Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die (Genesis 42:1).

F. B. Meyer in his book, The Life of Joseph, describes a time in the life of the twelve sons of Jacob in which they were driven from their life of self-satisfaction to an unlikely place to save their life. Many years earlier they had thrown their youngest brother into a pit, thinking he died there. Joseph was ultimately sold into slavery, and thirteen years later he became the second most powerful person in Egypt. Now the world was experiencing a worldwide famine, and Joseph controlled all the stored grain of Egypt.

As long as the hills were green and the pastures clothed with flocks, as long as the valleys were covered over with corn and rang with the songs of reapers, Reuben, Simeon, and the rest of them would have been unconcerned and content. But when the mighty famine came, the hearts of these men were opened to conviction. Their carnal security was shattered. They were prepared for certain spiritual experiences they would never have dreamed. Yes, and they were being prepared for the meeting with Joseph. It is so that God deals with us. He breaks up our nest. He loosens our roots. He sends a mighty famine that cuts away the whole staff of bread. Then at such times, weary, worn, and sad, we are prepared to confess our sins and to receive the words of Christ when He says, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).

A missionary once said, "There is a place where we will all be obedient." Joseph was a type of Christ in the Old Testament. The famine was an event designed to bring the twelve brothers to repentance and a saving knowledge, physically and spiritually. It created the circumstances that led to freedom for these twelve men. For they had been in bondage to a wicked crime against their brother for many years. It was the forgiveness of Joseph that led to that freedom.

Is your life passing through a time of famine? Are your supplies limited? Is God leading you into directions that you would not normally seek? Perhaps this is the hand of God that is creating circumstances for His purposes. Now is the time to look attentively as He directs you to unlikely sources.