Wherever My Feet Go

Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Genesis 47:7-10

Writers in Jewish history say that when Jacob came to Egypt, the land was immediately blessed and began to heal from famine. They also say that when Pharaoh saw that Jacob was old, he feared that Jacob might not live much longer and that the blessing would cease. 

Someone who has spent a lifetime in the presence of God brings God’s presence with them anywhere they go. To those who are discerning, the impact is immediately felt. Instantly, everything feels better, like whatever is wrong will be righted.  I can name a half dozen people that make me feel that way. But every child of the kingdom is to be sanctified to the point of having this spiritual effect.  Jesus teaches His disciples to pray ‘Thy kingdom come.’ But He also, by the indwelling of His Spirit, brings His kingdom to any place the disciples are.

Just as Jacob did, God may ask you to bless your superior.  He may ask a secretary today to speak words of blessing over her boss, or a nurse her attending physician.  Parishioners will be moved to bless their pastor and it will seem upside down.  In the story of Joseph, Pharoah should have been the one to bless a nomad like Jacob, but when prompted by the Spirit of God, kingdom order prevailed.  Pharoah was the one blessed.  In that brief encounter, God’s presence was felt by an Egyptian pharaoh.

I don’t know all the places I will visit today, nor do I know all the people I will encounter. But I’m praying for an impact because I know that I am a container for the Spirit of God.

In this stressed-out world, purify me and prepare me to bless.  Like you, Jesus, I will be no respecter of persons.  Amen