LIFE SCRIPTS

20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every Egyptian sold his field because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he relocated them [temporarily] to cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and they lived on the amount which Pharaoh gave them, so they did not sell their land. 23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you shall plant the land. 24 At harvest time [when you reap the increase] you shall give one-fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be your own to use for seed for the field and as food for you and those of your households and for your little ones.” 25 And 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—valid to this day—that Pharaoh should have the fifth part [of the crops]; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s. 27 Now [the people of] Israel lived in the country of Egypt, in [the land of] Goshen, and they gained possessions and acquired property there and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was a hundred and forty-seven years. 29 And when the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh and [promise to] deal loyally and faithfully with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I lie down with my fathers [in death], you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place [at Hebron in the cave of Machpelah].” And Joseph said, “I will do as you have directed.” 31 Then he said, “Swear to me [that you will do it].” So he swore to him. Then Israel (Jacob) bowed in worship at the head of the bed.
Genesis 47:20‭-‬31 AMP

https://bible.com/bible/1588/gen.47.20-31.AMP.

Joseph the administrator of Egypt had a task in his hand. Day by day, the famine grew more severe prompting the people of the land to desperately ask him to buy their land and make them the slaves of Pharaoh. This plea led to a change in the land tenure system in Egypt. Before, the land was owned by peasant farmers themselves. Now, the land would transfer ownership to Pharaoh because the famine had ravaged households. So Pharaoh grew greater in power and influence. He became the absolute monarch for the kingdom of Egypt. So much so that even Joseph decreed that the people pay to him a fifth of their produce. God allowed the institution of the Pharaoh to grow in stature. But as Pharaoh became more powerful, he despised God and His people as it’s highlighted in the book of Exodus. God prepares the way for people to become great. He may use circumstances and global events to push nations to prominence. But He desires that as we grow in stature, we exalt Him in worship. So as the people of Egypt sold their land and became slaves of pharaoh, the Israelites dwelling in the land of Goshen were prospering (vs 27). This is an astonishing fact. How could people dwelling in a nation with households ravaged by famine ‘gain possessions, acquire property and increase in fruitfulness?’ Only by God’s grace. God desires to bless us materially more that we can imagine. All we need to be is faithful to Him. Lastly, we see Jacob reaching out to his son, Joseph and leading him to swear an oath to him not to bury him in Egypt but in the land of Canaan. Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years before his death. But even in his death, he remembered the promised land God had given him, his forefathers and descendants. The success and fruitfulness in Egypt would not deter him from remembering the heritage God had for him. There are times in the course of fulfilling our God given purpose when we seem to enjoy success. That success is good but is not where God ultimately wants us to be. There is a promise He has given us. That promise is to unite with Him in Heaven. On this earth we’ll enjoy many times of success and achievement. However the word reminds us that all these achievements will be left on earth. Ultimately we must strive to enter into God’s promise for us. The promise of eternal life.