A Life in Exile

This chapter of Genesis shows a revived Jacob making the trek down to Egypt. Before he leaves the land completely, he stops at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Through this act of obedience, God speaks in one last vision to Israel, confirming his will in all that was happening. Not only would he be with him as he went to Egypt, but he would make him into a great nation and once again bring his people back up from the land. Joseph, the son of his great love, Rachel, would be with him to the end of his life, closing his eyes.

With such a vision, Israel moves with his entire family and possessions to Egypt, letting Judah go ahead of the group to meet Joseph and find the land of Goshen, where they would settle. It is at this point that we find our gem for today. Before they are introduced to Pharaoh, Joseph gives some instructions:

When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Genesis 46:33-34 ESV

Why is this my gem? Because it reminds us that sometimes being set apart as God’s people means others will look down on us.

Shepherds.

Being known as shepherds was the way Joseph provided to keep his family separated (set apart) from the Egyptians. The Egyptians would keep away from them, because they saw shepherds as something dirty, the lowest of the low. It sounds degrading, but in view of their purpose, it’s not. What better way for Israel’s family to maintain their traditions, faith, and heritage than by isolation from those who would have otherwise polluted their line and faith through intermarriage and worship of other gods.

Joseph knew what it would take to preserve the family and ultimately increase the nation of Israel in the midst of a hostile, godless land. Thankfully, Jacob and his sons submitted to his will, and were willing to humble themselves to the disgrace. In the end, however, there was no disgrace, for they prospered and grew in strength and number.

God uses the humble and lowly.

How many times do we see in Scripture the term shepherd to describe God’s relationship with his people? David, the shepherd-king, wrote in the twenty-third psalm “the Lord is my shepherd.” He had been chosen, from all his brothers, to rule as king over the nation of Israel. What was his occupation up to that point? A shepherd.

To whom did the angels reveal the birth of The Shepherd-King? A group of shepherds in Bethlehem. Those set apart from the crowd, humble servants over the flocks of Judah. God chooses those the world rejects to fulfill his purposes.

The Good Shepherd.

This initial role of shepherd all the way back in Genesis is just the starting point to reveal the role of Christ Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The ultimate set-apart one—the Messiah—would come to lay down his life for the nations.

So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:7-15

To be so identified with Christ—what a privilege. What a Savior!

Grace and Peace

Missed Chapter 45? Read it HERE or Start from the Beginning of the Gems from Genesis SERIES