Genesis 46-48
- The Bible also describes Jacob (Israel) as he departs from the land of his birth and promise to go to Egypt in order to be reunited with his son and avoid the destruction that the famine was bringing on the land.
o Of course God appeared to him and renewed His promise to bless him and bring his family back one day.
- And so the entire family including 70 key individuals go to Egypt and the portion of Abraham's history in the land of Canaan is closed for now.
*This sets the scene for the final episode in this story - the meeting of Jacob and his long lost son and the setting of the family in Egypt.
I. Jacob and Joseph meet - Gen. 46:28-34
vs. 28-30 (READ)
- Judah is now the recognized leader of the family and is sent ahead to advise Joseph of the arrival of the family.
- Jacob had been advised to go to the land of Goshen (not where Joseph's headquarters were) but he was not sure where in this place he was to settle.
- When they meet it is a melting away of 22 years of sorrow and pain in the joy of seeing each other alive again.
vs. 31-34 (READ)
- Now that the reunion has been achieved the practical matters of where to live need to be settled.
- The Pharaoh knew they were coming but the issue of where they would live was not yet confirmed.
o Joseph instructs them to stress their occupation as shepherds for two reasons:
1. -This will emphasize their need to live in an area that can support their lifestyle.
-Goshen was near and similar to Canaan.
2. -The Egyptians hated shepherds and considered themselves superior.
-By noting this fact there would be an extra effort to isolate them so they would not inter-marry or be assimilated with the Egyptian population.
-This, of course, would work favorable into Joseph (God's) plan to keep the family of Jacob separate from the Egyptian race as well.
II. Jacob and the Pharaoh - 47:1
vs. 1-6 (READ)
- At first he brings five of his brothers to make a formal introduction to the Pharaoh.
o Although he was a high official, he couldn't give land away to foreigners, the king had to approve any foreigners living in the land.
- The brothers explain their background and need for grazing land which will suit the Pharaoh well because Goshen was an isolated place and allowed him to grant Joseph's request without compromising Egyptian social standards.
o Note that the brothers say that they have only to come to "sojourn" - this means to stay for a little while.
o The Pharaoh knows the famine is going to last for only a few more years and so the offer of hospitality will only be for a short while from his (and their) perspective.
- This meeting is agreeable so the king permits Joseph's request that they stay in the land of Goshen.
vs. 7-10 (READ)
- The greatest ruler of the day meets the greatest servant of God of the day and it's interesting to note several things about what little of their conversation was preserved by Joseph:
o Pharaoh was wealthy and powerful but he recognized Jacob's spiritual superiority in allowing himself to be blessed twice by him.
o Pharaoh asked his age - such a common and polite question in a meeting of two strangers.
vs. 11-12 (READ)
- They settled in the northeast section away from the bulk of the population which was in the south and west.
o They were near the Nile and so could eat fish.
o They also received their ration of food according to their number of children.
III. The famine continues - vs. 13-26
vs. 13-21 (DON'T READ)
- The text continues to describe the effects of the famine:
o The people ran out of money
o They traded their livestock for food
o They eventually trade their land
- This set up a feudal system where everything belonged to the king and the people essentially worked for the king.
- Some say this was out of character for Joseph to enslave the people but it was the people who came to him with the idea.
o The alternative would have been mass starvation or anarchy.
o Also, Joseph did not profit from this, only the king.
o It was to the king's advantage to keep the people alive any way he could.
vs. 22-26 (READ)
- Here we read about some details concerning this arrangement between the king and the people:
o The priests were exempt by order of Pharaoh, not Joseph, from this. Egyptians had a state religion supported by the king.
o The people deeded over their lands with the condition that they were allowed to keep 80% of the produce.
o This amounted to a 20% tax which is not unreasonable considering the king provided the seed, food supplies during the famine.
o The people were satisfied with the arrangement and it continued this way even into Moses' day 400 years later.
IV. The last days of Jacob - vs. 27-31
- Now that the condition of the country has been described the scene shifts back to Jacob and the events of his last days.
vs. 27-31 (READ)
- Nearing his death and wanting to settle his affairs, Jacob makes Joseph promise that they will bury him in Canaan - not in Egypt.
o Hand under thigh is the same gester as Abraham's servant made in promising to find a wife for Isaac.
- Jacob had been promised that the land of Canaan would be his and against all evidence he continued to believe this and demonstrated it by wanting to be buried with his family there.
