Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文：「約瑟領他父親雅各進到法老面前，雅各就給法老祝福。」——創世記47:7
引言
《創世記》47章記載雅各全家正式進入埃及，在歌珊地安頓下來。從人的眼光來看，雅各只是一位因饑荒離開迦南、來到埃及寄居的老人。他沒有政治地位，也沒有能力供養自己的家人。相反，法老是埃及最高的掌權者，是法老給雅各一家土地居住，也讓他們在饑荒中得到保護和供應。照着世界的次序，似乎應該是雅各求法老祝福；然而，聖經卻兩次記載雅各為法老祝福。
「約瑟領他父親雅各進到法老面前，雅各就給法老祝福。」——創世記47:7
「雅各又給法老祝福，就從法老面前出去了。」——創世記47:10
一個寄居的老人，竟然站在當時最有權勢的君王面前為他祝福。這不合乎世界的邏輯，卻顯明了神國的次序。真正使雅各尊貴的，不是他在地上擁有甚麼，而是神與他同在；真正使他能夠成為祝福的，也不是他的財富和地位，而是神的應許在他的生命中。
當法老問雅各的年歲時，雅各很坦白地說：「我寄居在世的年日是一百三十歲，我平生的年日又少又苦。」——創世記47:9
雅各沒有否認自己人生中的艱難。他曾經逃避哥哥，被拉班欺騙，經歷家庭中的傷害，失去所愛的拉結，又多年以為約瑟已經死去。如今到了晚年，還要因饑荒離開迦南，下到埃及。但正是在這些「又少又苦」的年日裏，神一步一步改變雅各，使他從一個靠自己抓住祝福的人，成為一個明白自己只是寄居者、願意跟隨神，也能成為別人祝福的人。
一、承認自己只是寄居者，放下靠自己抓住
「我寄居在世的年日是一百三十歲。」——創世記47:9
「你下埃及去不要害怕……我必和你同下埃及去，也必定帶你上來。」——創世記46:3–4
年輕時的雅各，是一個很懂得抓住的人。他出生時抓住哥哥以掃的腳跟，後來抓住長子的名分，抓住父親的祝福，也用自己的方法為自己爭取產業和保障。雅各相信神的祝福，卻常常想用自己的方法，把祝福抓在手裏。但經過一百三十年的歲月，他終於明白，生命真正的保障，不是自己抓住了甚麼，而是神一直沒有放開他。他曾經失去家園、失去所愛的人，也曾以為自己失去了約瑟。他的人生有許多不能掌控的事情，但神從來沒有離開他。神在他逃亡時保守他，在伯特利向他顯現，在拉班家中看顧他，也在他晚年下埃及時對他說：「我必和你同下埃及去。」雅各的改變，就是從拼命抓住，變成願意信靠。
今天我們也很容易想抓住金錢、房屋、工作、關係和將來，因為這些東西好像能給我們安全感。但聖經不是叫我們不負責任，而是提醒我們：不要把暫時的東西，當成永遠的保障。我們在地上只是寄居者。真正的保障，不在於我們擁有多少，而在於神是否掌管我們的生命。只有當我們承認自己是寄居者，才可以放下那份一定要靠自己掌控一切的重擔。
二、在寄居中跟隨神的帶領，不再只為自己安排道路
「以色列帶着一切所有的，起身來到別是巴，就獻祭給他父親以撒的神。」——創世記46:1
「神說：我是神，就是你父親的神。你下埃及去不要害怕。」——創世記46:3
雅各下到埃及，不只是因為約瑟仍然活着，也不是單單因為饑荒。在真正出發以前，他先在別是巴向神獻祭，尋求神的心意。直到神親自向他顯現，對他說「不要害怕」，他才繼續前行。
過去的雅各常常走在神前面，用自己的方法安排道路；如今他學會等候神、聽從神，按照神的帶領一步一步往前。這就是雅各生命真正的改變。一個寄居者，不是沒有方向地漂流，而是知道自己真正的家不在眼前，因此每一步都要跟隨神。
《創世記》47章後半部分記載，埃及百姓為了生存，先後交出金錢、牲畜、土地，最後甚至願意把自己交給法老作僕人。
「我們與我們的地，為何在你眼前死呢？求你用糧食買我們和我們的地。」——創世記47:19
約瑟在饑荒中，以神所賜的智慧保存了百姓的生命，也給他們種子重新耕種。百姓因此對約瑟說：「你救了我們的性命。」——創世記47:25
