Last week we learned that it would
be a good idea to bless our children on a regular basis. Our words
carry power and it would be wonderful if our words carried the
promises of God over their lives. When we pray to God He will lead
us what to pray and say over their lives. He has wonderful plans
and we can proclaim those plans over their lives. Start today, you
won't be sorry that you did.
Jacob was on his deathbed and the
final thing that he did was to prophecy over his sons and to bless
them. He then asked them to bury him in Israel where Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah were buried. Then he died and the
Bible tells us that he 'was gathered to his people.'
Joseph was devastated and fell on
his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. He then
commanded his servants to embalm his father. For seventy days the
whole of Egypt mourned for him. Then after the days of mourning,
Joseph went to Pharaoh and asked if he could fulfill his father's
dying wish of burying him in Israel. Pharaoh immediately
agreed.
"So Joseph went up to bury his
father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the
elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as
well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's
house. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and
it was a very great gathering." Genesis 50:7-9
There they observed seven days of
mourning for his father. The Canaanites saw the mourning and
commented that this is a deep mourning for the Egyptians. In other
words, they noticed how deeply moved all these people were.
Now for me personally when I read
this it feels a bit over the top for me. First all of Egypt mourned
for seventy days for Jacob and then the top officials of the
country left Egypt to go to Israel and bury him there and mourn
still a further seven days. Now of course I understand for those
close to Jacob it seems appropriate, but for all these people to
mourn so long for him feels a bit much for me. After all he wasn't
their leader, or even an Egyptian for that matter.
I understand that funerals worked
differently in those days, especially if it was a high up official.
But even the Canaanites commented how distraught the Egyptians
were. If Jacob didn't really make an impact on them they wouldn't
have been able to put on an act for seventy seven days. So this
leaves me with the conclusion that Jacob made a big impact in Egypt
since arriving there. He was there for seventeen years and the way
that they mourned over him tells us that he must have made a
difference whilst he was there. Even though he was old, he was wise
in years and must have given advice to them and helped them with
difficult decisions. They truly had respect for him and were sorry
that he was gone.
We can also make a huge impact
right there where we are. We might think that we are not qualified
to make a difference. We might think we are too old, too young, too
weak, too busy, too sickly etcetera to make a difference, but that
is all a lie. God wants to use us right there where we are, right
there where He has placed us. He has big dreams not only for us,
but for those around us too. So He wants to use us to influence
them. We are His hands and feet and He desperately wants to touch
people's lives and we are the vehicle that they see and experience.
Who knows, maybe they are praying for God to touch them and make a
difference in their lives and you might just be the answer to their
prayers. No act is small enough. The smallest of acts can make a
big difference in people's lives. Do not dismiss His Spirit when He
leads you to do something nice for someone else, whether you know
them or not. He knows their hearts and what they need. So if He
presses someone on your heart, follow His leading and make a
difference. It could be the cashier, the car guard, your domestic
worker, your friend, your colleague, your family member, whoever it
might be. Just follow His prompting. You will be so blessed when
you do. I have had moments in my life where people have sent me
messages, or done something for me just when I needed it the most,
and I have treasured those moments with so much love. I not only
appreciated what they did for me, but I felt the loving hand of God
on my life and showed me that He truly cared. And that has
made a big difference in my life. May we now be those who make a
big difference in other people's lives as well.
Father we love You. Thank you for
Your daily loving care in our lives. We honor You and treasure You.
Help us to be sensitive to Your leading in our lives and to listen
to Your voice so that we can make a difference in other people's
lives too. We want to be Your hands and feet in this world, use us
mightily in Your divine plan. Amen