Genesis 47:5-10, “Then Pharaoh said to
Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. (6)
The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in
the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know
any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock." (7)
Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh,
and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. (8) And Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How many are
the days of the years of your life?"
(9) And Jacob said to Pharaoh,
"The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have
been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days
of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their
sojourning." (10) And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from
the presence of Pharaoh.”
Jacob stands before Pharaoh and
speaks some simple but profound words, words that are true of all of our lives.
“Few
and evil have been the days of the years of my life…” Jacob had been a deceiver
and himself had been deceived, his sons had shed the blood of many men, his own
son, Reuben, had fallen into sexual immorality with one of his concubines and Judah
had committed fornication with his own daughter-in-law. Furthermore, his
beloved son Joseph had been killed, or so his sons told him, and two of his
grandsons, Er and Onan, had been struck dead by God. Jacob’s life had not been
an easy one.
In spite of all the evil in the days
of his life, Jacob had witnessed the gracious hand and working of God. He had
come to see and know that God is a God who extends mercy and forgiveness, who
reconciled and restores the sinful. He had known the daily mercies and presence
of God in the midst of all this evil and futility. His days may have been few
and evil, but God delivered him, protected him and even prospered him.
Today we should rejoice because we
know that while the years, the days of our lives may be few and evil; that is
not the sum total, nor the end of them. If we are believers in Christ we have
in the midst of these evil days come to know the one who could save us from an
evil and futile life. We have found in Christ salvation, life and eternal hope.
Thus our days on this earth may be few and evil, but our days in eternity will
be many and they will be blessed of God. Until that great day comes, we like
Jacob have the same hope, assurance and confidence, that as children of the
covenant, of the promise of God, we shall in the midst of a wicked generation
and world know the deliverance, protection and provision of God.
Heavenly Father we thank and worship You today, for You in Your grace and
mercy have saved us in the midst of and from our wickedness and evil. You have
reconciled and restored us to a right relationship with You, and given us an
eternal hope. We thank You also because You do not make us wait until we reach
heaven to know the truth of this great salvation, You give so many of its rich
blessings to us now. Though we started our days in evil and cursing, we shall
end them clothed in Christ’s righteousness and praising Your great and holy
Name. Amen
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