但這段經文也提醒我們，當生存成為人唯一的目標時，人可以一步一步把自己所有的都交出去。今天我們也可能為了房屋貸款、生活開支和家庭責任，不斷工作，不斷付出，甚至連時間、健康、家庭和與神的關係，也慢慢被放在一旁。工作、供樓和承擔責任沒有錯，但我們要問自己：我現在只是為了生存而生活，還是在跟隨神而生活？如果我們只為了生存，便會被環境推着走；但如果我們知道自己是寄居者，就會在每一個決定中尋求神：
- 主啊，這是否是祢要我走的道路？
- 主啊，我現在所追求的，是因為害怕失去，還是因為信靠祢？
- 主啊，我怎樣使用祢所給我的時間、金錢和生命，才可以完成祢的心意？
雅各在寄居中學會的，不只是放下，更是跟隨。
三、讓神透過我們成為祝福，使榮耀歸給祂
「雅各就給法老祝福。」——創世記47:7
「我必賜福給你，叫你的名為大；你也要叫別人得福……地上的萬族都要因你得福。」——創世記12:2–3
當一個人承認自己只是寄居者，放下靠自己抓住，又願意跟隨神，他的生命就不再只是為自己尋求保障，而能成為神祝福別人的出口。所以雅各雖然是寄居者，卻能站在法老面前為他祝福。從地位上看，雅各比不上法老；從財富上看，雅各需要法老的幫助；從環境上看，他只是一位逃避饑荒而來的老人。但雅各的生命中有法老沒有的，就是神的應許和神的同在。
神曾經應許亞伯拉罕，地上的萬族都要因他的後裔得福。如今，這個應許透過雅各臨到法老。雅各不是因為自己沒有痛苦，所以能夠祝福別人。相反，他坦白承認自己的一生「又少又苦」。但他在痛苦中經歷過神的信實，在失去中經歷過神的保守，也在自己無能為力的時候，看見神仍然成就祂的應許。因此，他帶給法老的，不是自己的人生成就，而是神的祝福。
約瑟也是如此。他原本只是一個被賣到埃及的外族奴僕，後來又被人誣告，關在監牢裏。但聖經一次又一次說：「耶和華與約瑟同在。」因着神的同在，約瑟得着智慧，可以為法老解夢，也能管理埃及，在饑荒中保存許多人的生命。約瑟的智慧不是要顯出自己比別人優越，而是讓人看見神的手；雅各能夠祝福法老，也不是要人高舉雅各，而是讓人看見，神能夠使一個寄居者成為君王的祝福。
這就是在寄居中活出神的榮耀。神的榮耀，不一定是我們擁有比別人更高的地位，而是在我們沒有地位的時候，仍然能夠把神的祝福帶給人。神的榮耀，也不一定是我們的人生沒有艱難，而是在經過「又少又苦」的日子之後，人仍然能夠從我們身上看見神的信實。我們也許覺得自己沒有甚麼可以給別人，甚至自己也正在困難中。但只要神與我們同在，我們仍然可以成為祝福。我們可以為人禱告，可以說一句鼓勵和帶着盼望的話，可以在別人有需要時伸出援手，也可以在家庭和工作中活出神的恩典。真正的祝福，不是叫人看見我們有多麼了不起，而是叫人因着我們，看見神有多麼信實。
《創世記》47章讓我們看見，雅各的一生經過了許多「又少又苦」的年日，但神沒有離開他。神使用這些經歷，一步一步改變雅各：從靠自己抓住，變成放下；從為自己安排道路，變成跟隨；從只顧自己的需要，變成成為別人的祝福。在寄居中活出神的榮耀，不是我們在世界上抓住更多，而是讓神掌管我們的生命。當我們願意放下靠自己的心，在每一個轉變中跟隨神，神就能透過我們，使人得着祝福，也使祂的榮耀被人看見。
我們在地上都是寄居者，但有神同在的寄居者，不是沒有價值、沒有方向的人。即使我們沒有世界所重視的地位，仍然可以承載神的祝福；即使我們經歷艱難，仍然可以顯明神的信實；即使我們只是在地上短暫寄居，仍然可以讓神透過我們的生命，使祂的榮耀被人看見。
省察
- 我現在最想抓住的是甚麼？這些東西是否已成為我安全感的來源？
- 在生活和工作的壓力中，我是在被環境推着走，還是在尋求並跟隨神的帶領？
- 今天，神要透過我的生命，把甚麼祝福帶給身邊的人？
禱告
天父，感謝祢在我們寄居的人生中，始終沒有離開我們。求祢幫助我們放下靠自己抓住和掌控一切的心，使我們在每一個環境中，都願意尋求和跟隨祢的帶領。即使人生有艱難，也求祢使我們經歷祢的信實，讓我們的生命成為別人的祝福，使人透過我們看見祢的榮耀。奉主耶穌的名禱告，阿們。
