Daily Devotions
Genesis
"One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts." Psalm 145:4
Text: Genesis 46:1-34
PREPARATION TO MEET THE PHARAOH
The sons of Israel were rustic people in comparison to the Egyptians. Joseph thus felt that he had to prepare his brothers as to how they should conduct themselves before the Pharaoh. Not everyone had the opportunity to see the Pharaoh in person. Joseph wanted the ruler of Egypt to have a good and favourable impression of his brothers.
“Then 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 those of my father’s house,
who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.
And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been
to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks,
their herds, and all that they have.””
GENESIS 46:31-32
Joseph had become a mighty court official. He was aware of the protocol that had to be observed if and when the Pharaoh would come and visit with them.
Though Joseph was a powerful official, he also honoured Pharaoh as the ruler of the land of Egypt. Protocol demanded that he had to report to Pharaoh concerning the arrival of his brethren and their families! Joseph would do the presentation of his brothers to the Pharaoh.
SOME CONCERN ABOUT HOW PHARAOH WOULD RECEIVE THEM
Joseph was a tad concerned about how the Pharaoh would receive his brothers.
“So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says,
‘What is your occupation?’ 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 46:33-34
Joseph lived in Egypt long enough to know how the Egyptians regarded “foreigners”. Many different types of races were found in Egypt. As may be expected, there were different types of occupations followed in that great land. There would be the educated class, and these would become “the professionals”. There were professional scribes, doctors, architects, businessmen and humble tradesmen.
On the lower end of the social ladder were the “shepherds”. For some reason, the Egyptians despised those who belonged to the category “shepherds”. Since the sons of Israel were actually more than shepherds, for they had cattle, donkeys and camels, and judging from the fact that Isaac knew how to till the ground, some of the brothers could be called farmers, Joseph told them to speak of themselves in polite language. They were to say that their work was with “livestock” rather than to highlight the word “shepherd”. Hopefully, Pharaoh would look upon them favourably and allow them to live in Goshen.