Genesis 47:25

And the One who has secured everything for the glory of God and the blessing of man will be the centre of heaven's praise. As in the days of old, those who had been blessed by Joseph come to Joseph saying, "You have saved our lives" (Gen. 47:25). They recognise that they owe everything to Joseph. So too the great crowd of the redeemed delight to say, "You are worthy … for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

First, "Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt" (Gen. 47:14). Second, he "fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock" for that year (v. 17). Third, he "bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh" (v. 20). And last, he says, "I have this day bought you" (v. 23). So you see the money fell into Joseph's coffers, the cattle became his, the lands fell into his hand. And finally Joseph acquired the people themselves for Pharaoh. Nothing brings a man down like hunger. Neither a man's pride nor his parentage can fill him in the day of hunger and need. … Nothing brings a man down like soul-hunger. It is a great thing when the soul-hunger becomes commanding, when a man feels that he is a sinner, and has need of Christ, and must have Christ.

Now Joseph brings all the land and all its inhabitants into full order and subjection to Pharaoh. They are now, in the fullest sense, the heritage and possession of Pharaoh, lord alike of Goshen and of all. … Though brought into order and subjection, it is really in blessing. "You have saved our lives; let us find grace in the sight of my lord," is the people's word — "we will be Pharaoh's servants."

Joseph was not a cruel dictator who was seeking his own wealth by impoverishing the people. Some have strangely criticised the plan that he carried out, but the people themselves appreciated it (v. 25). He had bought them and their land. Now he tells them he will give them seed to sow the land. For their labour they would receive four fifths of the crop.

The people, bankrupt through the famine, receive back their lands from the bounty of the king. They return him one fifth of the produce of the land. That fifth is the token of their debt to the grace from which they have received all. Two tenths may remind us of the double claim of God upon us — by creation and by redemption. All the world will own this in the day to come.

All the people are made willing in that day of his power. Their money, their cattle, their lands, and themselves, are made over to Pharaoh; and yet all pleases them, for they owe their lives to Joseph. Egypt, in those days, was a sample of the new world, the world brought back to God by redemption. It was a "purchased possession," just what the earth will be in the days of Christ's kingdom. … It was creation reconciled. A saviour's hand had delivered it from the doom of famine, from death and the curse.