With the gravity of old age, the piety of a true believer, and the authority of a patriarch and a
prophet, Jacob besought the Lord to bestow a blessing upon Pharaoh. He acted as a man not ashamed
of his religion; and who would express gratitude to the benefactor of himself and his family. We
have here a very uncommon answer given to a very common question. Jacob calls his life a
pilgrimage; the sojourning of a stranger in a foreign country, or his journey home to his own country.
He was not at home upon earth; his habitation, his inheritance, his treasures were in heaven. He
reckons his life by days; even by days life is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of the continuance
of it for a day. Let us therefore number our days. His days were few. Though he had now lived one
hundred and thirty years, they seemed but a few days, in comparison with the days of eternity, and
the eternal state. They were evil; this is true concerning man. He is of few days and full of trouble;
since his days are evil, it is well they are few. Jacob's life had been made up of evil days. Old age
came sooner upon him than it had done upon some of his fathers. As the young man should not be
proud of his strength or beauty, so the old man should not be proud of his age, and his hoary hairs,
though others justly reverence them; for those who are accounted very old, attain not to the years
of the patriarchs. The hoary head is only a crown of glory, when found in the way of righteousness.
Such an answer could not fail to impress the heart of Pharaoh, by reminding him that worldly
prosperity and happiness could not last long, and was not enough to satisfy. After a life of vanity
and vexation, man goes down into the grave, equally from the throne as the cottage. Nothing can
make us happy, but the prospect of an everlasting home in heaven, after our short and weary
pilgrimage on earth.
Verses 13–26
Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence
in Joseph's advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There
was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God's providence. All
our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how
much we are at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we
smart by our own want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven
years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but they regarded not the warning. Silver and
gold would not feed them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We
cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public
benefactor. The whole is consistent with Joseph's character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects,
in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What
multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most
tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with all their
property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count
all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our souls, and
give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be
willing to become his servants.
Verses 27–31