GENESIS 47

So, what do we do when confronted with the reality that we are "not our own"? We were created by a God who rules over the entire universe. Everything came from Him, and everything belongs to Him... even our very lives. Every breath we take is a gracious gift from His hand. Without Him, nothing would be. That can be a somewhat daunting reality, huh?

No wonder there are many people in the world who would like to do away with the concept of a Creator! Suddenly, evolution might look like a very appealing alternative. If there is no Sovereign, then perhaps I am more "free" to live my life the way I want to, without worrying that a Cosmic Cop is looking over my shoulder.

So, how should we respond to this reality? I think we should begin by examining the character of this Creator. Is He really a Cosmic Cop? Does He make demands on us? If so, what are they?

I’d like to point out a little something related to this subject in reference to Genesis 47. God may be many things, but one thing He certainly is not is greedy. In Genesis 47, the famine was really pounding the people of Egypt. So much so that by the time it was over, the people literally had nothing left. They had sold their livestock, their land, even themselves to Pharaoh in order to buy the food that was stocked away for the famine. After buying their land for Pharaoh, Joseph said, "Now that I have...your land, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children." (vs 23-24)

Pretty generous, eh? Pharaoh has kept them all from starving, and even though he now owns everything in the land of Egypt, he is only asking a 20 percent return on their livelihoods. Here’s the amazing thing: this is double what God asks of us! God truly owns everything in the universe, and He spends His time pouring out blessings on all His creation. In return, He has asked us to return a portion of what we have to Him (to remind us that all we have is not ours). How much does He ask? A meager 10 percent. That’s only half of what Pharaoh — the "god" of Egypt — required from his people!

So, next time you’re tempted to shudder at the thought of a God who "owns it all," remember that our God is not greedy. He gives far more than He ever asks (or gets) in return!