ROBERTO'S REFLECTIONS for Thursday, 20 February 2014

ROBERTO'S REFLECTIONS Immigrants in the Bible: For such a time as this! Jacob (Israel) as an Immigrant:  "So He said, 'I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.'" Genesis 46:3 Joseph, the son of Jacob, invited his father and his family to join him in Egypt to save them from the severe famine of the time. Before Israel started his journey, he went before God. “So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac” Genesis 46:1).  Jacob learned from his grandfather Abraham and father Isaac, that before starting a journey it was necessary to ask God for His direction. “And he (Abram) moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South." (Genesis 12:8-9).  “And the LORD appeared to him (Isaac) the same night and said, 'I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for my servant Abraham's sake.' So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there…” (Genesis 26:24-25).  Joseph instructed his father and his family how to introduce themselves to Pharaoh with awareness of the Egyptian culture “that you shall say, 'Your servants' occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,' that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians" (Genesis 46:34). Israel and his family continued working as shepherds in the land of Egypt. In time Pharaoh asked them to work for him: “The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock" (Genesis 12:8-9). Israel’s family and descendants made a contribution to the new land with their skills and services. Practical lessons on this reflection: Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers and gracious invitation to his family to come to Egypt saved their lives. Jacob practiced the devotion of his fathers in offering sacrifice to God before a journey. God responds to those who seek his direction and reassures them, “. . . do not fear.” Israel’s family made a contribution to Egypt with their skills and services. In His Mission, Roberto Hodgson, Multicultural Ministries director SNAPSHOT Ethnic Group District Churches Worship Members Cambodian Anaheim 4 224 240 Cambodian Central California 1 58 103 Cambodian New England 2 - - Cambodian Prairie Lakes 2 159 282 Cambodian Southern California 1 37 72 Cambodian Virginia 1 39 50 Cambodian Total 11 517 747 CALL FOR PRAYER Cambodian Facilitator – Rev. Sokurt Suos Cambodian pastors and congregations EVENTS Mach 11 – 13: Armenian SRT Meeting Multicultural Ministries vision is to encourage the development of strategy and initiative to reach the USA/Canada mission field through the visionary leadership of the ethnic facilitators, and their strategy committees.