Joseph had interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh concerning the years of plenty and the years of famine in Egypt.  Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of gathering the grain during the years of plenty.  Genesis 41:48-49 “So he gathered up all the food of the seven years which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he laid up in every city the food of the fields which surrounded them. Joseph gathered very much grain, as the sand of the sea, until he stopped counting, for it was immeasurable.” Genesis 41:53-55 “Then the seven years of plenty which were in the land of Egypt ended, and the seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said. The famine was in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread. Then Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, do.’” So the Egyptians bought grain from Joseph.  But soon their money was gone. Joseph then gave the Egyptians grain in exchange for their livestock.  But then their livestock was gone.  Genesis 47:18-20 “When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, ‘We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy 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.” Genesis 47:25 “So they said, ‘You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.’”  The Egyptians were grateful that Pharaoh had saved their lives and kept them from dying of starvation by giving them grain that Joseph had stored up. They willingly became Pharaoh’s servants and served him.

Just as the Egyptians were purchased by Pharaoh, the church of God was purchased by Christ.  Paul told the elders in Ephesus in Acts 20:28 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” We should appreciate that Christ purchased us with His blood and we are not our own. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” You do not belong to yourself; you have been purchased at the price of Christ’s blood.  Therefore, you should desire to glorify God in your body and your spirit because you belong to Him.

Just as the Egyptians were helpless to save themselves when the famine came upon the land, we too were helpless to save ourselves while we were still sinners.  Romans 5:6-11 “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  We could not save ourselves.  We were lost and doomed to receive the wrath of God.  But praise God, He purchased us with the blood of Jesus Christ! 1 Peter 1:18-19 “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

Since Christ in love died to purchase us with His blood, we should no longer live for ourselves, but live for Christ.  2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” As the Egyptians were grateful to Pharaoh for saving them, we too should be grateful for the grace of God and love of Jesus that has redeemed us. Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  He wants us to be pure and zealous of good works.  Because of what He has done for us, we should want that also. Romans 6:20-22 “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”  Not only has He purchased us and saved us, but He has given us the gift of everlasting life.

I encourage you to appreciate that when you had no strength to save yourself. Christ purchased you with His blood shed upon the cross.  You are not your own.  You belong to Him.  Therefore, I encourage you to glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God’s.