We are in chapter 47 of Genesis with our word for today. נָתַן give, put, set, hand down, place, turn into, surrender, exchange. It is used 1993 times in the Old Testament. The basic concept of our word is to transfer possession of something concrete or abstract to somebody. Since it is used a massive amount of times in the Old Testament it has a broad range of meaning from the general idea of give. For today we will just focus on the one related to our chapter which is used in the sense of exchange. Deuteronomy 14:24-26 And if the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, when the Lord your God blesses you, because the place is too far from you, which the Lord your God chooses, to set his name there, then you shall וְנָתַתָּ֖ה turn it into money and bind up the money in your hand and go to the place that the Lord your God chooses and וְנָתַתָּ֣ה spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household. Lamentations 1:11 All her people groan as they search for bread; they נָתְנ֧וּtrade their treasures for food to revive their strength.
This is also how it is used in our chapter today. Genesis 47:16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will וְאֶתְּנָ֥ה give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” What is interesting is that even though the word is only used this one time in our chapter the ESV translates “exchange” two other places because it is implied by the context. So even though the word is not there the concept is. Joseph allowed the people to exchange what they had for food on three different occasions. This reminds me of the best deal we will ever get on this earth. Just like the people who had no food they had no other options. They either starved to death or worked out a deal with Joseph for what they desperately needed. God himself is willing to trade with us even when we are in a similar desperate situation. We are dead in our sin and transgressions against God. The good news is that at just the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Because God loves us he wants to reason with us though our sin is like scarlet he wants to wash it white as snow. God gives the life of his only son on the cross in place of my life and yours. 2 Corinthians says it best. I’ll close with this amazing offer God allows us to exchange our sin for Jesus perfect life applied to our sinful life. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
