“And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money...” (Genesis 43:23)

The background of this verse is that Joseph had been promoted to Prime Minister of Egypt. There was a great famine in the land; Joseph’s family, who lived in Canaan, had run out of food and had bought food from Joseph in Egypt. As they returned to Canaan, they found their money had been placed back in their individual sacks.

When they returned to buy more grain from Joseph, they shared with the steward of Joseph’s house what had happened. The steward revealed that God had given their money back and had used him to do it. They were not to be afraid, for God had done this for them through the command of Joseph the Prime Minister, second only to the Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

The typology is very rich in the life of Joseph as he, in many ways, typed out Jesus Christ, the Deliverer and Preserver of His people. The house steward is a type of the Holy Spirit, who is in charge of dispensing the treasures of God. He also typed out the Holy Spirit as the Revealer of Peace to the Seed of God.

The people who profess to be believers in Christ as Savior from the penalty of sin; those who profess to be born again by the Spirit of God; who have been given the power to perceive the Kingdom of God, and the power to enter into the Kingdom of God, and so perform the Commandments of Christ; these are among the ones described in Romans 9:23. These are the vessels of mercy, the children of Promise, who afore were prepared to be made known the riches of His glory. They should stop and look into their sacks of provisions.

The famine in the land is a type of this wicked and barren, unfruitful world in which every child of grace must traverse from birth till death. On the tombstone of the dead, usually there are two dates separated by a hyphen; the date of birth and the date of death. The hyphen represents that person’s life between the two dates. It is in this realm that the child of grace, once enlightened, once he is born again; understands the grace and mercy in his sack of provisions. That is, those that have been born again have Christ dwelling in them (Colossians 1:27). But they need to meditate upon, commune with, and be a constant companion of the indwelling Christ to perceive the unsearchable riches of His glory.

In Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me,” Paul explains that the ability to love God; to yield your members to Christ; to have the power to overcome sin daily; to know the will of God; to be filled with the knowledge of God; all flow from The Treasure (Christ) living in your sack of provision for you to be preserved in the famine (this wicked, evil world).

When the child of grace comes to know this treasure is God and from God; that God gave it to him; that it is a gift of grace to make the journey from birth to death; then the result will be peace. The command is then, “Fear not.” God has not only given you a sack of provision, but He had given you the revelation of “The Treasure” (The Life) in the Sack of Life (or provision of grain, that sustains life); and that Treasure is “Life” – “Eternal Life” – Christ Himself (1 John 5:20).

Child of grace, my prayer is as Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-19:

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

Then and then only will you bring praise and honor to Christ, Who is the Treasure in your sack. It will bring peace to you as you travel in this famine. It will allow you to have no fear of the enemies of the cross, for the Power of the Resurrected Christ lives in you.

Child of grace, praise Him today. Praise Him that you are in possession of “The Treasure” – Christ Jesus, Who is peace Himself, Who has already defeated Satan and the famine. Therefore, you should have no fear in this journey.

Child of grace, look in your sack. Have you recognized that the Glory of God lives in you? Avail yourself of this Treasure. Hold up your head and begin to live the abundant life in Christ. The Victory is won; Christ is the Anchor of your soul, Who has passed within the veil. You can have perfect peace now, as you utilize this so great salvation living in you. You are going to be preserved in the famine. “Fear not,” you are a child of the Promise, an heir of God, and joint heir with Jesus Christ.