Genesis 41:47-49- And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
The good years were going very well. Joseph quickly built places that could hold all the grain. He was gathering so much that he decided it would take too much time to count it and weigh it.
Genesis 41:50-52- And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
While this gathering of food was going on, Joseph also started a family. He had two boys, and they brought him such joy that he was able to forget all the hard times that he went thru to get to this point.
But, the Lord had told them that the good years would only be for seven years, then it would get bad!
Genesis 41:53-54- And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
Things got real bad in Egypt! And not just in Egypt, but also in Caanan. People were running out of food.
Genesis 41:55-57- And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
Corn was needed for the people to make bread, and also for them to feed their animals to keep them alive. It was a very important crop!
People were now travelling from different countries to Egypt because they needed food and the only place to find it was in Egypt. Joseph was put in charge of selling the corn.
