Joseph Takes His Family to Egypt

Topic: Submission
Passage: Genesis 46:1–34

January 24, 2020

Commentary

While Joseph’s brothers had come to repentance in chapter 44 and realized the forgiveness of Joseph in chapter 45, it is not until this time, late in the life of Jacob, that he comes to a significant turning point of his life. While he may well have been saved years before (Gen. 28:10), he has not come to grasp the fundamentals of the faith until now. In a long procession Jacob finally started out for Egypt. Even though Jacob was anxious to see his son Joseph, he made a very important stop in Beersheba, where “he sacrificed to the God of his father Isaac” and had a long talk with Him (vv. 1-4). After all, his father had been forbidden by God to go to Egypt (Gen. 26:2), and his grandfather had made spiritual ship­wreck there (Gen. 12:10-20). Just because something looks like the right thing to do and all seems to point that way it does not mean this is the will of God.

Then Jacob left Beersheba with his eleven sons, who all had wives and children plus there were flocks, and herds and servants (vv. 5-26). Jacob’s family now numbered 70 people in Egypt (v. 27). Jacob had sent his son Judah ahead to meet with Joseph in Goshen. This is where Joseph went to meet his father and they hugged and cried for a long time (vv. 28-29). Jacob then told Joseph that he was now ready to die (v. 30). Joseph then told the king that his family of shepherds have arrived with their sheep, goats, cattle, and everything (vv. 31-32). Because the Egyptians didn’t like to be around anyone who raised sheep, he knew that Pharoah would be glad to have them settle in the land of Goshen (vv. 33-34).

Application

When I am making major decisions in life what are some of the things I need to do? I need to take time to pray and meditate on His Word. I also need to get the council of other Godly Christians?

Genesis 46:1– 34 (NET)

1 So Israel began his journey, taking with him all that he had. When he came to Beer Sheba he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 God spoke to Israel in a vision during the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He replied, “Here I am!” 3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes.”

5 Then Jacob started out from Beer Sheba, and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little children, and their wives in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent along to transport him. 6 Jacob and all his descendants took their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they went to Egypt. 7 He brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters—all his descendants.

8 These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt—Jacob and his sons: Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob.

9 The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul (the son of a Canaanite woman).

11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

15 These were the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, along with Dinah his daughter. His sons and daughters numbered thirty-three in all.

16 The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, and Serah their sister. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel.

18 These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, sixteen in all.

19 The sons of Rachel the wife of Jacob: Joseph and Benjamin.

20 Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, bore them to him.

21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.

22 These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob, fourteen in all.

23 The son of Dan: Hushim.

24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

25 These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter. She bore these to Jacob, seven in all.

26 All the direct descendants of Jacob who went to Egypt with him were sixty-six in number. (This number does not include the wives of Jacob’s sons.) 27 Counting the two sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt, all the people of the household of Jacob who were in Egypt numbered seventy.

28 Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph to accompany him to Goshen. So they came to the land of Goshen. 29 Joseph harnessed his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. When he met him, he hugged his neck and wept on his neck for quite some time.

30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, ‘My brothers and my father’s household who were in the land of Canaan have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds; they take care of livestock. They have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 Pharaoh will summon you and say, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 Tell him, ‘Your servants have taken care of cattle from our youth until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting to the Egyptians.”