The famine deepens, affecting Egypt and Canaan. People exchange money, livestock, land, and eventually themselves for food. Joseph institutes a law: one-fifth of future harvests will belong to Pharaoh, but priests keep their land.

It reads in Genesis 47:13–26: But because the famine was bad, no food grew in all of Egypt. As a result, the people of Egypt and Canaan became hungry and weak. Joseph received money from the people when he sold food to them. He took all the money to Pharaoh’s palace. Soon the people of Egypt and Canaan did not have any more money. All the Egyptians went to Joseph, and they said, ‘Give us food to eat. If not, we will die! We do not have any more money. ‘Joseph said to the people, ‘If you have no money, bring me your animals. I will give you food if you pay me for your animals instead of money.’ So, the people brought their animals to Joseph. They brought horses, sheep, goats, cows and donkeys. Joseph sold food to them in return for their animals. In that way, he sold enough food for them to eat that year.When that year finished, the people came to Joseph again. They said to him, ‘Sir, you know that we do not have any money. Our animals now belong to you. We have nothing left to give to you. We only have our land and our own bodies. Do not let us die here and now! Do not destroy our land! If you give food to us, we will pay you with ourselves and with our land. We will become Pharaoh’s slaves. Our land will become Pharaoh’s land. Give us grain to eat and seed to plant. Then we will not die. Our fields will not be empty. ‘Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. Because the famine was very bad, all the Egyptians sold their fields to buy food. So, all the land now belonged to Pharaoh. Joseph made all the people become slaves, wherever they lived in Egypt. But Joseph did not buy the land which belonged to the priests. Pharaoh himself gave the priests enough food. So, the priests did not have to sell their land. Joseph said to the people, ‘Now I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. So, I will give you some seeds to plant in your fields. But when the plants are ready to eat, you must give one fifth part to Pharaoh. You may keep the other four parts. You may keep it for seed to plant again and you may eat it. It will be food for you, for your people and for your children.’ The people said, ‘You have saved our lives! Because you have been kind to us, we agree to become Pharaoh’s slaves.’So, Joseph made a law which everybody in Egypt must obey. The law says that one fifth of all food that people grow belongs to Pharaoh. Only the priests’ land did not become Pharaoh’s land. This law still has authority today.

Father God, for mercy in lean times of seed and harvest, You see the dry fields and aching hearts. When famine spreads and strength grows thin, You do not abandon Your people to despair. Through Joseph, You turned scarcity into stewardship. Teaching us that leadership is not control, but compassion. Help us, in moments of crisis, to be wise, gentle, and generous. When we must trade what we treasure to survive, Give us dignity in the exchange. Remind us that true worth is not in livestock or land, But in Your enduring presence and the hope You offer. Bless those who carry the weight of others’ hunger, and those who make hard choices with faithful hearts. Let justice rise even in transaction, and kindness soften every decree. You gave seed for the planting. A promise that the barren ground would bloom again. So, we cling to that quiet assurance: That life returns, mercy renews, and You remain. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.