Genesis 47:1-12

1 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.” 2 He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?”

“Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” 4 They also said to him, “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants’ flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.”

5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, 8 Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”

9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” 10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.

11 So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh directed. 12 Joseph also provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their children.

Dear God, there are a few things I notice about this story.

1. Pharaoh’s generosity: I know that Pharaoh is really grateful for Joseph and respects him, but to allow Joseph’s family to settle in the best part of the land is quite a gift. That combined with the honor of tending his own livestock is a big deal.

2. Jacob blessed Pharaoh: Even being the scoundrel that he was, Jacob still feared you and took the time in Pharaoh’s presence to bless him.

3. Jacob says his years have been “few and difficult.” 130 years doesn’t seem to be too few, except when compared with Isaac and Abraham. And as for being difficult, I can’t say that his years have really been that much more difficult than anyone else’s of that time. In fact, his was probably a little better.

I think that Jacob blessing Pharaoh is probably the most powerful image of this story. I wonder if even Joseph had done that. Jacob was apparently older than Pharaoh, and I wonder if his age didn’t give him some amount of authority, even in the presence of the most powerful person in the area. It wasn’t an authority that had any power, but an authority to love him in a paternal way. I never noticed this blessing before, but it is really quite lovely.

Father, help me to be your blessing to those I am around. Whether it be my family, my friends, my coworkers, our patients, our volunteers, or our donors, help me to love them and to convey your love to them. Help me to be a source of your peace to them. Love others through me. Your peace is the peace that passes all understanding, and I want others to see that peace through me.