Quick Note – Genesis 48:15 – Shepherd All My Life

Genesis 48:15 – And he blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day…”

God was Jacob’s Shepherd.  God was with Jacob when he fled from his brother Esau, who was seeking to kill him.  God was with Jacob when he was being cheated by Laban as he cared for his father-in-law’s sheep.  God was with Jacob when he returned to the land of Canaan after living exiled for almost two decades.  God was with Jacob when he brought him into the land of Egypt to save his family from famine.  God was Jacob’s shepherd throughout his life. 

I relate to what Jacob says in this verse, because as with Jacob, God has been a Shepherd to me all my life.  He has been my shepherd from the day I was born until today, almost thirty-four years later.  He placed me in a good family, where I grew up hearing about the Word of God and growing in the knowledge of Him.  He placed me in a good elementary and high school, where I gained a foundation in the Bible and was supported by friends and family.  He gave me success in college so that I could be an honor student when I graduated.  And He opened up opportunities in research internships that have put me on the career path in science I am on today.  And even as I struggle in graduate school now, I know that He is here leading and guiding me, preparing a plan for the future.  He has been my Shepherd since the day I was born and will continue to lead me till the day that I die. 

Now, it may sound like I am boasting about God being my shepherd because good things have happened in my life.  But even in the trouble, God is still my Shepherd, and He is yours as well.  You may doubt it because of the trouble you are experiencing, but look at Joseph’s life.  He was solid into slavery.  He was wrongly accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.  He was forgotten by the cupbearer whose dream he interpreted.  And only after suffering for years did he get placed into a position of power.  But God was his Shepherd even in that trouble.  God was leading and guiding Joseph’s life so that He would one day provide for Egypt and Israel during seven years of famine.  Wickedness was planned by others, but God was using it for good.  God was a Shepherd even in the Valleys of Shadow that Joseph was experiencing. 

God is our Shepherd.  He is watching over us from the day we are born until the day we die.  It is our choice whether we will follow and obey Him or continue to run away from His calling.  Let Him lead and guide you today.  He will take you through the valleys of shadow and death, protecting and helping you.  He will lead you to the greenest pastures and the stillest waters, so that you can experience His blessings.  God is a loving Shepherd, and He loves you.  Trust in Him today.  

Quick Note – Psalm 81:13-16 – Fine and Fulfilling

Psalm 81:13-16 – 13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

Today in church, my Dad shared a sermon from Psalm 81.  It was about how God called out to His stubborn people and how they refused to listen.  It was about how God wanted to bless His people if they would but only turn to Him.  But unfortunately, they did not and rather than receive His blessings, received His punishment.  The main point of the sermon was to spur us to consider how we are currently responding to God’s calling.  Are we choosing to be like Israel and continuing to reject Him and His Word?  Or are we submitting our hearts to Him and faithfully waiting on His blessings? 

While listening to the sermon and reading the last verse in Psalm 81, I noticed something interesting about the blessings God would give to His people if they would obey.  The blessings were both FINE and FULFILLING.  Verse 16 tells us that God would have fed His people with the finest of wheat; that means that God would give them the best food.  Like fine dining at a restaurant, the quality would be the best.  However, not only would the food be fine, it would also be fulfilling – “I would satisfy you.”  Unlike the food at a fine dining restaurant, the food given by God is filling.  We won’t enjoy the taste and be left wanting more but we would be fulfilled.

If we think about food, most of the time our meals are either fine or fulfilling.  They are usually never both.  Junk food from places like McDonald’s can be super fulfilling but it is definitely not made of the finest, healthiest ingredients.  On the other hand, fine dining like those that come from omokase meals or chef’s tasting menus are delicious but leave one hungry after leaving the restaurant.  

God’s blessings are never one or the other.  They are both.  They will be the best you can receive and also give you full contentment.  So I encourage you today to listen to Him, to walk in His ways, to obey God.  Because then He will feed you with the finest of wheat and satisfy you with honey from the rock.