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The Story of Redemption
land wherein to dwell, with their flocks and cattle, on account of
the service Joseph had been to the kingdom. Pharaoh appreciated
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his wisdom in the management of all things connected with the
kingdom, especially in the preparations for the long years of famine
which came upon the land of Egypt. He felt that the whole kingdom
was indebted for their prosperity to the wise management of Joseph;
and, as a token of his gratitude, he said to Joseph, “The land of Egypt
is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to
dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any
men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.”
“And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a
possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land
of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph nourished his
father, and his brethren, and all his father’s household, with bread,
according to their families.”
No tax was required of Joseph’s father and brethren by the king
of Egypt, and Joseph was allowed the privilege of supplying them
liberally with food. The king said to his rulers, Are we not indebted
to the God of Joseph, and to him, for this liberal supply of food?
Was it not because of his wisdom that we laid in so abundantly?
While other lands are perishing, we have enough! His management
has greatly enriched the kingdom.
“And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly,
and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled
with them. Now there rose up a new king over Egypt, which knew
not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the
children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us
deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that,
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when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and
fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.”
The Oppression
This new king of Egypt learned that the children of Israel were
of great service to the kingdom. Many of them were able and
understanding workmen, and he was not willing to lose their labor.
This new king ranked the children of Israel with that class of slaves