Giving and Government

Gen 41:31  And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
Gen 41:32  And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Gen 41:33  Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
Gen 41:34  Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
Gen 41:35  And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
Gen 41:36  And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
Gen 41:37  And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
Gen 41:38  And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Gen 41:39  And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40  Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

Mat 22:17  Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Mat 22:18  But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19  Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20  And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21  They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.
Mat 22:22  When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

Transforming Power Statements:

1) Human government is God’s idea and He established it shortly after the flood in the days of Noah and He determines the amount of time and coverage of territory of each government’s jurisdiction and sets them up and brings them down at His own desire; and it is His will that they exist for the overall general well-being of all people everywhere

2) The first mention of “taxation” is recorded in Scripture here in Genesis 41 during the time Joseph (Jacob’s favorite son) was being held in captivity in slavery during the days when his very own older brothers had sold him to get rid of him and told their father Jacob that Joseph had been killed; Joseph being an interpreter of dreams as he was gifted by God explains to the Pharoah the meaning of his dream accurately and instituted a withholding tax of 20 % during the seven years of plenty to provide sustenance during the upcoming seven years of famine.

3) Even in the times of Jesus, the religious leaders in an attempt to trip Jesus up and get Him in trouble with the Roman government officials asked Jesus if it was “legal” / lawful to pay taxes to Caesar; and Jesus confirmed that they were to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that were God’s.