Genesis 46 - The Family of Jacob Comes to Egypt

Verses 1-4 tells us God speaks to Jacob on the way to Egypt.

“So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.” So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

Beersheba was the the southernmost outpost of the Promised Land on the way to Egypt. He stopped there to honor God with sacrifices.

AND REMEMBER Both Abraham (Genesis 22:19) and Isaac (Genesis 26:23) lived for a time at Beersheba.

Israel’s (JACOB) grandfather Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba many years before and had called on the name of the Lord there (Genesis 21:33).

AND Isaac received a SPECIAL promise from God and built an altar for sacrifice there, calling on the name of the Lord (Genesis 26:24-25). It was probably at this very place Israel sacrificed.

God SPOKE TO Israel in the visions of the night: More than 40 years before, when Jacob was about to leave the Promised Land, God spoke to him in a dream (Genesis 28:12-17). Now, when he is about to leave the land again, God brings REASSURANCE through a dream again.

Do NOT FEAR to go down to Egypt: This indicates that Israel was AFRAID to go to Egypt. Jacob may have remembered Abraham had gone to Egypt in a time of famine once before, and it was a manifestation of his unbelief, and MUCH EVIL eventually came from it (Genesis 12:10-20).

He also MAY ALSO HAVE REMEMBERED God told his father Isaac NOT to go down to Egypt (Genesis 26:2).

Also, Jacob (ISRAEL) KNEW God told Abraham that his descendants would be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will AFFLICT them four hundred years (Genesis 15:13).

SO AS JACOB/ISRAEL LED his family into this foreign land, he did NOT know what the future held. At the same time, he knew the future WAS in God’s hands.

I WILL MAKE OF YOU A GREAT NATION…God told Israel what His purpose was in bringing this large family or clan down to Egypt. Because of the exclusive, segregated nature of Egyptian life, Israel’s descendants could grow as a LARGE, distinct nation there. Egypt will become a “mother’s womb” to Israel as a nation.

Verses 5-27 tells us the LISTING of Jacob’s family who came with him to Egypt.

Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt. Now these were the names of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt: Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn. The sons of Reuben were Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puvah, JOB, and Shimron. The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Padan Aram, with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were thirty-three. The sons of Gad were Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. The sons of Asher were Jimnah, Ishuah, Isui, Beriah, and Serah, their sister. And the sons of Beriah were Heber and Malchiel. These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob: sixteen persons. The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife, were Joseph and Benjamin. And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On, bore to him. The sons of Benjamin were Belah, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. These were the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob: fourteen persons in all. The son of Dan was Hushim. The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all. All the persons who went with Jacob to Egypt, who came from his body, besides Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. And the sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt were two persons. All the persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy.

ALL HIS DESCENDANTS…he brought with him to Egypt: This shows the great faith Israel had. He brought the ENTIRE family down to Egypt. NO ONE WAS LEFT BEHIND to continue a presence in Canaan.
WHY?

BECAUSE Jacob/ISRAEL HAD GOD’S PROMISE AND HE KNEW THEY WOULD BE BACK ONE DAY, AMEN?

The sons of Judah are of SPECIAL NOTE?
WHY?
BECAUSE THIS IS THE MESSIANIC LINEAGE OF JESUS CHRIST. The line of descent so far goes like this: Abraham - Isaac - Jacob - Judah - Perez - Hezron (confirmed to us in Luke 3:33-34).

ALL PERSONS OF THE HOUSE OF JACOB WHO WENT TO EGYPT WERE 70. The total number of males of this clan was 70 - 66, plus Jacob himself, Joseph, and his two sons, which MAKE 70. This large family will become a nation of more than TWO MILLION over the next 400 years.

Like many great works of God, Israel had a slow beginning.

From the time God called Abraham, it took at least 25 years to add ONE son - Isaac
It took Isaac 60 years to add another son of Israel - Jacob
It took 50 or 60 years for Jacob to add 12 sons and one daughter
But in 430 years, Israel will leave Egypt with 600,000 men
It took this family 215 years to grow from one to 70, but in another 430 years they grew to TWO million.

SOME WHO STUDY THE BIBLE ARE CONFUSED AND BRING UP Acts 7:14 where Stephen says that there were 75 who went into Egypt. This is because Stephen QUOTED from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, which says 75. The number in the Septuagint is NOT wrong, just arrived at in a different way, specifically ADDING five more sons (or grandsons) of Joseph who WERE born in Egypt, WHICH MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
Verses 28-30 tells us…The family settles in the land of Goshen & of the emotional meeting between Joseph and his father.

“Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen. So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

Then HE SENT JUDAH TO JOSEPH…It was fitting for Judah, of the Messianic line, to escort Israel into Goshen, the land of abundance.

Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive: This reunion of Israel with Joseph is more than he ever dreamed before. This is a dramatic change IN JACOB/ISRAEL WHO HAD STATED…all things are against me (Genesis 42:36).

Verses 31-34 tells us Joseph tells his family of the plan to ask for the area of Goshen.

“Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’ So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
EVERY SHEPHERD IS AN ABOMINATION TO THE EGYPT.
WHY?
The Egyptians were agricultural in the sense of farming crops. They considered sheep unclean, and therefore detested shepherds.




Genesis 47 - Jacob Meets Pharaoh; the Family Settles In Egypt

Verses 1-4 tells us the brothers ask for the land of Goshen.

“Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.” And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.” And they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”

Verses 5-6 tells us Pharaoh GIVES THEM THE BEST of the land.

“Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.”