V. Jacob blesses Joseph's sons - 48 :1-
- Jacob is in his final days and sends for his sons for final instructions to each of them. Joseph is the first he calls (even thought the promise will not be carried through his family).
vs. 1-4 (READ)
- Jacob reviews with Joseph and his two sons the essence of his faith and the promise that God made to him. His whole life spent, Jacob recounts to his son what the essence of his life was about.
o It was about his encounter with God and the results of that encounter.
vs. 5-7 (READ)
- Jacob transfers the "firstborn" privileges from Reuben to Joseph for several reasons:
1. -Reuben was born first chronologically but Jacob had intended to marry Rachel and was tricked into marrying Leah.
-Had he been allowed to do so then Joseph would have indeed been his first born son.
2. -Reuben had sinned against his father by sleeping with his father's concubine and having a weak character.
-Joseph displayed spiritual depth and strong leadership necessary for a family leader.
3. -God had foretold this event in Joseph's dreams and Jacob was complying with this instruction of God.
- The first born also had a double portion and so Jacob does this by giving each of Joseph's sons equal ranking among the brothers - just like Judah and Simeon.
o This would mean that when they returned to the land of Canaan, these two who each receive an equal portion of land (the double portion of the firstborn Joseph).
- Jacob says that any other children of his would be assigned to the clans of their brethren (although the Bible says that Joseph didn't have any other children).
vs. 8-12 (READ)
- Joseph's sons were young men by this time and are made to approach their grandfather for a blessing.
- Joseph, even though a powerful ruler, gives a tremendous example of love and respect towards his father by bowing down before him in view of his own sons.
o His dream about his father and mother bowing to him is realized perhaps in the idea that they had to come to him for help.
vs. 13-16 (READ)
- Jacob is almost blind and so Joseph brings his sons closer in order to receive a blessing.
o Manasseh since he was older towards his right hand and Ephraim the younger towards his left.
- Jacob switches hands to place his right on Ephraim and his left on Manasseh and begins to pronounce his blessing.
o At first it is a general one on Joseph recalling God's blessings on himself throughout his own life.
o First time God as "shepherd" or "Redeemer" is mentioned in the Bible.
- He prays that they grow and be blessed in the way of their ancestors.
vs. 17-20 (READ)
- Jacob now pronounces a blessing on the younger son over the older one and Joseph responds.
o He thinks the old man is confused but Jacob assures him that he knows what he is doing and that indeed the younger one will have pre-eminence in the future.
vs. 21-22 (READ)
- An interesting postscript here as Jacob gives to Joseph a special gift in his will.
- There is no reference to it anywhere else but it seems Jacob had taken a large piece of land through battle with the Amorites.
o He tells Joseph that he can have a double portion of this piece of land situated in Canaan. A promise for the future.
*In the next section Jacob will pronounce a blessing on each of his other sons.
Lessons
1. God's ways are not our ways
- They came to Egypt thinking they were going to spend a few years, ride out the famine and go home.
o They remained 4 centuries.
- Their way seemed logical, convenient, even a way to guarantee God's plan - but it wasn't God's way.
- Our way is not God's way because we cannot see the "big" picture, how things will fall in the next 4 centuries.
- Our way is not His way because our choices are based on self-interest and limited intelligence - His based on perfect love and perfect knowledge.
*We need to trust God even when it doesn't make sense - because His way is not our way.
2. God can prosper you regardless of the circumstances
- Joseph was in prison but God raised him to a high position.
- Jacob was losing his family and possibly his life and through this God reunited him with his son and allowed him to see his grandsons.
- God's ability to bless us is not limited by our weaknesses, our sins, difficult circumstances or even the sins of evil men.
- God blesses because He is good, and because He is able.
*Don't give up on prayer for a blessing just because the circumstances are against it - faith believes and prays for a "yes" from God, even when all the circumstances seem to be saying "no".
3. God chooses for spiritual reasons
- Note how many older sons were passed over by God in favor of younger ones.
o Isaac over Ishmael
o Jacob over Esau
o Joseph over Reuben
o Ephraim over Manasseh
o David over all of his brothers (youngest)
- God did not choose them for great service because they were young, He did so because they were more spiritually mature than their older brothers.
- God looks at your heart to judge your value for leadership, responsibility, stewardship - all things that lead to great blessings.
*In the kingdom becoming as a child in purity, trust, flexibility, simple joy, willingness to help is necessary for God to appoint you as leader, chief, head of his people.