The Egyptian people were not keen on shepherds, or anybody involved in rearing animals. Egyptian farmers had a sophisticated and very successful system for farming grain crops, using water from the Nile to irrigate the land. Livestock farming was really considered a lower type of farming.

For this reason, although Pharaoh was prepared to honour Joseph’s family with the best part of the land in Goshen, the Israelites would live apart from the Egyptians, remaining a separate community.

This, of course, is all part of God’s purposes. His people, even in Egypt, are set apart. They are able to settle in the good land, and grow in number and prosperity, with little interference from their Egyptian neighbours, retaining their beliefs, customs, traditions, and unique identity as God’s own nation.

Like the Israelites, we, as Christians, are to be set apart. The Israelites worked, lived, and contributed to the community in Egypt, and we are to do the same. Being set apart is not the same as being a hermit, but it does mean that as we work and live among our neighbours, we retain our identity as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

Peter reminds us: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9). As we live, like the Israelites did, among people who do not know God, we must never allow ourselves to forget our identity in the Lord.

The Egyptians would have recognised an Israelite when they saw one. Would a non-Christian recognise you as a member of a holy nation?

next devotional >>

 

 

NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH