WHEN Joseph took his father and placed him before Pharaoh, Jacob blessed the king. God tells us in Hebrews that “the less is blessed of the better;” and so it was in this case. Pharaoh was a great king, ruling over what was perhaps the greatest kingdom of the world at that time; but Jacob, poor, failing man that he had been, was the Lord’s servant, and dear in His sight, and so was better than proud Egypt’s king.
Jacob no doubt recognized the kindness that Pharaoh had shown his son Joseph and he blessed him with a full heart.
Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was. Jacob replied that the years of his pilgrimage were a hundred and thirty, and added, “Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.” One hundred and thirty years would seem to be a very long life now, would it not? But Jacob spoke of his days being few because he had not lived as long as his fathers had lived. And, too, the longest life, when it has come to an end, looks short to look back upon it. How many there are, who, at the end of a misspent life, vainly wish to recall the days that are gone, that they might live them in a different way. May you, dear children, live well the days that are given you, whether they be few or many!
But Jacob spoke also of his days having been evil. No doubt he looked back in thought, and saw many of the failures that had come into his life, and his heart was saddened through them. Sooner or later, we, too, will regret the failures that have come into our lives. Happy for us if we are living in daily communion with the Lord, learning in His presence, and thus kept from these sad things which afterwards bring remorse and sorrow to the heart. A course of deception may, at the time, seem very clever; and even a child of God may be found in such a course, as was Jacob; but there will surely be a reaping time of bitterness to follow this, or any course that is contrary to God.
Jacob did not die at once after reaching the land of Egypt and being restored to his long lost Joseph. God permitted this devoted father and son to have seventeen years together in that strange land; that was the same number of years they had had together in the land of Canaan, before Joseph was so rudely taken away. And during all these years in Egypt, Joseph nourished his dear old father and cared for him; and he cared for his brothers also.
Before the dreadful famine came to an end, the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted because of it. After the people’s money was gone, they gave up their cattle to get something to eat.
And when the cattle were gone, they gave their land to Pharaoh for bread. But at last the seven long years of dearth came to an end, and then Joseph gave seed to the people, and they were allowed to plant their land if they would give to Pharaoh the fifth part of the increase. They said to Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.
ML 04/20/1902