Jacob and Joseph are finally reunited, and Jacob feels that he can now die a contented death with Joseph at his side. The Pharaoh allows Jacob and his family to settle in the land of Goshen and Jacob blesses Pharaoh for blessing his family. The famine sets in and Joseph sells the government grain to the peoples eventually buying all of the peoples’ possessions, lands, and even their service.

I always wondered how the people of Egypt felt about selling all their possessions and becoming servants so that they could buy back the grain that Pharaoh had taxed from them only a few years before. I suppose in this manner God had placed the Egyptian people as indirect servants to Joseph. I would argue that the point of this story is show a fulfillment of God’s blessing to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

If this is the case, then why does God allow Jacob’s descendants to eventually become slaves to the Egyptians, requiring a savior (Moses) to come and free them. It is interesting to compare the lives of Joseph and Moses. Both came from slavery to positions of royal authority. Both were separated from their people for a significant period of time. Both were reunited and lead their peoples’ exodus from danger to safety. Joseph seems to be one in a series of savior motifs that flows through the Old Testament. The ultimate savior, Jesus, would also follow this pattern of coming from a lowly position, passing through great trial and moving to a position of honor (life as a human, death on the cross, and resurrection).

Omnuw (to swear) means to affirm the veracity of one’s statement by invoking a transcendent entity.  To subscribe to this podcast please go to iTunes and subscribe to “The Koine Greek Word of the Day Podcast”.