Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2018 9:20 am
by robbyyoung
mattrose wrote:Interesting! So one of you thinks the passage serves as a warning for how quickly oppressive governments can form... and the other sees it as a sign of God's blessing that power was increased peacefully.
Hi Matt,

Yes, but maybe the two views can be conflated. Clearly God blessed Joseph, who blessed Pharaoh (Egypt), in order to save Israel from starvation. However, Egypt's sin of forgetting God's blessings and viciously enslaving the Israelites ultimately led to their judgment. It's amazing to see how God's foreknowledge was instrumental in Egypt's blessing and judgment. IMO, Genesis 47:13-26 fits the immediate context of God's mercy and blessing on Egypt; however, these passages also gives a justification for why judgment came to fruition, as predicted in Genesis 15:13-14.

I guess I'm looking at it chronologically. The sequence of events allowed me to see the significance of your inquiry and unpack Jacob's blessing onto Pharaoh. On a side note, the leaders of the various nomes probably knew of Joseph's famine policy and simply ignored piggy-backing off of Joseph's wisdom to provide for their own districts. They were saved in the end, not oppressed, by humbling themselves into servitude for not adequately managing their own affairs. Joseph's famine policy was not a secret. It was in the making for several years. He was right and all others were wrong, but God's mercy still covered the people of the land.

Blessings!