Prior to 1950, pawning was the leading form of credit for consumers in the United States of America. While chess players refer to a pawn as the least valuable piece on their board, pawning is when someone exchanges an object or possession for cash, used as collateral in case this person can’t pay back a broker or business owner. The History Channel’s hit show Pawn Stars, starring 3 generations of the Harrison family’s Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, has popularized this ancient practice.
As I read Genesis 47:13-26, I realized that Joseph, governor of Egypt during the great 7 year famine, became the first pawn star on earth. When the Egyptians ran out of money after the first few years of this drought, Joseph began to barter food in exchange for cattle, donkeys, goats, horses and sheep. Once residents had pillaged all of their possessions, land and labor were offered up for food. Ahead of his time, this shrewd business man developed a plan, similar to a tax, pawning grain at a 20% interest rate, expecting to be repaid once their fields were restored.
Whenever you think you’ve had it tough in this economy, please read Genesis 47:13-19. After hearing this sad story of poverty, may God help you see how blessed you truly are today. This passage serves as a reminder to be prepared for a rocky future by saving as much as you can now. If God didn’t give Joseph a vision for the future, Egypt would have been caught off guard. Therefore, take this message as a wake up call, ready to bare down, living a frugal life so that when famine returns you and your family will survive.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 