Genesis 46-47:1-12

The Christian life is a life of faith. I get that. I also know that Hebrews 11, the chapter in the Bible that shows what genuine faith looks like, lists eight people we’ve followed in Genesis.[1] Through these individuals, we’ve learned that faith is not blind. God shows up repeatedly to confirm who he is and where he is taking us. We’ve seen this throughout our study and will again in today’s passage.

For over twenty years, Jacob believed that his son, Joseph, was dead. In Genesis 45, Jacob learned that Joseph was alive and a ruler in Egypt. Joseph called for his family to join him there. Sixty-six members of Jacob’s family[2] packed up and headed south. They departed from Hebron, and Jacob paused in Beersheba after traveling forty miles. Beersheba was Jacob’s hometown, so he stopped there to worship “the God of his father Isaac” (Gen. 46:1). That night, God confirmed that Jacob was on the right path.

Genesis 46:2-4
And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” ³ Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. ⁴ I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

Many years earlier, Jacob had been compelled to leave his home. He had deceitfully taken the firstborn’s blessing from his brother, Esau. Esau threatened to kill Jacob, so he fled to Paddan-aram. On his journey, God appeared to him in a vision, assuring him that he would never abandon Jacob and would bless his descendants (Gen. 28:10-22). God also promised his presence and protection upon Jacob’s return to Canaan (Gen. 31:3). Once again in Beersheba, God appears to Jacob to calm his fears and reaffirm the promise to grow Jacob’s small family into a mighty nation. God instilled in Jacob a measure of fresh faith. We all need a renewed sense of faith, don’t we?

The two-hundred-and-fifty-mile trip from Hebron to Egypt was neither quick nor easy. They traveled the long journey with children and livestock. After several weeks on the road, they finally arrived in Egypt. Jacob sent Judah ahead to find Joseph so he could lead them to the land of Goshen. 

Genesis 46:29-30
Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. ³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Can you imagine the reunion? When the brothers brought Joseph’s coat stained with blood, Jacob was convinced that a wild animal had killed his son. After mourning for twenty years, he embraced Joseph and wept for a long time. One can hardly fathom the deep emotions they felt. There was so much to catch up on! For Jacob, the meeting confirmed that the covenant promises were still intact.

Joseph wanted his family to meet the pharaoh and gave them instructions.

Genesis 46:33-34
“When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ ³⁴ 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.”

Joseph didn’t bring all his brothers to meet Pharaoh; he only brought five. When Pharaoh asked, “What is your occupation?” they replied, “Your servants are shepherds as our fathers were” (Gen. 47:3). Keep in mind that shepherds were considered an abomination to the Egyptians, so Joseph instructed them to say they were “keepers of livestock.” Why didn’t the brothers follow Joseph’s advice? Perhaps they were concerned that a lie might catch up with them. Maybe they thought this was Joseph’s trick to get them into trouble. We’ll see later that the brothers struggled to trust Joseph fully. But Pharaoh was unfazed and told Joseph, “If you know any capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock” (Gen. 47:6).

After the meeting with the five brothers, Joseph brought his father to stand before Pharaoh.

Genesis 47:7-10
Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. ⁸ And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” ⁹ And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” ¹⁰ And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

Let me highlight three things to note in these verses. First, Jacob blessed Pharaoh twice: once upon entering the ruler’s presence and again when he departed. You might assume that the leader of the most powerful nation on earth would be the one giving a blessing to an elderly foreigner with only a small family. However, God often works in counterintuitive ways. The patriarch pronounced blessings upon the king. Remember what God promised Abraham and reiterated to Isaac and Jacob? God declared, “I will bless those who bless you” (Gen. 12:3). God was bestowing blessings on Pharaoh through Jacob and would continue to bless Egypt for many years.

Second, notice the way Jacob described his life. He stated, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life….”[3] The word translated as “evil” is the Hebrew word raim. It could also mean “painful.” Jacob reflected on his deception against Esau, fleeing for his life, being tricked on his wedding night, his physical limp from wrestling with God, the massacre at Shechem, fear of his enemies, Rachel’s death, and what he believed to be Joseph’s demise. His years were filled with many challenges and, although numerous to us, were few compared to those of Abraham and Isaac.

Third, like his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham, Jacob never settled down. His people never had a permanent place or address. The earth was not their home. The writer to the Hebrews describes the patriarchs as “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Heb. 11:13), longing for a heavenly home. The Israelites learned from their forefathers that they should never become too comfortable during this lifetime. The days pass quickly, and we will experience pain, yet the world is not our home.

There’s an old story about a missionary couple returning home to the United States after faithfully serving for decades in Africa. They didn’t have many tangible results, like converts or churches planted, to show for their lifetime of ministry. At one point during their voyage back to the States, they learned that President Teddy Roosevelt was on the ship, returning from a big game hunting expedition. When the ship docked in New York, a military band played as Roosevelt disembarked, and dignitaries were there to greet him. No one noticed the missionary couple as they quietly slipped off the boat. Finally, the husband expressed his feelings, saying, “This is not right! Roosevelt receives this tremendous welcome. We’ve been serving all our lives, and there’s not one person here to greet us when we return home!” His wife gently replied, “Honey, we’re not home yet.”

Later in Israel’s history, King David reminded God’s people, “For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow…” (1 Chron. 29:15). The apostle Peter reminded believers that they are “sojourners and exiles” on earth (1 Pet. 2:11). This world is not our home. One day, Jesus will welcome us to our permanent address in heaven! 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 46—47:1-12. As you read this passage, focus on God reassuring Jacob of his promise to transform him into a great nation. Also, reflect on Jacob’s conversation with Pharaoh. Think through the three points I emphasized in today’s teaching.

Talking to God
Do you ever feel like the missionary couple? Is your faithful service to the Lord unrecognized by others or by him? Tell God your feelings. And hear him whisper—”You’re not home yet.” Ask him to help you cling to him while you loosely hold onto the things of this earth.

Have Questions?
We desire to help you engage with God’s Word. Please share any questions you may have. Our team will respond as quickly as possible. Submit your question below, and we’ll get back to you shortly.

Two more things:

1. Visit ronmoore.org/lifemap for an exercise that will help you uncover how God is writing his story in you. I have included a life map of Joseph as an example.
2. On February 25 at 7:00 pm, we will meet on a Zoom call to review what we have learned in Genesis and answer questions. A link to the call will be provided if you wish to participate.

[1] Abel (Heb. 11:4); Enoch (Heb. 11:5); Noah (Heb. 11:7); Abraham (Heb. 11:8-10, 17-19); Sarah (Heb. 11:11-12); Isaac (Heb. 11:20); Jacob (Heb. 11:21) and Joseph (Heb. 11:22).

[2] See Genesis 46:5-27.

[3] Abraham lived to be 175 years old (Gen. 25:7-9). Isaac died when he was 180 (Gen. 35:28).