Jacob Blessed Pharaoh

Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob, and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the years of your life?” Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundred thirty; few and hard have been the years of my life. They do not compare with the years of the life of my ancestors during their long sojourn.” Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and granted them a holding in the land of Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Genesis 47:7-12

In the eyes of most people, Jacob’s brother Esau was the greater man of the two. Through the years he had accumulated wealth and power. He was the ruler of the land of Edom and could have met Pharaoh on his own terms. Yet Esau, with all his earthly authority, could not have blessed the Pharaoh. Only Jacob had that power.

The spiritual is greater than the natural. God can endow a humble human being with awesome moral force. Holiness has within itself the power to master all other powers. The ability to influence others flows from the inside of us, and we get that from God. Greatness comes from holiness, nothing more.

Godly Christians have an aura about them. They speak a word or two, move on, but leave the lingering and compelling influence of Christ. Christians have an aura of greatness that surrounds all whose lives reflect the character of Jesus. It is the greatness of godliness.

Even a little example

can have a big influence for Christ.

Our Daily Bread – May 10, 2006