The Lesser Blessed the Greater

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. (Genesis 47:7-10) 
 
Joseph brought his family to Egypt and introduced his father to Pharaoh. Pharaoh is the head guy…he is the President, the Commander in Chief, the main man. In contrast, Jacob is a wanderer, a sojourner, the father of shepherds and a very old man who had to leave his homeland because he and his family would have died of starvation from the famine. But why do the Scriptures say two times: “Jacob blessed Pharaoh?”  How does that happen? How does the empty bless the full? How does the lesser bless the greater? How does the poor possess more than the rich? How does the average overrule the superior? The answer—GOD. 
 
God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). God reveals His will and His blessings to the childlike. God empowers everyday people to fulfill abundant promises without money, without power and without titles. The prayers and praises of the saints have higher ratings and rewards than the most powerful, self sufficient persons on earth. 
 
We have our logic all mixed up down here. If we really understood the ways of the Lord, we would not be held down by difficulty nor be lifted up with pride. When we fix our eyes on the things that matter, we understand that Jacob’s “evil” years of pilgrimage have an eternal value that weighs more than this nameless Pharaoh who lived a life of luxury on earth. 
 
Do you bless others? You are a child of God, just like Jacob. Jacob blessed Pharaoh because of Jacob’s position in the heavenlies. He blessed Pharaoh because Jacob knew what being blessed really meant. Jacob blessed Pharaoh and today, his life still blesses me. Jacob has done more for me than Pharaoh because Jacob’s family brought to us the greatest blessing of all…Jesus. When we really know Jesus, we truly understand what it is to be blessed so that we can freely bless others. Ask the Lord to use you to bless someone today. 
 
I love today’s devotion. What a reminder, when you feel you have nothing to offer based on materialistic offerings, remember Jacob. As today’s devotion says, God empowers everyday people to fulfill abundant promises without money, without power and without titles. Don’t look down on your current circumstances but use it as an opportunity to bless someone today in whatever way you can. A kind word, a smile, a helping hand, a listening ear, prayer. Allow God to use you, His ways are endless, we just have to be willing and available. 
 
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord! 
 
Today’s Reading is 1 John 4:18


Be a Blessing

And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. (Genesis 47:7-10)

Joseph brings his family to Egypt and introduces his father to Pharaoh. Pharaoh is the head guy…he is the President, the Commander in Chief, the main man. In contrast, Jacob is a wanderer, a sojourner, the father of shepherds and a very old man who had to leave his homeland because he and his family would have died of starvation from the famine. But what do the scriptures say two times: “Jacob blessed Pharaoh.”  How does that happen? How does the empty bless the full? How does the lesser bless the greater? How does the poor possess more than the rich? How does the average overrule the superior? The answer….GOD.
 
God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God reveals His will and His blessings to the childlike. God empowers every day people to fulfill abundant promises without money, without cost and without titles. The prayers and praises of the saints have higher ratings and rewards than the most powerful, self sufficient persons on earth.
 
We have our logic all mixed up down here. If we really understood the ways of the Lord, we would not be held down by gravity or be lifted up with pride. When we fix our eyes on the things that matter, we understand that Jacob’s evil years of pilgrimage have an eternal value that weighs more than this nameless Pharaoh who lived a life of luxury on earth.
 
Do you bless others? You are a child of God, just like Jacob. He blessed Pharaoh because of his position in the heavenlies. He blesses Pharaoh because Jacob knew what being blessed really meant. Jacob blessed Pharaoh and today, his life still blesses me. Jacob has done more for me than Pharaoh because Jacob’s family brought to us the greatest blessing of all…Jesus. When we really know Jesus, we truly understand what it is to be blessed so that we can freely bless others. Ask the Lord to use you to bless someone today.

There have been times when I have heard people say, what can I do, I don’t have wealth or any power to make a difference but today’s devotion brings to light a very powerful point. When we truly know Jesus, we understand what it is to be blessed and to bless. It’s not about how much money you have in your bank account, what your status quo is or what position of power you hold, God doesn’t look on any of that to bless you, to use you to bless others or to create change, all He needs is a willing vessel He can poor into. Break down that wall today and allow God to use you right where you are to bless others. God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plan and if your not so ordinary then allow God to use what you have been blessed with to bless others and to create change for the good and to further His kingdom. All our circumstances are unique in this life but as children of God we should all have one purpose, to win souls to further His kingdom, everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

Have a beautiful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Proverbs 11:25-31