It´s Thursday - Reflections on Genesis (51)

Revisiting the verse we looked at a fortnight ago, I felt it was worth looking at again  from another angle. 'Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.' Genesis 45:18. It reminds us of God's great grace to us. He wants us to have the best. He has a land for us that is far better than the one we live in. He wants us to go from our famine to his plenty. We live in a world of spiritual famine, but even now we can live in a spiritual land of plenty.

Pharaoh would have Joseph bring his brothers back to Egypt, to be where he is. God sent Jesus to be our brother and bring us back to be where he is. Jesus is at the right hand of the father and Joseph was Pharaoh's right-hand man. Pharaoh also says that carts are to be sent from Egypt to Canaan to transport Joseph's family and that they are not to worry about bringing their belongings as 'the best of all Egypt will be yours,'(v 20). It reminds us again of what Jesus said.... 'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal,' (Matt 6:19-21).

Pharaoh wanted them to put their trust in him, assuring them that what he had for them was better than what they already possessed. That is how it is with God and his promises.

Pharaoh wanted to transport them to a new land, a better land, where he would receive them, welcome them and give them so much more than they had back in Canaan. So too with God. We don't belong here. This is not our home. Our home is with the Lord. Whilst others build castles of one sort or another or put down roots and claim their little bit of this world, we are but travellers passing through, heaven is our home, (Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 13:14). God bless you all