In Genesis 43:11, Jacob told his sons to take honey, lotus, nuts and other things to give to the Viceroy of Egypt (who was, unbeknownst to Jacob at the time, Joseph). Now, if there was a famine in the land, from where did Jacob get these things? Nuts grow on trees, and, if there was a famine, how could the be trees provide nuts? Moreover, if these nuts were in storage, why did the family not eat these things instead of having to go all the way to Egypt? I have asked countless people about this, and, as of yet, have not received an answer. I hope you can help me. Thank You!
Thank you for your delightful question concerning the source of nuts and honey that Jacob sent as a gift to Joseph.
Even in times of famine there are parties, gift exchanges, and candy plates. A famine does not totally stop normal social relationships. If there is an important occasion, people still send gifts (albeit smaller ones).
Even the dreams indicate this. The cows were thin; the wheat grains were stricken and broken. Yet they still existed! They were present, albeit limited in robustness. The famine curtailed the total yield; it did not necessarily prevent all food production. Therefore, the trees still gave forth nuts and people still gave gifts.
By sending the gift, Jacob, in effect, said: “We are in famine and need outside food sources; but we can still share and show appreciation to each other.” In fact, the sending of a gift is a symbolic affirmation of such values.
The moral lesson for you and me is to always think of others – even in hard times.