XXVIII. JESUS
Gives Us Good Counsel So That Our Souls Do Not Die of
Eternal Hunger, Even As Joseph Does for Pharaoh So That Egypt
Is Not Devastated by Hunger (Gen. 41:33)
Twice Joseph said, “God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.” A good friend sends a warning. Here you see that God is a Friend and Lover of mankind. Oh, let us set our hearts on our faithful, good God in turn!
Joseph was a trustworthy man; he received many gifts from God, all of which he used to God’s glory and the good of others. He advised timely action against coming dangers. Woe to him who uses his wisdom only for villainous deeds.
Joseph encouraged good housekeeping: the government was to prepare storehouses for grain. A housefather should make sure to save money for time of need. Better once saved than twice starved.
Here you have another picture of our Lord Jesus.
Joseph was a wise man. O Lord Jesus, You are the wisest Man of all. You are Wisdom itself. You were “made to us wisdom” (1 Cor. 1:30); in You “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom” (Col. 2:3). Your wisdom is my beautiful comfort in great troubles.
Joseph was Pharaoh’s counselor. O Lord Jesus, You are mankind’s Counselor. You are my Counselor (Is. 9:6). I will heed Your counsel; then I will be helped.
Joseph gave counsel so that starvation might be avoided. O Lord Jesus, after Your resurrection You also gave counsel to Your seven friends at the sea of Galilee so that they might not starve to death. You said, “Children, do you have something to eat?” (John 21:5), and again, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you shall find” [v. 6].
Oh Lord Jesus, this is good counsel. Whoever casts on the right side, whoever makes his living rightly and in Your name, will thrive. For “by orderly housekeeping the rooms are filled” (Prov. 24:4). Not long after that You gave us counsel so that we might avoid the eternal starvation of our soul: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16). O Lord Jesus, thank You for this counsel. I believe. I am baptized. Your counsel is the guiding principle of my life. O, let Your counsel result in my eternal salvation. Amen.
Valerius Herberger The Great Works of God … Chapters 16-50 391-392