INTRODUCTION: Genesis 41:55And 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.
See All... – “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.”

• The people are the people of the world
• The days of plenty are the former days of spiritual blessing in America
• The famine is the famine of truth in the world
• The bread is the bread of the word and salvation through Jesus Christ
• The Pharaoh, the King, is God the Father
• Joseph is Jesus Christ

1. THE FAMINE IN THE LAND
1. The Days of Plenty were Past (Genesis 41:53And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
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2. The Famine was Worldwide (Genesis 41:56And 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.
   See All...a; Amos 8:11Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
   See All...); Note: state of Christianity in developing countries
3. The Famine Threatened their Lives (Ezekiel 33:11Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
   See All... – “for why will ye die”)
2. THE CRY FOR BREAD
1. The People Cried for Bread
1. The bread of salvation (Isaiah 55:1-2 [1] Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. [2] Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
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2. The bread is Jesus Christ (John 6:35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
   See All..., 51)
2. The People Cried to Pharaoh – the King
1. A picture of the world – as such, he cannot help them (Isaiah 30:1-3 [1] Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: [2] That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! [3] Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
   See All...; Isaiah 31:1Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
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2. In contrast, a picture of the God the Father – as such, He sends the people to Joseph who is a type of Jesus Christ
3. THE COMMANDS OF THE KING
1. Go to Joseph
1. Joseph is a powerful type of Jesus Christ (Acts 7:45Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
   See All...; Hebrews 4:8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
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2. God the Father sends us to the Son
1. For salvation (John 14:6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
   See All...; 1 Timothy 2:5-6 [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
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2. For prayer (John 14:13-14 [13] And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
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3. For fullness (John 1:16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
   See All...; Colossians 2:9-10 [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. [10] And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
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2. Do What He Says
1. At the marriage feast (John 2:5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
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2. Honor the Son (John 5:23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
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CONCLUSION: Prepare to Meet thy God! – Martin Madan (1726-1790) “was a member of a noteworthy family and independently wealthy. Though proficient in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, his principle study had been law, and he was, in his early twenties, already a practicing London lawyer with some promise. One night he was idling with some of his companions in a coffee house when the group hit upon an idea for some novel diversion. One had heard that John Wesley was preaching nearby. Madan, a noted mimic, was urged to go to hear Wesley and then to return and imitate his ‘manner and discourse’ as a crown to the evening’s entertainment.

“Off went Madan in pursuit of amusement, but just as he entered the hall Wesley was declaring his text, ‘Prepare to meet thy God!’ [Amos 4:12Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
See All...] and Madan was somewhat sobered by the force of it. He sat down and grew more sober still as the preacher exhorted his audience to repentance. When he returned later to his ‘midnight modern conversation’ at the coffee house, he was asked whether he had ‘taken off the old Methodist.’ He replied, ‘No, gentlemen, but he has taken me off.’ From that time he left his old friends and sought means of growth for his newly awakened spiritual life…This same Madan…was a timely instrument in the rescue and conversion of his cousin, the would-be legal clerk and later poet and hymn writer, William Cowper.” We still sing Cowper’s hymn, “There is a Fountain Filled with Blood.” –from English Spirituality in the Age of Wesley by David Lyle Jeffrey (p.16-17).