Living in the Borderlands.

What does the phrase, “living in the borderlands” mean. Thomas explains how as believers we should follow Israel’s example while in Egypt.

Israel’s Sojourn in Egypt

In Genesis we read,

“When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’, you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” Gen. 46:33-34

One of the amazing details of the Israelite sojourn in Egypt is that, even after 430 years, God’s people were not absorbed into Egyptian culture.

In terms of time passed, if today was the Exodus, Abraham and his descendants would have moved to Egypt around the same time as the founding of the first English settlement in North America, a time when Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet had recently made its theatrical debut and the King James Bible had not yet been commissioned.

That’s a long time! How could a people group go so long in a culture as dominant as Egypt’s without being integrated into it? By deliberate separation.

Identified as Shepherds

Joseph, understanding that the Israelites would one day leave Egypt, had his brothers deliberately identify themselves as shepherds, a trade that was “an abomination” to the Egyptians. Because of this, they would be settled far away from the metropolitan center of Egypt and its pagan, polytheistic culture. Instead, they would be put outside of the delta, on the eastern border of Egypt – but closest to their promised homeland.

Egypt is a picture of the world, and too often we obscure our identity so as not to be rejected by it. Instead, we should openly identify as shepherds. The Bible promises that if we do, the world will be at enmity with us, but that we also will overcome the world. How do we overcome it?

By having our identity so firmly fixed in Christ, the Great Shepherd, that we resemble him to all who come in contact with us. Like the Israelites, we are God’s image bearers to the world. And like the Israelites, we should dwell in the borderlands, between this world and the next, our eyes always fixed, not back on the Egypt of this age, but on the promises before us!

Do you see yourself as living in the borderlands? How? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.