Egypt Welcomes Them

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on these scripture this morning and the thought that we, the leaders, must reverence our positions of influence, don’t discount them and leverage them with grace and skill. 

Daily we carry the weight of responsibility, well beyond the initial enthusiasm of the assignment or task, with the goal of representing Christ well. 

We also see a biblical example in Joseph where he prospered while working for Potifer then Pharaoh – always enlarging his territory of influence; but, the process was not easy and created many challenges. 

Joseph demonstrated for us “how” to live a life with a pure heart and to honor, respect and reverence the king despite having intimate knowledge of his personality , flaws and character.  

In short, Joesph elevated his heart and mind to God’s standard. 

Selah

As we can see, this message is less about the leaders we serve and more about how we are positioned to accomplish our kingdom mandate – being strategically placed in sometimes uncomfortable places.

We may experience what seems like years of toil, obscurity, dismissal and maybe even deception; however, the Bible shows us how Joseph was elevated when he prioritized showing up God’s way as his purpose.

Scripture says:

“So Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this [a man equal to Joseph], in whom is the divine spirit [of God]?” 

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since [your] God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and clear-headed and wise as you are. 

You shall have charge over my house, and all my people shall be governed according to your word and pay respect [to you with reverence, submission, and obedience]; only in [matters of] the throne will I be greater than you [in Egypt].””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭41‬:‭38‬-‭40‬ ‭AMP‬‬

OMG

Because of Joseph’s life, God was honored and the blessing was manifested:

“And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.” [Gal 3:8]”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen

In the midst of the worst famine, we see in scriptures the following: 

“Pharaoh looked at Joseph. “So, your father and brothers have arrived—a reunion! Egypt welcomes them. Settle your father and brothers on the choicest land—yes, give them Goshen. And if you know any among them that are especially good at their work, put them in charge of my own livestock.””

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭47‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭MSG‬‬

Thank you Lord!

In closing, no matter what pressure points that we face, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that may be a stumbling block. 

We must run this race with patience and love so that God gets the glory and we are able to be a blessing in the famine:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“‘Thus says the Lord God, “On the day that I cleanse you from all your sins I will also cause the cities [of Israel] to be inhabited, and the ruins will be rebuilt. 

The desolate land will be cultivated instead of being a desolation in the sight of everyone who passes by. 

Then they will say, ‘This land that was deserted and desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the waste, desolate, and ruined cities are fortified and inhabited.’”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭36‬:‭33‬-‭35‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him, “My father and brothers with their flocks and herds and everything they own have come from Canaan. Right now they are in Goshen.” 

He had taken five of his brothers with him and introduced them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked them, “What kind of work do you do?” 

“Your servants are shepherds, the same as our fathers were. We have come to this country to find a new place to live. There is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine has been very bad there. Please, would you let your servants settle in the region of Goshen?” 

Pharaoh looked at Joseph. “So, your father and brothers have arrived—a reunion! Egypt welcomes them. 

Settle your father and brothers on the choicest land—yes, give them Goshen. And if you know any among them that are especially good at their work, put them in charge of my own livestock.” 

Next Joseph brought his father Jacob in and introduced him to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How old are you?” 

Jacob answered Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are 130—a short and hard life and not nearly as long as my ancestors were given.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left. 

Joseph settled his father and brothers in Egypt, made them proud owners of choice land—it was the region of Rameses (that is, Goshen)—just as Pharaoh had ordered. Joseph took good care of them—his father and brothers and all his father’s family, right down to the smallest baby. He made sure they had plenty of everything. * * *”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭47‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭MSG‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/97/gen.47.1-12.MSG

For The Famine is Very Severe in Canaan

A Leadership Insight from Vision Multiplier International https://visionmultiplierllc.com/

I was reflecting on this scripture this morning and the thought that we, the leaders, really need to fall in love again with the Word of God because it gives life – even long life- to us who believe. We choose to receive His promises, by faith, despite our present challenges!

What is clear in these passages is that, Canaan, the promised land that once flowed with milk and honey is experiencing a severe famine (Deuteronomy 26:9; Genesis‬ ‭47‬:‭4‬ ‭AMP‬‬). 

Even with the external realities of a famine, The Blessing of Abraham was still on the lives of Jacob and his sons – Abraham’s seed: 

“indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies [by conquering them]. [Heb 6:13, 14; 11:12] 

Through your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have heard and obeyed My voice.”]”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭22‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Today, we qualify as the seed of Abraham through Christ:

“in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles, so that we would all receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit through faith.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen

The Bible also promises us a long satisfied life in Psalms 91: 

“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 

With long life will I satisfy him, And shew him my salvation.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭91‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Selah

Today, let us be reminded that the earth is still the Lords and the fullness thereof, His mercy still endures forever and His plan to make us a great nation is still in effect:

“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, The world, and those who dwell in it. [1 Cor 10:26]”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭136‬:‭1‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you [abundantly], And make your name great (exalted, distinguished); And you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others]; 

And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses (despises, dishonors, has contempt for) you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.” [Gal 3:8]”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬-‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Amen

We just need to continue to learn of Him through His Word, praise Him through the challenges and rest in His provisions:

“Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, And all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name. 

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits;”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer 6:16]”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭29‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and their herds and all that they own, have come from the land of Canaan, and they are in the land of Goshen.” 

He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh said to his brothers [as Joseph expected], “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers [before us].” 

Moreover, they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live temporarily (sojourn) in the land [of Egypt], for there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants [in our land], for the famine is very severe in Canaan. So now, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.” 

Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 

The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know of any men of ability among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” 

Then Joseph brought Jacob (Israel) his father and presented him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 

And Pharaoh asked Jacob, “How old are you?””

Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, and they have not reached the years that my fathers lived during the days of their pilgrimage.” 

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and departed from his presence. 

So Joseph settled his father and brothers and gave them a possession in Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses (Goshen), as Pharaoh commanded. 

Joseph provided and supplied his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to [the needs of] their children. 

Now [in the course of time] there was no food in all the land, for the famine was distressingly severe, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan languished [in destitution and starvation] because of the famine.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭47‬:‭1‬-‭13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/1588/gen.47.13.AMP

Be Merciful

I was reflecting this morning on these scriptures related to “mercy“ and assessing just how to further align our lives with the standard that God has extended unto us. Simply “how can we get better?”

Being merciful is a heart condition – a continuous heart preparation, evaluation and adjustment process as we walk with Christ.

The reality of our “growth progress”is revealed when we get “pinched” and our initial reaction or thought is not Godly and we ask “OMG, where did that come from?”

As leaders, yes we are busy, have great demands and pressures that we navigate daily; however, we must continuously examine our hearts, our thoughts and our behaviors to ensure we are growing in the Word, have not stagnated or worst – lost ground.

It does take daily work to overcome our old sinful nature by putting on the whole armory of god and renewing our minds.

We operate in a glass bowl where everyone is observing us and how we respond or react towards others. Our response reveals how we value others, their thoughts and their ideas!

When we miss the mark, we must recognize the offense and be sensitive enough to repair the hurt.

As leaders who truly care and desire to lead with love, we have the greatest power available to us and that is “being merciful”. Seeds of mercy can and will pay dividends

It is my prayer that we will sow these mercy seeds generously and bountifully for the glory of God.

Be Blessed!

Be a Blessing!

“Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful. “

Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change].

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over [with no space left for more].

For with the standard of measurement you use [when you do good to others], it will be measured to you in return.””

Luke 6:36-38 AMP

Faithfulness Brings Favor

I was reflecting on this passage this morning and was reminded about the importance of being faithful, remaining steadfast in our work, and pursuing quality in our decisions.

As leaders, we:

⁃ Have to settle certain decisions in advance of adversity so that when the challenges come, we can make decisions faster and exude confidence and resolve for others to see. Ruth made the decision to follow Naomi.

⁃ Must choose daily to pursue Gods path for our lives and to allow him to order our steps. Ruth decided to also follow Naomi’s god.

⁃ Need to be faithful and diligent about serving those around us daily. People are observing and are extending favor / opportunities/ promotion toward us. Ruth’s effort and diligence was observed by others and supported.

⁃ Should remain humble , coachable and to prayerfully wait, watch and to see what the Lord is doing on our behalf. Ruth listened to advice and coaching from Naomi.

It is my sincere prayer that we will be faithful in our leadership and faint not.

Be blessed,

Be a blessing!

“And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”

Ruth 1:15-18 KJV