Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. – Genesis 46:31

Today's Scripture Reading (October 27, 2024): Genesis 46

I recently spoke with a group that wants to bring people into the country. In this case, evacuees currently living in African refugee camps. Many of these people are victims of the civil war taking place in Congo and the surrounding area. However, getting from the refugee camp to a new home in the West is not an easy proposal. First, a significant amount of money must be raised to cover any incurred expenses. Even if you have willing volunteers ready to house and feed the family, you must have the funds as a backup plan in case those preparations fall apart. Then, you have to have people willing and able to teach the new residents how to live in North America. They will need connections, ways to learn the language, and a community to help them with their daily lives. Government restrictions require money and people who will step in and be responsible for the newcomers.

Jacob and his family have arrived in Egypt with everything that they possessed. Altogether, sixty-six men along with their wives and family, have arrived in the African nation. It was a significant group of foreigners who were fleeing the famine and wanted to live in Egypt. Add to that the fact that these people were shepherds; the Egyptians were farmers, meaning they raised crops, but to the Egyptians, sheep were unclean and, therefore, shepherds were considered to be undesirables. Essentially, if President Donald Trump were in charge of Egypt during this era, these would be the very people that he would want to keep out of the nation.

This group's advantage is that Joseph is well-respected by the Pharaoh. So, Joseph tells his family that he will intercede for them and ask the Pharaoh to allow them into the country. The book of Exodus reminds us that the time would come when the Pharaoh who reigned in Egypt would not remember Joseph, and it is then that the nation would become enslaved. But for now, the presence of Joseph is a significant reason this group of people would be accepted in the country.

Some have argued that the story of Joseph is a good illustration of how Jesus intercedes for us. Jesus stands in the presence of God, introducing us to him. We are accepted by God not because of the presence of Mary or the Saints but because of the presence of Jesus, who continually intercedes for us. Luckily for us, there will never be a day when Jesus will not be there for us or a time when his sacrifice will no longer be enough for our salvation.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 47