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THIS WEEK’S BIBLE INSIGHTS ARE BY:
Andy Robb and are based on Genesis 47
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ MORE ON THIS WEEK’S MAJOR THEME:
Genesis 47 (in full) and Romans 8:31-39
1 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.” 2 He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” 4 They also said to him, “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants’ flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.”
the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.”
5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of
11 So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed.
7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, 8 Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” 10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.
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Sunday October 12 - A resolute faithfulness
Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers... are now in
Goshen.” Genesis 47:1
What’s clear as we begin reading this next chapter in Genesis is that we’ve quickly got used to Joseph being Pharaoh’s right-hand man. Let’s not forget that he’d languished in prison for 13 years prior to this, essentially as a nobody – the lowest of the low and forgotten by almost everyone. But not by God. He saw Joseph’s faithfulness to him through those challenging years; the tough times equipped and prepared Joseph for what God had for him next, which was influence. Not a personal, self-seeking influence but as God’s representative at the highest echelons of power in a foreign land.
Previously, Pharaoh didn’t know Joseph existed. Now we see Joseph boldly approaching Egypt’s ruler with a calm authority. In the younger Joseph this might have been seen as pride, but the years of travail had cultivated a humility in Joseph that now positioned him for rightful power. When we remain faithful to God through difficult times – walking in his ways and allowing him to fashion us – we become more like Jesus in the process, and therefore better able to represent him in our personal spheres of influence. God is always looking for those, like Joseph, who will be obedient to his ways. The question we must ask ourselves is this: am I such a person?
Heavenly Father, help me to be faithful to you through the good times and the bad, and fashion in me your likeness so that I can represent you well. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY