The Daily Guide. grow. pray. study. from The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, United States for
Monday, 15 August 2016 "How Israel came to be in Egypt"
Scripture Text: Genesis 41:33 “Therefore, Pharaoh should look for a man both discreet and wise to put in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Pharaoh should do this, and he should appoint supervisors over the land to receive a twenty percent tax on the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should gather all the food produced during these good years coming up and set aside grain under the supervision of Pharaoh to be used for food in the cities, and they should store it. 36 This will be the land’s food supply for the seven years of famine that will come over the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish as a result of the famine.”
37 The proposal seemed good both to Pharaoh and to all his officials. 38 Pharaoh said to his officials, “Can we find anyone else like him? The Spirit of God lives in him!”
(iii) 39 So Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Since God has shown you all this — there is no one as discerning and wise as you — 40 you will be in charge of my household; all my people will be ruled by what you say. Only when I rule from my throne will I be greater than you.” 41 Pharaoh said to Yosef, “Here, I place you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” 42 Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Yosef’s hand, had him clothed in fine linen with a gold chain around his neck 43 and had him ride in his second best chariot; and they cried before him, “Bow down!” Thus he placed him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.
46:31 Yosef said to his brothers and his father’s family, “I’m going up to tell Pharaoh. I’ll say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s family, who were in the land of Kena‘an, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds and keepers of livestock; they have brought their flocks, their herds and all their possessions.’ 33 Now when Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 tell him, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our ancestors.’ This will ensure that you will live in the land of Goshen — for any shepherd is abhorrent to the Egyptians.”
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We learned in the recent “Joseph” sermons (July 10-17, 2016—you can view the sermons at
www.cor.org/sermons) that Joseph rose from slavery to become the second-in-command in
Egypt. His wise management saved Egypt, and many nearby areas, from famine. He was able
to feed his own family, and moved them all to Egypt. That was not a stand-alone story—it
formed a crucial background for the story of Moses and the Exodus.
• In some other Scriptural stories (e.g. Daniel 6), we see Israelites given high office by nonIsraelite kings facing jealousy and resistance. Do you suppose that no ambitious Egyptian officials were at first unhappy to see Joseph literally moved from prison to Pharaoh’s second-in-command? Based on what you know of Joseph’s character, how would you expect him to have dealt with any such people?
• Despite Joseph’s power, he drew on Egyptian prejudice against “shepherds” to ensure his
family a chance to live in the fertile land of Goshen. It gave Israel a place in which to thrive. It may also have foreshadowed the hatred and oppression they would face decades in the future. The Egyptians thought all shepherds were “beneath their dignity.” Which people might you see in a similar way? What spiritual dangers does that attitude carry?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, guide me, like Joseph, to use whatever gifts and talents I have in ways
that bless others. And give me a compassionate dignity like yours, not the kind the Egyptians had that looks down on others. Amen.
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Insights from Donna Karlen
Donna Karlen serves in Communications at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, creating and managing social media content.Last week, I had the opportunity to hear from some outstanding leaders during the Willow Creek Leadership Summit that was broadcast live in Resurrection’s sanctuary. Here are some of the words that inspired me:
No matter how far off course you’ve gone, God loves to rewrite stories. Throughout history, God has specialized in helping people write new narratives for the rest of their lives. –Bill Hybels
At every age, at every stage, you can be fruitful. Re-imagine yourself. –Bishop T.D. Jakes
We allow people to put a period where God put a comma… What have you done with your talents today?… When you get to eternity, don’t have any regrets. Don’t procrastinate to pull the trigger to do the things God has put on your heart. Run after it with all of your heart. –Jossy Chacko
This next quote from Melinda Gates didn’t just inspire me, it convicted me:
“At the end of the day, you have to hear the cries of those in need, let your heart break and act in courage.”
That sounds messy! Sure I want to use my gifts and talents to change at least a small part of the world for the better – to make my story meaningful – to leave a legacy. But couldn’t I do that and not get messy? A broken heart sounds painful!
All I can do is pray to the one who is with me beside both still waters and swirling, messy floods, the one who is with me in peace and in pain. O’ God – let me see and hear so my heart breaks – and help me to act in courage.-------
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