Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Model for the Generations

Bible portion: Genesis 47:7-10

 

Key Verse: “Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh” (Genesis 47:7)


Devotion

Family is of profound importance to God’s plan and purpose. When we recollect families in the Bible, Abraham’s family is probably the first one that comes to mind. After all, God promised that He would bless the whole world through Abraham’s family. As believers in a rapidly changing and devolving world, we can shift our focus to this family to see how God uses His faithful servants to bring forth His kingdom.
 
Abraham’s grandson and great-grandson, Jacob and Joseph, are spotlighted in today’s devotional passage. In Genesis 47, Joseph brings his father before Pharaoh. Although their interaction is brief, it is packed with meaning. We can imagine Pharaoh’s astonishment to see Jacob standing before him in his advanced age. Jacob’s presence alone is a reminder of God’s faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham. One thing to pay attention to here is that Jacob blessed Pharaoh not once but twice. Why did Jacob do this? Well, we know that Jacob’s father, Isaac, similarly blessed him in his old age. At this point, it seems to be a family tradition. When we look to the institution of family, we can liken it to a fountain of blessing to be consumed by others. Jacob’s blessing is a model for a pattern of conduct that we can adopt in our familial and personal lives. In our interactions with others, we can extend the Lord’s blessings. Pharaoh may not have been a believer in the God of Israel, but He was certainly touched by the God of Israel through Abraham’s family.
 
In this broken world, our Lord Jesus Christ has enlisted us to be a model for the generations. God’s hand reaches the darkest corners of this world through good and faithful servants. Just as Jacob poured out his blessing on Pharaoh, so too must we be a blessing to our spheres of influence. The love of Christ is the greatest blessing we can bring to another person.

PRAYER
 

Father God, we thank You for having a plan and purpose for our lives. Lord, guide our thoughts, words, and deeds, so that we may be the light of the world. Outside of You and Your provision, we cannot accomplish this. We know you won’t leave or forsake us. Strengthen us to carry out Your will in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
 

Thought for the Day 
 

Let us make it our business to build families that God can use mightily to further build His kingdom.

 

Christin Mathew
Epiphany MTC, New York

 

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