The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 6 February 2023 – Joseph:The Ambassador
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TOPIC — Joseph:The Ambassador
READ: GENESIS 46:26 – 47:13 (AMP)
- All the persons who came with Jacob into Egypt–who were his own offspring, not counting the wives of Jacob’s sons–were sixty-six persons all told.
- And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob [including Joseph and Jacob himself], who came into Egypt, were seventy.
- And he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to direct him to Goshen and meet him there; and they came into the land of Goshen.
- Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen; and he presented himself and gave distinct evidence of himself to him [that he was Joseph], and [each] fell on the [other’s] neck and wept on his neck a good while.
- And Israel said to Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen your face [and know] that you are still alive.
- Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, I will go up and tell Pharaoh and say to him, My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.
- And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been keeping livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.
- When Pharaoh calls you and says, What is your occupation?
- You shall say, Your servants’ occupation has been as keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our fathers before us–in order that you may live in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.
- THEN JOSEPH came and told Pharaoh, My father and my brothers, with their flocks and their herds and all that they own, have come from the land of Canaan, and they are in the land of Goshen.
- And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh.
- And Pharaoh said to his brothers, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers before us.
- Moreover, they said to Pharaoh, We have come to sojourn in the land, for your servants have no pasture for our flocks, for the famine is very severe in Canaan. So now, we pray you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.
- And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, Your father and your brothers have come to you.
- The land of Egypt is before you; make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them live in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any men of ability among them, put them in charge of my cattle.
- Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and presented him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
- And Pharaoh asked Jacob, How old are you?
- Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are 130 years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and they have not attained to those of the life of my fathers in their pilgrimage.
- And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.
- Joseph settled his father and brethren and gave them a possession in Egypt in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses (Goshen), as Pharaoh commanded.
- And Joseph supplied his father and his brethren and all his father’s household with food, according to [the needs of] their families.
- [In the course of time] there was no food in all the land, for the famine was distressingly severe, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan hung in doubt and wavered by reason of the hunger (destitution, starvation) of the famine.
THE MESSAGE:
Joseph played the role of God’s ambassador in Egypt: He represented both God and Jacob’s family in Egypt. He had been given a free hand to run the economy and to settle his father’s family which came to Egypt. When he requested Pharaoh to allow his people to settle in Goshen, Pharaoh replied, “The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land…” (verse 6). Jacob was 130 years when he came to Egypt and settled at Goshen
Most times, we abuse little privileges given to us. We undermine those that trusted us and it may lead to our disgrace or dismissal. In Luke 19:11-27, a nobleman called ten of his servants and gave them a pound each to do business till he returned. Luke 19:13 states clearly, “Do business till I come.” That is, be working till I come. Two were faithful while one was a disappointment. Are you faithfully representing Christ where you are? Be a good Ambassador for Christ in your home, office, Church, place of work or business. Let us change our ways by preaching and living the Gospel. Be a good Ambassador of Christ today.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to be a good Ambassador of Christ in my nation in Jesus’ name, Amen.
