Be Still…

Read Genesis 48:1-22

Sometimes God uses the unexpected, breaking tradition or appearance. We see that here as Jacob blesses Ephraim more than Manessah, the oldest. Traditionally, the firstborn would receive the greater blessing. Joseph tried to intervene to correct this, but Jacob did it intentionally. Apparently, he had “inside information” and wanted to bless the younger son more. Maybe he remembered his own experience.

God does use the unexpected for his purposes. We are in the Christmas season as I write this. The events of the Christmas story again remind us of God’s economy and choosing the unlikely. Jesus, the King of Kings, was not born in a palace but a smelly stable. The first to hear the news of his birth were not wealthy diplomats but lowly shepherds. Continue reading “Genesis 48:1-22 – The Blessing”

Read Genesis 47:13-31

Being a leader is not always an easy thing, especially when problems arise. Thinking fast on your feet is often necessary when needing to give directions. Being a good decision maker is also a trait a good leader should possess. That is an area I need to work on. I have been placed in leadership roles over the years, and I always say the best leaders must be good followers. Yet, when decisions need to be made, I need to dig deep to find courage. Otherwise, I only second guess and overthink my actions.

How about you? What kind of a leader are you? Because I have been placed in leadership roles, it is often hard to step back and be a follower. I still think like a leader looking for the best solutions. When the leader in charge doesn’t recognize what seems obvious to me, I waver back and forth trying to decide if I should step up and help them see or just wait the course because perhaps an even better solution has yet to be seen. Continue reading “Genesis 47:13-31 – Leadership in Action”

Read Genesis 47:1-12

Today is the day Jacob meets the Pharaoh. It would be like meeting the President for those in the United States. Pharaoh was a big deal in terms of power and prestige. His control spread over the entire region. That would also mean Joseph was a pretty big deal in the land as well. What an accomplishment for a Hebrew outsider. His family must be so proud. Their destiny would have looked a lot different had God not used Joseph in this way. Continue reading “Genesis 47:1-12 – A Double Blessing”

Read Genesis 46:1-34

From the time Jacob learned that Joseph was alive until the long-awaited hug, time must have dragged on. You know how that is when you are waiting for something to happen, like summer vacation from school when you were a kid. It seemed like it would never come.

Reunited at last. It was good to see all the brothers, nieces, cousins and such that Jacob’s family, his tribe really, had become. That was some family. I suppose when you are descended from Abraham, who was promised to be the father of many nations, at some point, your descendants begin to explode in number. Continue reading “Genesis 46:1-34 – The Wait is Over”

Read Genesis 45:16-28

Word travels fast, and soon Pharaoh was involved with the reunion. Because Joseph had been such a blessing to him and his people, Pharaoh wanted to give back. He wanted for all of Joseph’s family to move to Egypt and be given only the finest things. It was Joseph’s families’ turn to be blessed.

I’ve always tried to imagine how Jacob must have felt. When he saw Joseph’s tattered coat, and no sign of Joseph for all these years, he had to assume Joseph was lost forever.  To hear that Joseph was alive and well must have seemed like a dream. A happy day to be sure when it started to sink in. A time to celebrate! Continue reading “Genesis 45:16-28 – Happy Day!”