Creative stewards

Laura Digan August 27, 2023 2 2

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Genesis 45: 1-15 (NRSVA)

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, ‘Send everyone away from me.’ So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.” 12 And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father how greatly I am honoured in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.’ 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

As many of you know I have got into gardening in a big way this past year. I’ve joined a number of online forums and groups to check out what others are doing and to seek advice. Now that many of us are ready to harvest the question is what do you do with your excess produce? Suggestions include freezing, pickling, canning and simply sharing the excess with friends and family. 

This summer has seen extreme weather throughout the world. I’ve been thinking how we will support those around the world whose harvest fails? This is something that shouldn’t be left to charities once the situation has got to breaking point and people are suffering from starvation. In the UK alone 9.5 million tonnes of food is wasted at landfill, even though 8.4 million people in the UK are living in food poverty. We need to get creative in learning how to reduce this waste and to share our abundant resources. Perhaps this is something our government and other world leaders will now have to factor into budgets and the supply chains. 

PRAYER:

Lord you are so good, 

You bless us with so much abundance.

Help us Lord to be creative stewards of your resources

Making sure there is enough for everyone.

Amen