Humble Approach

I’ve been to people before with “my hat in my hand” seeking help from them. I’ve learned over the years that my pride can be harmful to me finding favor or blessing from others. I know that I struggle with wanting to help prideful or arrogant people. I find myself wondering if they really need my help at all since they act like they are God’s gift to the world. The truth is that humble people can possess great strength when they realize that the Lord is the Source of all their blessings and the credit for their blessings belong to the Lord as He works through them.

Joseph has successfully moved his entire family to Egypt where he found himself second in command to Pharaoh. He did not take his position lightly. He obviously respected Pharaoh and was thankful for his position of power. Check this out….

² Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh. ³ And Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?”

They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors. ⁴ We have come to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen.”

⁵ Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have joined you here, ⁶ choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too.”

⁷ Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob, and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob blessed Pharaoh.(Genesis 47:2-7 NLT)

I love the last line where Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Jacob was possibly still in the dark regarding Joseph’s journey since the day he last took food and supplies to his brothers when he was about 17 years old. It’s likely 20 years or so later as they make the transition to Egypt. I feel like Jacob recognizes their need for help from Joseph and Pharaoh. Joseph, his brothers and his dad found favor with Pharaoh and were allowed to settle in some of the best land of Egypt even though the Egyptians didn’t like shepherds as a general rule.

I love the fact that Joseph never forgot who he was. He remembered his roots. He was forgiving to his brothers who sold him into slavery years before. He never assumed too much power from his position. I believe good leaders are humble. I believe good followers are humble. I believe it’s wise to always be humble as I walk through life. If I come off as “full of myself” or arrogant, I assure you, it’s not intentional. Humble people are not weak – they are strong. It takes great restraint to avoid pushing others around just because you can. It’s a caveat to talk about being humble, because then I can be perceived as prideful or arrogant. I think it’s best to give the Lord all the credit for who I am or anything that I could have possibly accomplished. He is the Giver of ALL good gifts and He is responsible for any success that I may have.

Pressing On!

Dwayne