Genesis 43:11 So their father Israel finally said to them, "If it can't be avoided, then at least do this. Load your donkeys with the best products of the land. Take them to the man as gifts---balm, honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio, nuts and almonds.
[Living Bible translations]
Matthew 2:11: Entering the house where the baby and Mary his mother were, they threw themselves down before HIM, worshiping. Then they opened their presents and gave him gold, frankincense and myrrh. [Living Bible translation]
Luke 2:8, 16, 20: That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the LORD...They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby...The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising GOD for all the things they had heard and seen...
[Living Bible and New International translations]
John 3:16: For GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS one and only SON, that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life. [New International translation.]
Summary:
Joseph's Gifts
Israel was the father of 12 sons and 1 daughter. But, Israel's favorite sons were the sons of his favorite wife, Rachel. Israel and Rachel had two sons: Joseph and Benjamin; however, Joseph was Israel's most beloved sons. Because Israel loved Joseph more than Joseph's other brothers, Israel gave Joseph a "special [earthly] gift" [Gen 37:3- Living Bible]----a multicolored fancy coat.
But, Joseph also had an even greater gift---a spiritual gift from GOD— the gift of interpreting dreams. Joseph's brothers failed "to see" or appreciate Joseph's spiritual gift, not realizing that it would one day save the family, all the tribes of Israel, and even the known Egyptian world. Instead, the brothers focused on "the other gift"—the coat. The "other gift" became the focus of the brother's hatred for Joseph. They couldn't say a kind word to Joseph (Genesis 37:4).
As a result of the brother's enmity toward Joseph, they sold him into slavery. To cover up their wrong, they splattered Joseph's multicolored coat gift with blood. They then showed the coat to Israel and convinced their father that Joseph was dead.
Through the grace of GOD and GOD's special spiritual gift of interpreting dreams, Joseph rose from the rank of slave to the position of minister of agriculture over all of Egypt.
Soon time later, the brothers and Joseph meet again. Because the brothers are focused on other things, the brothers failed to recognize their brother Joseph. Later, to appease Joseph, the brothers, at the request of their father, bring Joseph some "physical gifts"---honey, spices and nuts. But what Joseph and his brothers eventually come to realize is that their need is not for physical gifts, but for the spiritual gift of "brotherly love" and "right relationship."
After a moving reconciling Joseph's asked the family and the whole family clan to move to Egypt. When they arrived, Joseph instructs his brothers that when Pharaoh asked them about their occupation they should tell Pharaoh they are shepherds---"For shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians." (See, Genesis 46:34) As lowly shepherds, Pharaoh probably thought the Israelites would pose little or no threat to the Egyptians.
The Shepherd's GIFT
Shepherds have always been low on the social ladder—from the time of Joseph to the time of CHRIST. Because of their occupation (low pay, late night watches, unclean clothes and earthy smell) shepherds generally did not go to the Temple (i.e., the Jewish church) when JESUS was born. Shepherds were outsiders. They lived outside the village, had little social interaction, and were usually poor and isolated from their faith. Yet, when JESUS was born, the shepherds received GOD's royal angelic invitation to see HIS GLORIOUS SON. It was the shepherds who came to praise GOD. The shepherds became the first witnesses and missionaries for GOD, telling everyone what they had heard and "seen." They "saw" THE GIFT and shared the GOOD NEWS. Because of all they saw, heard and believed, the lives of these shepherds were transformed forever.
NUTS
Only two kinds of nuts are mentioned in the Bible—almonds and pistachio nuts. In Genesis 43:11, we are told that these products were among the best products of the land.
Today, nuts are still good for the heart. According to MayoClinic.com:
Most studies on people who eat nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet have found that
nuts lower the LDL, low-density lipoprotein or "bad" cholesterol level in the blood. High LDL is one of the primary causes of heart disease, so nuts' ability to lower LDL cholesterol seems to be quite beneficial.
One researcher noted that people who incorporate a handful of nuts into their daily diet generally maintain their weight or lose weight. One of the reason what nuts are thought to be such as great snack is that they are not empty calories, tend to make a person feel full and, thus, help to prevent overeating during the next meal.
See research of Joe Vinson, PhD, researcher at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.
Nuts contain a lot of fat (about 80% of a nut is fat), so although most of this fat is healthy fat, you should eat nuts in moderation—without salt—and best raw. According to MayoClinic.com, you will end up canceling out the heart-healthy benefits of nuts if you cover them with chocolate, sugar or salts. In other words, monitor and limit your chocolate covered or candy nut candies.
GOD's GIFT:
Christmas is often been a confusing time of year. So often people have no or little "goodwill toward mankind,"---least of all their fellow shoppers, fellow travelers, as drivers glare at one another in congested traffic. Often Christmas musicals, plays and pageants and cooking lead to "frayed nerves" and exhaustion. Children (and sometimes adults) sometimes become cranky from all the sweets and activity. Sometimes physical gifts are often "not appreciated" or "not appreciated enough." All of these things can happen when we "lose focus" or fail to "see."
The Bible says "every good and perfect gift is from above" (James 1:17).
JESUS the CHRIST was GOD's PERFECT GIFT to us. We were sinful (i.e. spiritually unclean), separated from GOD, and in spiritual isolation. GOD gave HIS SON, HIS only SON, to reconcile us to HIM! GOD's GIFT was and still is the GREATEST GIFT of ALL TIME.
So, like the shepherds at the manger let's carry the GOOD NEWS! Let's remember to reach out to other "shepherds," especially those who often feel "socially isolated" from our churches (e.g. the homeless, those in prisons, those caught up in sex trafficking, those in mental hospitals, nursing homes and other places of isolation).
Let's remember for THE GREATEST SPIRITUAL GIFT and THE GIVER and not go nuts over earthly gifts.
Be Joyful, Be Thankful and BE Blessed!
