RTW 2023

And Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s entire family, “I will go to Pharaoh and tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire family have come to me from the land of Canaan. These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks and herds and everything they own.’”Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation, you must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”
Genesis 46:31-34

“I am God, the God of your father,” the voice said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes.”
Genesis 46:3-4

• The Egyptians despise shepherds.
• Genesis 43:32
• Genesis 46:31-34
• Exodus 8:26
• Why?
• Differences in culture
• Differences in occupations.
• Differences in worship.
• These differences led to separation.
• This separation allowed the Israelites to become a united people, not just a Dysfunctional family.
• They became the people of Israel.
• They are the worshipers of “the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
• God commanded them to remember.
• “Do not detest the Edomites or the Egyptians, because the Edomites are your relatives and you lived as foreigners among the Egyptians.” Deuteronomy 23:8
• The Author has a plan.

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We can be so focused on what we think is right and fair in our own eyes, that we miss the protection of God. He wants people set apart, different, unique… holy.