Dwell in the BEST of the land: This blessing is all because of Joseph. He SAVED Egypt - and MOST OF THE WORLD - from terrible famine, and now the whole family of Israel is blessed and received an inheritance because of Joseph.

AND DID YOU NOTICE…NOT ONLY ARE THESE SHEPHERDS, WHO ARE CONSIDERED ABOMINATIONS AND UNCLEAN TO THE EGYPTIANS IS GIVEN EGYPT’S BEST LAND, BUT PHARAOH WANTS TO BLESS THEM FURTHER AND OFFER THEM TO OVERSEE ALLLLLLL OF HIS PERSONAL LIVESTOCK.

OUR JESUS, THE GOD OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, PERFORMED ANOTHER MIRACLE AND AN IMPOSSIBLE BLESSING FOR THE SONS OF JACOB/ISRAEL ONCE AGAIN…

Verses 7-10 tells us Jacob blesses Pharaoh.

“Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty 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 pilgrimage.” So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

THE DAYS OF MY PILGRIMAGE…DID YOU CATCH THAT? Jacob BOLDLY CONFESSES he was on a pilgrimage.
WHY?

BECAUSE JACOB KNEW…JUST AS WE WHO LOVE JESUS KNOW…THAT WE ARE PILGRIMS…JUST PASSING THROUGH THIS LIFE…ON THE WAY TO OUR TRUE REAL HOME…Heaven, AMEN?

FEW AND EVIL HAVE BEEN THE DAYS OF MY LIFE…This was NOT a cynical statement by Jacob, as some teach and believe. This is the HUMBLE ISRAEL…who readily admits publicly the general character of his life (lived in the flesh) and the length of his life did NOT compare both to eternity and to the lives of his ancestors.

So Jacob blessed Pharaoh: ANOTHER MIRACLE IS THAT Pharaoh ACKNOWLEDGED JACOB as a man of God by ACCEPTING his blessing.

THIS IS ANOTHER WOW MOMENT….
WHY?
WE NEED TO REMEMBER, in the Egyptian religion, Pharaoh himself was thought TO BE A GOD HIMSELF. They considered Pharaoh the HUMAN embodiment of Ra, the sun god. This means that it was remarkable that he allowed Israel to bestow a blessing on him.

Verses 11-12 tells us Israel takes the best of the land.

“And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families.”

Joseph situated his father and his brothers: The family of Israel looked to Joseph, and Joseph only, as their source of provision and supply.

IN THE LAND OF RAMESES…WAS CONSIDERED SACRED BLESSED LAND TO THE EGYPTIANS…YET GOD SAW TO IT THAT THE DETESTED SHEPHERDS WERE GIVEN IT…WE SERVE AN AMAZING GOD…AMEN?

Verses 13-14 tells us…Joseph DEALS with the famine. In the EARLY YEARS years of the 7 YEAR FAMINE, money poured into the treasury of Egypt, because it was the ONLY PLACE to buy food.

“Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.”

Verses 15-26 tell us In the LATER YEARS OF THE 7 YEAR famine, Joseph arranged ways for the people to purchase food with whatever they have to give.

“So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.” Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.” Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands. Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” So they said, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.

So the land BECAME Pharaoh’s: In the process, the power and wealth of Pharaoh was multiplied greatly. In times of national crisis the power of central government often increases.

In the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh: SOME COMMENTATORS SAY OF THESE VERSES THAT JOSEPH WAS GREEDY AND UNFAIR. THAT IS NOT TRUE AT ALL.

Joseph WAS MORE THAN FAIR…HE COULD HAVE LET THEM STARVE…BUT HE DID NOT…He fed the people when they would have starved, and in return asked for one-fifth (20%) annually from the produce of the land. Many people today would be happy with only a 20% tax, AMEN?

Verse 27 tells us that Israel anticipates his death & of the multiplication of the family of Israel.

“So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.”

GREW & MULTIPLIED EXCEEDINGLY…is an understatement. In some 400 years, this went from a nation of 70 out of CANAAN PLUS the 5 BORN IN EGYPT TO BECOME a nation of some TWO MILLION or more people.

Henry Morris calculates the initial group of five (Jacob and his four wives) grew into a clan of about 100 in 50 years (the 100 includes the 70 of Genesis 46:27 plus a few wives of the sons not mentioned and grandchildren). That is a growth rate of just over 6% per year. At that rate, there would be several million descendants by the time of the Exodus 430 years later.

OUR GOD IS ABLE…OUR GOD RULES….SATAN AND MANKIND SOUGHT TO DESTROY JACOB AND HIS FAMILY AT EVERY TURN, YET AT EVERY TURN GOD PROTECTED THEM, PROVIDED FOR THEM, & BLESSED THEM…even when they DESERVED TO BE DESTROYED by their sins.

Here is another example…ROMANS 8:28.…GOD NEVER FAILS US…AMEN?

Verses 28-31 tells us Israel makes Joseph vow to bury him in Canaan.

“And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.”

Please do NOT bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers: Israel knew Egypt was NOT his home. He belonged in the land PROMISED to he and his descendants. He clearly believed and understood he WAS the inheritor of Abraham’s covenant.

JUST AS WITH JACOB/ISRAEL, HE KNEW HE WAS BUT A PILGRIM, THIS WORLD WAS NOT HIS ETERNAL HOME...SO TO DO WE WHO KNOW AND LOVE AND CALL JESUS CHRIST OUR SAVIOR, FRIEND, PROTECTOR, PROVIDER, HEALER, AND GUIDE...KNOW THAT WE ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH ON OUR WAY TO OUR TRUE HOME...IN HEAVEN...WITH OUR AMAZING JESUS!