SCRIPTURE: Genesis 46:28-47:12
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
To be honest, I don’t sense a clear message in this passage, other thn the underlying assurance that God is at work behind the scenes, unfolding His plan, establishing His missionary people as a nation. It is interesting to note that the Israelites remain second class citizens as shepherds, as far as the Egyptians are concerned, but God Himself is not ashamed to be identified as a shepherd.
God uses historical circumstances to provide for His missionary people. Droughts, famines, wars, crimes will happen – it is, after all, a fallen world, but through the brokenness God arranges to provide for His peoples’ needs.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for revealing a message to me in this passage, even though at first I didn’t see one. Remind me, as Your missionary, that You will provide for me everything I need to fulfill my task. Amen.
Jacob’s family arrives and settles in Egypt land. Shepherds were not liked by the Egyptians. Yet Pharoah gave them the choicest land ifor their flocks and for Jacob’s family. I wonder what commotion that caused among their neighbours. But in a foreign land among strangers there is community and strength by living together. God’s people identified by their location, their occupation and their worship to the only true God. That’s identity. Pharoah received a blessing from Jacob who is finally living for the Lord and not for himself. Pharoah recognized the special skills of Jacob’s family and even wanted to hire them to look after his livestock.
Wherever we are we need to use our gifts for kingdom service, so that others may see how we work diligently, not for ourselves, but for the Lord. Wherever we are, we must also be special, unique as God’s people. Do we just blend in with the world around us or are we in the world and not of the world. They will know that we are Christians by our . . . .
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love