I love being inspired! Thanks for the comments!!
Genesis Chapter 47.
1. Joseph was loved and respected by pharaoh. To be a person of integrity and respect for others can certainly result in others treating you extremely well.
2. Joseph collected everything from the people outside of Egypt. It doesn't seem right yet the people seemed grateful for life. Regardless of the motives of Joseph, people were grateful for just even life without complaining that they lost everything.
3. Jacob, on his Dying Years, still worshipped the Lord.
1. May I be a person of respect and integrity.
2. May I learn to be grateful for what I do have versus complaining about what I don't have.
3. May I worship the Lord with all my heart even on my dying days.
Today’s reading was very sad for me. Maybe it hit me even harder since I just watched the movie, Unplanned yesterday. I was already thinking about the senseless loss of so much life while feeling just how cruel and unfair this world can be. I thought today about all of those people who were experiencing the famine and suffering. They had nothing left except for their unproductive land and just themselves so they even had to give that up to stay alive. It would be nice to say that people don’t starve anywhere anymore, but that’s just not the case in our sin-cursed world. Politics and this world’s governments may try to help, but they certainly haven’t completely succeeded and sometimes make situations even worse. Luke 12 gave me a better perspective when I read it again today. We may see such a wealth disparity on this planet, but God sees and knows. There isn’t anything out of His control even though we may not understand what He is doing at times. We have to trust Him and we have this coming promise from Revelation 21:4, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Here’s the link for today’s parody, Killing My Suffering With His Son.
https://youtu.be/lkGP5FSGsQU
In our text, the people that brought their money, possessions, property and themselves to the throne could relax and rest … their needs were met. The same goes for us, doesn’t it!
Jacob blessed Pharaoh! No matter what Pharaoh we face wherever we go, we can pronounce blessings. (See Matt 5:10, 11) We can speak the Lord’s name upon someone’s life and into their day. When we bless others, our own lives are blessed. “May the Lord bless you” May the Lord bless your day”. It’s doable and everyone of us has the opportunity to cause blessings to be bestowed on someone.
May the Lord bless each one of you and give you peace in your walk today.
why did Jacob only call for his son Joseph … I understand the power he had , but why not bring all his sons in?
Hi Brian. Jacob does eventually call all of his sons in chapter 49. Here’s what we read in Genesis 49:28, “All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him.”
Perhaps Jacob, realizing that Joseph had the power to overrule his brothers in Egypt, knew that Joseph would be the one to ask to swear not bury him in Egypt. Also, Joseph generosity and goodness in saving Jacob’s family (God’s people) surely made him stand out as trustworthy in his father’s eyes.
I really appreciate Jeanine mentioning we have “Pharaoh’s” that we face and that offering blessings upon them, will also bring blessings in our lives! This is something that is usually very difficult for me.
I am also thinking about how long and awful the faminine was. People did not lose hope though, and God delivered them through it, just like He will deliver us through whatever it is we are going through in our lives. Reminds me of a song I by Mandisa, “my deliverer, You rescued me from all that’s held me captive! My deliverer You set me free Now I’m alive and I can live so every moment I can give you praise. My deliverer!