Genesis 46:28-47:12,
If you live as God's people
Topic
The people of God are beings who contribute to the world in the world but live differently from the world.
Key question
What does it mean to live as a people of God in the world?
1. Entering
It is not easy to live as a people of God in this age of material pleasures and pleasures. In this world where we only want to play and eat in search of sensuous and comfortable things, we must live a distinct life as God's people.
But such a distinct life is not easy. There's a word "cadosh" in Hebrew. This word is often translated as 'holy', but the original meaning is 'discriminatory'. God is a "holy God" because he is a creator who is distinguished from human beings. We are called "holy groups," or "saints," because we are distinct from the world.
So, how should we live as a discriminated saint?
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| Jacob Blessed Pharaoh |
2. Text
(1) Confident in the Almighty God
In the text, Jacob meets Joseph and expresses his overwhelming feelings, saying, "I have no regrets."
Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive."(Genesis 46:30, ESV)
Because Joseph, the dream son, became the prime minister of Egypt and lived to see him again. I don't have any regrets anymore. But that's not all.
For he saw God's providence in saving all the sons of the twelve, the "children of the covenant" that God said would make a great nation, in the midst of the crisis and fulfilling Abraham's promise. For Jacob lacks confidence, but he has seen the Almighty fulfill his will.
(2) Live distinctly
Joseph said, "When a king asks about your livelihood, answer me, 'Cultivation.'
you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."(Genesis 46:34, ESV)
Knowing the characteristics of the people of Egypt, who regard livestock farming as a vulgar occupation, and who are not close to it, Jacob and his family were to help them settle down unnoticed in distinct areas.
Instead of providing his brothers with crumbs that fall around the power of the Prime Minister, Joseph let them live a life of livestock distinct from the land of Goshen. Jacob and his sons, regardless of the idolatry of Egypt, are now able to achieve a distinct people who serve only the Lord and God.
(3) Bless with humility
Jacob, invited by Pharaoh, stands right in front of him and bless him.
And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh(Genesis 47:10, ESV)
Although he is an old man who runs a shabby-looking ranch in this room, which the Egyptians keep away from, he fulfills his responsibilities as a blessing to the world.
In the world we live as low-born travelers, but we are king-like priests who preach God's salvation to the world. He will have to look at the land with humility, but fulfill his mission as a messenger of blessing on behalf of God.
3. Conclusion
We live in the materialism of this land, but we must not forget that we are God's people. Jacob and his sons knew that rather than enjoying material things in the capital of Egypt, they were pleased with the holy God by sheep and worshiping God as they have done in the land of Goshen. They separated themselves from the Egyptians and lived as God's people.
May we live today not in the splendor of the world, but in the distinction of the people of God. May you be a people of God, different from the world, who fully trust God and proclaim God's glory and love to this land.
4. Prayer
God, you start your life today. But as the people of God, who are distinguished in this life, they want to live by doing honesty and justice and giving love. May God be responsible for my life and guide me. Help me be the people of God who trust God, live a distinguished life, and humbly bless him.
I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen
5. Prayer title
- Let us walk today, trusting in the faithful God.
- Let every field of the country rest in peace, and let justice and justice flow into a country overflowing of righteousness and righteousness.
- Let the Korean Church stand straight to the holy church, free from materialism. Let this land be a blessed church, preaching the gospel.
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