12. At the time there wereonly a few of us,and we were homeless.
13. We wandered from nationto nation, from one countryto another.
14. God did not let anyoneill-treat our people.Instead he protected usby punishing rulers
15. and telling them,“Don't touch my chosen leadersor harm my prophets!”
16. God kept crops from growinguntil food was scarceeverywhere in the land.
17. But he had already sent Joseph,sold as a slave into Egypt,
18. with chains of ironaround his legs and neck.
19. Joseph remained a slaveuntil his own wordshad come true,and the Lord had finishedtesting him.
20. Then the king of Egyptset Joseph free
21. and put him in chargeof everything he owned.
22. Joseph was in commandof the officials,and he taught the leadershow to use wisdom.
23. Jacob and his familycame and settled in Egyptas foreigners.
24. They were the Lord's people,so he let them grow strongerthan their enemies.
25. They served the Lord,and he made the Egyptians planhateful things against them.
26. God sent his servant Moses.He also chose and sent Aaron
27. to his people in Egypt,and they worked miraclesand wonders there.