The changes we’re seeing to our present economic system are staggering. And that’s putting it mildly. How well are we prepared to face the kind of depression that now seems inevitable?
We’re going through a major restructuring of government and society. These are momentous times.
Could we see a cashless society forced upon us? Could we see a total failure of the money system? Will money be gone as we’ve come to know it? If so, what new rules will we be living under?
Or will there be any rules at all? How will we respond collectively? How will you and your family survive the major changes we’re living through?
One thing is certain. Things are different now, and it looks like there’s no turning back.
Economic upheaval is not without precedent in history. Nearly 3,700 years ago in Egypt, famine brought about dramatic changes to the accustomed way of life. A man named Joseph had been given ruling authority under the Pharaoh and proved to be a shrewd administrator in those troubled times. He made sure everyone in Egypt had food, but at great cost to the people.
Note the response of the Egyptians during the seven years of famine. They used all their money to buy grain, which Joseph had purposefully set aside in anticipation of the lean times. When money was gone, they sold their livestock, land, and even sold themselves into slavery in exchange for food.
Joseph provided seed for planting new crops, and a system of taxation at the rate of 20% resulted. According to an article I read years ago, experts say he chose a good number for the rate of taxation, since it provided adequate provision for government to function and is a rate which people today would find more tolerable than our present rates.
The grateful, submissive Egyptians survived, but things would never be the same.
The Bible’s account of these difficult years of famine in Egypt is found in Genesis 47:13-26 and is reprinted below from the King James Version. Read and thoughtfully consider what you would do in such desperate times.
13. And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
14. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
15. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.
16. And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
17. And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
18. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:
19. Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.
20. And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s.
21. And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.
22. Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands.
23. Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.
24. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
25. And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.
26. And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.
Genesis 47:13-26