"Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh." (Genesis 47:7)
The scene was set, the drama intense. For years, Joseph had lived in Egypt, unbeknownst to his family. Finally, through God's Providence, they were brought back together. And Joseph, in his authoritative role in Pharaoh's household, blessed his family and reconciled with his brothers.
Then he brought his long-lost father, Jacob, from the promised land into Egypt, from Canaan into Goshen. And when Jacob arrived at age 130, Joseph introduced his father to his boss, his employer, the Pharaoh, the King of Egypt.
When they met -- Jacob in his old age and Pharaoh in his splendor, Jacob in his poverty and Pharaoh as the wealthiest man in the world -- "Jacob blessed Pharaoh."
Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Not "Pharaoh blessed Jacob," but "Jacob blessed Pharaoh." The spiritual man, the man of God, the man of the covenant, had more than the greatest man in the world possessed. I want to apply this to your life in a couple of ways.
First, if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, know that you have a great position, a position Christ has won for you. You are co-heir with Christ Jesus. You are eternally blessed in God. And what you have is better than all that Pharaoh in all of his majesty had without God.
Second, if you are a believer in Christ Jesus, you can bring a blessing to the world as Jacob did. Who was Jacob to bless Pharaoh? Who was Jacob to bless the King of Egypt? He was a man of God. Just like the ancient Israelites blessed Babylon when they were carried into captivity, so we also can bless a fallen, broken, backward culture and world through our presence and lives as his people.
As an exiled person, just like Jacob blessed Pharaoh, bless and be a blessing. God has given you that position and opportunity. As Jesus said, we are the salt and light of the earth.
