EXODUS 1:8-10

Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”

TO PONDER

There's a fair bit going on in today's verse. Some context from the end of the book of Genesis might be helpful. There we hear that Jacob (to whom God gave the name Israel), and his 12 sons and their families all moved to Egypt to avoid famine, and because Jacob's son, Joseph, had been elevated as the Pharaoh's right hand man, they were welcomed and lived comfortably in the land.

How quickly things change when we forget history!!! A new Pharaoh comes to power generations after the death of Joseph and all the good and blessing that came with the Hebrews is forgotten and now their blessing and filling the land is seen as a problem. These days it's not too hard to find people who feel the same way about Christians. Rather than being seen as the people who try to bring blessing to our communities, we can sometimes be viewed as the problem.

The challenge for us today then might be to consider how we can continue to bless our communities with such outrageous generosity and unexpected hospitality that there is no possible way they could forget the blessing that Christians have been in their lives.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, Like the Pharaohs of Egypt forgot Joseph and the blessing you brought through him to the land of Egypt, so to has much of our world forgotten you and the blessing which the Heavenly Father brought to us through you. May my life be one which constantly reminds others of the love, mercy and blessing that you bring to all those who put their trust in you. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle.