From Lack to Abundance

God's Exceptional Choice  Out of Slavery - Into Nationhood The Birth of Moses Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Genesis 47:1-12 The Message 47 Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him, "My father and brothers with their flocks and herds and everything they own have come from Canaan. Right now they are in Goshen." 2-3 He had taken five of his brothers with him and introduced them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked them, "What kind of work do you do?" 3-4 "Your servants are shepherds, the same as our fathers were. We have come to this country to find a new place to live. There is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine has been very bad there. Please, would you let your servants settle in the region of Goshen?" 5-6 Pharaoh looked at Joseph. "So, your father and brothers have arrived—a reunion! Egypt welcomes them. Settle your father and brothers on the choicest land—yes, give them Goshen. And if you know any among them that are especially good at their work, put them in charge of my own livestock." 7-8 Next Joseph brought his father Jacob in and introduced him to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Jacob, "How old are you?" 9-10 Jacob answered Pharaoh, "The years of my sojourning are 130—a short and hard life and not nearly as long as my ancestors were given." Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left. 11-12 Joseph settled his father and brothers in Egypt, made them proud owners of choice land—it was the region of Rameses (that is, Goshen)—just as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph took good care of them—his father and brothers and all his father's family, right down to the smallest baby. He made sure they had plenty of everything. For Reflection Joseph was loved by his father but hated by his brothers who sold him into slavery. But what otherwise might be a tragic story turned into a triumph of righteousness. For displaying the human mind's various workings, good and bad, the singular providence of God fulfilled God's purposes. God turned a human tragedy into gracefull and heroic redemption and forgiveness  Pray Pray and meditate upon the grace and providence of God. Give thanks to God for his goodness and protective hands. Pray and understand that God has a purpose for your life, even if you do not realize it. Forward to a friend Sign up for our mailing list!