Pharoah and Joseph's Brothers (Gen. 46:31-47:6)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02-03-2008

 

My Worship Time                                                   Focus:  Pharaoh and Joseph’s Brothers

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                 Reference:  Genesis 46:31-47:6

 

            Message of the verses:  “31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me; 32 and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’  33 “When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’  34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians."

 

“1 Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, "My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen."  2 He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.  3 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" So they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers."  4 They said to Pharaoh, "We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen."  5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.  6 "The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.’”

 

I would suppose that the meeting between Joseph’s brothers and Pharaoh was some kind of protocol because all of the things discussed at this meeting had already been discussed between Joseph and Pharaoh before.  It is true that the Egyptians did not like shepherds, which was what Joseph’s family had always been, but because of the kindness that Joseph had shown to Pharaoh he now returns the favor and even wants Joseph’s brothers to care for his herds too.

 

Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I wish to continue on the theme that God was in control of all of the aspects of what was going on in Jacob’s family and I am sure that He is in control of all of the things that are going on in our family as well, even though at this time it does not seem like it.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  This past week, and the beginning of this week have been very difficult for me to handle concerning the things that are going on with my wife.  The problem surrounds her bipolar mood disorder and how she is allowing anger to take hold of her life and thus causing her to become out of balance in her moods.  I do not handle all of this very well at all and must therefore trust the Lord will care for this problem in the way He chooses to do so

.

Memory verses for the week:  Philippians 1:9-11

 

9. And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
10. so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11. having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.