God can be found in blessings and big deals

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today's reading?

Joseph's success in his job is capped by an amazing deal - he buys all the Egyptians and their land for his Pharaoh, who now have to recognise that the lives and things they thought they had are not their own. It's a shadow of how Israel recognises God's ownership of everything. Of course Pharaoh is no God, so this arrangement can go horribly wrong, but that's another story (coming soon!). In contrast, Joseph refuses to accept his brothers' offering of themselves to him as slaves, and directs them to God instead.

I also love the blessings Jacob gives his sons - not just good wishes but prophetic words which speak to their characters and relationships. Blessings like this can be meaningful and encouraging, shaping us for a lifetime.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God's guiding hand on Joseph's life is clearly acknowledged by Jacob, and I'm wondering if the archery picture is a bit more than a standard "you won battles!" type of blessing. God has brought his people into what's going to be a very tense and difficult situation and, just as if they are an arrow in his bow, they are being drawn back now, ready to be released with an incredible force soon. I like the way God is setting up an almighty demonstration of his way of life, and his power, through the people who trust in him.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I want to be able to share blessings the way Jacob did, and that's not about cleverness or kindness on my part, but listening to God and sharing faithfully - I need to pray more for opportunities to do that.

Who am I going to share this with?

People I pray with this week, and hopefully others who receive a blessing in the future!