創世記 47
1 約瑟進去告訴法老說：「我的父親和我的弟兄帶著羊群牛群，並一切所有的，從迦南地來了，如今在歌珊地。」 2 約瑟從他弟兄中挑出五個人來，引他們去見法老。 3 法老問約瑟的弟兄說：「你們以何事為業？」他們對法老說：「你僕人是牧羊的，連我們的祖宗也是牧羊的。」 4 他們又對法老說：「迦南地的饑荒甚大，僕人的羊群沒有草吃，所以我們來到這地寄居。現在求你容僕人住在歌珊地。」 5 法老對約瑟說：「你父親和你弟兄到你這裡來了， 6 埃及地都在你面前，只管叫你父親和你弟兄住在國中最好的地，他們可以住在歌珊地。你若知道他們中間有什麼能人，就派他們看管我的牲畜。」
7 約瑟領他父親雅各進到法老面前，雅各就給法老祝福。 8 法老問雅各說：「你平生的年日是多少呢？」 9 雅各對法老說：「我寄居在世的年日是一百三十歲。我平生的年日又少又苦，不及我列祖在世寄居的年日。」 10 雅各又給法老祝福，就從法老面前出去了。 11 約瑟遵著法老的命，把埃及國最好的地，就是蘭塞境內的地，給他父親和弟兄居住，作為產業。 12 約瑟用糧食奉養他父親和他弟兄，並他父親全家的眷屬，都是照各家的人口奉養他們。
13 饑荒甚大，全地都絕了糧，甚至埃及地和迦南地的人因那饑荒的緣故都餓昏了。 14 約瑟收聚了埃及地和迦南地所有的銀子，就是眾人糴糧的銀子，約瑟就把那銀子帶到法老的宮裡。 15 埃及地和迦南地的銀子都花盡了，埃及眾人都來見約瑟，說：「我們的銀子都用盡了，求你給我們糧食，我們為什麼死在你面前呢？」
16 約瑟說：「若是銀子用盡了，可以把你們的牲畜給我，我就為你們的牲畜給你們糧食。」 17 於是他們把牲畜趕到約瑟那裡，約瑟就拿糧食換了他們的牛、羊、驢、馬。那一年因換他們一切的牲畜，就用糧食養活他們。 18 那一年過去，第二年他們又來見約瑟，說：「我們不瞞我主，我們的銀子都花盡了，牲畜也都歸了我主。我們在我主眼前，除了我們的身體和田地之外，一無所剩。 19 你何忍見我們人死地荒呢？求你用糧食買我們和我們的地，我們和我們的地就要給法老效力。又求你給我們種子，使我們得以存活，不致死亡，地土也不致荒涼。」
20 於是，約瑟為法老買了埃及所有的地。埃及人因被饑荒所迫，各都賣了自己的田地，那地就都歸了法老。 21 至於百姓，約瑟叫他們從埃及這邊直到埃及那邊，都各歸各城。 22 唯有祭司的地，約瑟沒有買，因為祭司有從法老所得的常俸。他們吃法老所給的常俸，所以他們不賣自己的地。 23 約瑟對百姓說：「我今日為法老買了你們和你們的地，看哪，這裡有種子給你們，你們可以種地。 24 後來打糧食的時候，你們要把五分之一納給法老，四分可以歸你們做地裡的種子，也做你們和你們家口孩童的食物。」 25 他們說：「你救了我們的性命！但願我們在我主眼前蒙恩，我們就做法老的僕人。」 26 於是約瑟為埃及地定下常例，直到今日，法老必得五分之一，唯獨祭司的地不歸法老。
27 以色列人住在埃及的歌珊地，他們在那裡置了產業，並且生育甚多。 28 雅各住在埃及地十七年，雅各平生的年日是一百四十七歲。 29 以色列的死期臨近了，他就叫了他兒子約瑟來，說：「我若在你眼前蒙恩，請你把手放在我大腿底下，用慈愛和誠實待我，請你不要將我葬在埃及。 30 我與我祖我父同睡的時候，你要將我帶出埃及，葬在他們所葬的地方。」約瑟說：「我必遵著你的命而行。」 31 雅各說：「你要向我起誓。」約瑟就向他起了誓，於是以色列在床頭上敬拜神。
“Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” — Genesis 47:7, NKJV
Introduction
Genesis 47 tells us how Jacob and his whole family entered Egypt and settled in the land of Goshen.
