PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Genesis 46-48
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“For all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.” (Genesis 46:34)
Among the people of Israel, shepherds were not outcasts, but part of their story.
Some of their notable leaders, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David were shepherds.
The Egyptians may have detested shepherds, but God’s people did not.
They even viewed themselves as sheep, and the Lord as their shepherd.
“The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day.” (Genesis 48:15)
They anticipated God coming one day to rescue them as a Shepherd (Ezekiel 34).
And Jesus makes the bold claim that He is this ‘good shepherd’ (John 10).
Like shepherds and sheep, we are nomads, wandering through this world, detestable.
But God takes the detestable, and makes them a blessing to the world.
Abraham’s blessing (Genesis 12) comes to Egypt during famine through Joseph.
Abraham’s blessing comes to the world through Jesus, and through His followers.
We may live on the fringes of society, but society is blessed by our presence.
There is nothing detestable about following Jesus; it is how God blesses the world!
God has planted me in this area (and you in yours) for this… am I being a blessing?
PRAYER
Lord, remind me that though the world may detest those that claim to follow You, that our job is to roam the world as nomadic blessers, bringing your blessing wherever You bring me!
What a convoluted path? As I read of the experiences of Jacob and his family – how God directs the paths and provides provisions of fertile and productive nile delta land with lots of water resources – how He sets them up to multiply and live under the protection of Pharoah – whom God has delegated now to care for Israel – to ‘grow’/develop and nation of priests – the learning experiences are many and different – yet even under Pharoah – a heathen god-king – God’s education program continues.
So it is in my life – expect the unexpected and the difficult to shape me as well – see it as God’s provision – that He will see me through – because He continues to ‘mold and shape’ me.
God uses His people to be a blessing unto others. The Egyptians were spared from the famine by God bringing Joseph to Egypt and then also His own people. They too were led by Him and lived in Egypt but were a separate people. They were also a blessing to Pharaoh for his herds and also increasing his lands. God looks after His own and blesses them and I too need to be a blessing wherever I am. I am equipped to be an instrument of His peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace
Where there’s hatred, let me sow love
And where there is injury, pardon
And where there is doubt, then faith
And where there’s despair, then hope
It’s in dying that I will be born
And in giving that I will receive
It’s in loving that I will be loved
This is my faith, it is what I believe
Lord, make me an instrument
Make me an instrument
Lord, I am a stranger traveling
In a brutal yet wondrous land
Far from the promise of home
On a journey led by Your hand
To where the lion lies down with the lamb
Father, grant that I’d never seek
To be comforted as to console
Let the blood of Your Son cover me
Touching my spirit
Seizing my soul
Lord, make me an instrument
Lord, make me an instrument
Lord make me your instrument
Let Your divine mystery guide my heart
It’s in dying that I will be born
And in giving that I will receive
It’s in loving that I will be loved
This is my faith, it is what I believe
Christ within me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ above me
Christ beneath me
To my left and my right
Christ where I lie and where I arise
Christ in the hearts of all who think of me
Christ on the lips of all who speak of me
Christ in the eyes of all who see me
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument, Lord
Make me Your instrument
Here I am Lord send me. Thank you that you are blessing me in Jesus to be a blesser–Lord Jesus you are my Good Shepherd in this my pilgrimage.