Joseph promises to sustain his entire family in Goshen.
“There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.” (v.11) In this verse, Joseph is speaking to his brothers and foretelling how he will care for them during the severe famine that is ravaging the land. Joseph, who lived around the early 19th century BC, rose to a powerful position in Egypt after being sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:28). Here, he reassures them that amidst a dire future of scarcity, they need not worry if they come to live near him in the region of Egypt known as Goshen. This specific area, located in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta, was known for its fertile land and proximity to the seat of Egyptian administration, ensuring that Joseph could oversee their wellbeing.
When Joseph says, “There I will also provide for you…” (v.11) he is acting with compassion and responsibility, qualities that reflect God’s overarching plan to preserve His covenant people (Genesis 45:5-7). In ancient times, a widespread famine typically brought devastation. Yet Joseph, by interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:25-36), prepared Egypt for this crisis and established himself as a caretaker not only of the Egyptian people but also of his own family. His statement “for there are still five years of famine to come” (v.11) underscores that although God had revealed the length and severity of the famine, Joseph’s wisdom and God-given foresight made provision possible.
Additionally, Joseph’s desire to protect his family from destitution points to the divine theme of redemption and deliverance, resonating throughout the biblical narrative and echoing into the New Testament, where Jesus provides for His followers and calls them to trust in God’s daily provision (Matthew 6:31-32). Joseph’s role during these years of famine foreshadows a greater fulfillment of God’s plan in which He continually redeems and preserves His people in times of need.
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Genesis 45:11 meaning
“There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and your household and all that you have would be impoverished.” (v.11) In this verse, Joseph is speaking to his brothers and foretelling how he will care for them during the severe famine that is ravaging the land. Joseph, who lived around the early 19th century BC, rose to a powerful position in Egypt after being sold into slavery by his brothers (Genesis 37:28). Here, he reassures them that amidst a dire future of scarcity, they need not worry if they come to live near him in the region of Egypt known as Goshen. This specific area, located in the northeastern part of the Nile Delta, was known for its fertile land and proximity to the seat of Egyptian administration, ensuring that Joseph could oversee their wellbeing.
When Joseph says, “There I will also provide for you…” (v.11) he is acting with compassion and responsibility, qualities that reflect God’s overarching plan to preserve His covenant people (Genesis 45:5-7). In ancient times, a widespread famine typically brought devastation. Yet Joseph, by interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:25-36), prepared Egypt for this crisis and established himself as a caretaker not only of the Egyptian people but also of his own family. His statement “for there are still five years of famine to come” (v.11) underscores that although God had revealed the length and severity of the famine, Joseph’s wisdom and God-given foresight made provision possible.
Additionally, Joseph’s desire to protect his family from destitution points to the divine theme of redemption and deliverance, resonating throughout the biblical narrative and echoing into the New Testament, where Jesus provides for His followers and calls them to trust in God’s daily provision (Matthew 6:31-32). Joseph’s role during these years of famine foreshadows a greater fulfillment of God’s plan in which He continually redeems and preserves His people in times of need.