From a human point of view, Jacob was only an old man who had left Canaan because of famine and had come to live in Egypt as a sojourner. He had no political power, and he could not provide food for his own family.
Pharaoh, however, was the ruler of Egypt. He gave Jacob’s family land to live in, and he allowed them to receive protection and provision during the famine.
According to the order of this world, it seems that Jacob should have asked Pharaoh to bless him. Yet the Bible records twice that Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
“Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” — Genesis 47:7
“And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.” — Genesis 47:10
An old sojourner stood before the most powerful ruler of that time and blessed him. This did not follow the logic of the world, but it revealed the order of God’s kingdom.
What made Jacob honourable was not what he owned on earth, but the presence of God in his life. What enabled him to become a blessing was not his wealth or position, but the promise of God resting upon him.
When Pharaoh asked Jacob about his age, Jacob answered honestly:
“The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life.” — Genesis 47:9
Jacob did not hide the pain of his life. He had fled from his brother, been deceived by Laban, faced conflict in his family, lost his beloved Rachel, and spent many years believing that Joseph was dead. Now in his old age, famine had also forced him to leave Canaan and go down to Egypt.
Yet through these “few and evil” years, God changed Jacob step by step. He changed from a man who tried to grasp blessing by his own strength into a man who understood that he was only a sojourner, who was willing to follow God, and who could become a blessing to others.
- Recognise That We Are Sojourners and Stop Grasping in Our Own Strength
“The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years.” — Genesis 47:9
“Do not fear to go down to Egypt… I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again.” — Genesis 46:3–4
When Jacob was young, he was a man who always tried to grasp. At birth, he held onto the heel of his brother Esau. Later, he grasped the birthright, his father’s blessing, and tried to secure property and protection through his own plans.
Jacob believed in God’s blessing, but he often tried to take hold of that blessing by his own methods. After one hundred and thirty years, however, Jacob finally understood that the true security of life was not found in what he could hold onto, but in the God who had never let go of him.
Jacob had lost his home, people he loved, and for many years he believed he had lost Joseph. There were many things in his life that he could not control, but God never left him. God protected him when he fled from home. God appeared to him at Bethel. God watched over him in Laban’s house. And when Jacob was old and had to go down to Egypt, God said to him, “I will go down with you to Egypt.” Jacob’s change was this: he moved from grasping to trusting.
Today, we also try to hold onto money, property, work, relationships, and plans for the future, because these things seem to give us security. The Bible is not telling us to become irresponsible. It is reminding us not to treat temporary things as our eternal security. We are only sojourners on earth. Our true security is not in how much we own, but in whether God rules over our lives. Only when we recognise that we are sojourners can we release the heavy burden of trying to control everything by ourselves.
- Follow God’s Leading as Sojourners Instead of Planning Everything for Ourselves
“So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.” — Genesis 46:1
“Then He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt.’” — Genesis 46:3
Jacob did not go down to Egypt only because Joseph was still alive or because there was a famine. Before he continued his journey, he stopped at Beersheba and offered sacrifices to God. He wanted to seek God’s will. Only after God appeared to him and said, “Do not fear,” did Jacob continue forward.
In the past, Jacob often moved ahead of God and arranged things in his own way. Now he had learned to wait for God, listen to God, and follow His leading step by step. This was the true change in Jacob’s life.
A sojourner is not someone who wanders without direction. A sojourner knows that his true home is not found in what is seen, and therefore he must follow God in every step. In the second half of Genesis 47, the people of Egypt gave up their money, livestock, land, and finally even themselves in order to survive.
“Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread.” — Genesis 47:19
Joseph used the wisdom God had given him to preserve their lives, and he also gave them seed so that they could plant again. The people said to Joseph: “You have saved our lives.” — Genesis 47:25
Yet this passage also reminds us that when survival becomes the only goal of life, people can slowly give away everything they have. Today, we may work hard because of mortgages, living costs, family responsibilities, and future needs. We keep giving our time, strength, and health. Sometimes, even our relationship with God and our family relationships are pushed aside. Work, paying a mortgage, and caring for our family are not wrong. These are responsibilities we must faithfully carry. But we need to ask ourselves: Am I only living to survive, or am I living to follow God?
