Journal Through the Bible: Week 11 Wednesday

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Genesis 46:1-47:10

Jacob journeyed to Beersheba to offer sacrifices before taking his family to Egypt. The family census, with the exception of any spouses, are named. Notice that "the lad" Benjamin was the father of 10 sons (46:21)!

Wouldn't you have liked to have been present at the reunion of Jacob and Joseph?  :)

I remember hearing someone preach several years ago who claimed that Jacob was nothing but a complainer when he told Pharaoh that he was 130 years old but that the days of his life had been few and evil and that he had not lived to be as old as his forefathers. That could be true but I think of it in another way. I think Jacob was giving Pharaoh, who was a young man according to Joseph (see 45:8), a history lesson! Jacob is saying that his forefathers lived to be over 900 years old before The Flood of Noah and even Noah and his sons lived to be extraordinary ages! (Remember that I told you that Noah's son, Shem, lived long enough to witness the births of Jacob and Esau, assuming that he lived somewhere near enough to family to hear the news? Shem died when Jacob was 50 years old! Go back to Genesis chapter 11 and do the math if you don't believe me.) So I do not think that Jacob was complaining so much as telling Pharaoh about his incredible family tree!

Does God make any promises in this passage?

Yes, God promises Israel that He will make him a great nation in Egypt. Also . . .

• God would be with him there.
• God would bring him out of there
• Joseph would be nearby when Jacob died 

Are there any references to Jesus?

Yes, when Joseph's family arrived in Egypt Joseph went to Pharaoh and told him of the arrival. Pharaoh had been expecting them. In like manner, Jesus says in the gospel that He will not lose any that were given to Him by His Father.

Also, Joseph is to take any of his brothers that he judges as faithful and make them rulers over Pharaoh's cattle. 

Are there any references to eternity future?

I suspect that each person who is expected by the Father will be personally ushered into the Father's throne room by Jesus upon arrival in Heaven. 

Just as the faithful among Joseph's brothers were sent to rule over Pharaoh's cattle, so will God make His faithful to be rulers over the New Earth.

Does God issue any commands?

God tells Jacob not to be afraid to go to Egypt.