When we only live to survive, circumstances will push us forward. But when we know we are sojourners, we will seek God in every decision:
- Lord, is this the path You want me to take?
- Lord, am I doing this because I fear losing something, or because I trust You?
- Lord, how should I use the time, money, and life You have given me to fulfil Your purpose?
What Jacob learned as a sojourner was not only to let go, but also to follow.
- Let God Make Us a Blessing So That the Glory Belongs to Him
“And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” — Genesis 47:7
“I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing… and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” — Genesis 12:2–3
When a person recognises that he is only a sojourner, stops grasping in his own strength, and chooses to follow God, his life is no longer only about finding security for himself. His life can become a channel of God’s blessing to others.
This is why Jacob, although he was a sojourner, could stand before Pharaoh and bless him. In position, Jacob was lower than Pharaoh. In wealth, Jacob needed Pharaoh’s help. In his circumstances, Jacob was only an old man who had come to Egypt because of famine. Yet Jacob had something Pharaoh did not have: the promise and presence of God. God had promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him. Now this promise reached Pharaoh through Jacob.
Jacob was not able to bless others because his life had been free from pain. In fact, he honestly said that his years had been “few and evil.” But in his pain, he had experienced God’s faithfulness. In loss, he had experienced God’s protection. When he could do nothing, he had seen God continue to fulfil His promise.
Therefore, what Jacob brought to Pharaoh was not his own success, but the blessing of God. Joseph was the same. He had once been a foreign slave, and later he was falsely accused and put into prison. Yet the Bible repeatedly says, “The Lord was with Joseph.”
Because God was with him, Joseph received wisdom. He could interpret Pharaoh’s dreams, govern Egypt, and preserve many lives during the famine. Joseph’s wisdom was not meant to prove that he was better than others. It was meant to reveal the hand of God.
Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh was also not meant to make people praise Jacob. It showed that God can use a sojourner to bless a king.
This is what it means to live out God’s glory as sojourners.
God’s glory is not always seen when we have a higher position than others. Sometimes it is seen when we have no position, yet we still carry God’s blessing to others.
God’s glory is not always seen in a life without hardship. Sometimes it is seen when, after many “few and evil” years, people can still see God’s faithfulness through our lives. We may feel that we have very little to give. We may even be going through difficulties ourselves. But as long as God is with us, we can still become a blessing.
We can pray for others. We can speak a word of encouragement and hope. We can reach out to someone in need. We can also live out God’s grace in our family and workplace. True blessing is not making people see how great we are. It is helping people see how faithful God is.
Conclusion
Genesis 47 shows us that Jacob went through many “few and evil” years, but God never left him. God used those years to change Jacob step by step:
- From grasping in his own strength to letting go.
- From planning everything for himself to following God.
- From living only for his own needs to becoming a blessing to others.
To live out God’s glory as sojourners does not mean trying to gain more from the world. It means allowing God to rule over our lives. When we let go of self-reliance and follow God through every change, He can use us to bless others and reveal His glory. We are all sojourners on earth. But a sojourner who has God’s presence is not without value or direction.
Even if we do not have the position the world honours, we can still carry God’s blessing. Even if we go through hardship, we can still reveal His faithfulness. Even though our time on earth is temporary, God can still use our lives to show His glory.
Reflection
- What am I trying hardest to hold onto right now? Has it become the source of my security?
- Under the pressure of work and life, am I being pushed by circumstances, or am I seeking and following God?
- What blessing does God want to bring to others through my life today?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You that You never leave us during our journey as sojourners. Help us to stop relying on ourselves and trying to control everything. Teach us to seek You and follow Your leading in every situation. Even when life is difficult, let us experience Your faithfulness. Make our lives a blessing to others, so that people may see Your glory through us. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Genesis 47
1 Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.” 2 And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?”
And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.” 4 And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”
5 Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”
7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”
9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” 10 So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
11 And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.
13 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
15 So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.”
16 Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.
18 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. 19 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.”
20 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. 21 And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.
23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.”
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.” 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.
27 So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. 29 When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.”
And he said, “I will do as you have said.”
31 Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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