Genesis 46 has the impressive account of the move of Jacob and his entire family to Egypt. The reunion of Joseph and his father is moving. Joseph then coaches his brothers on what to say to Pharaoh so that they will receive the choice land of Goshen.
Genesis 47 has Joseph presenting his father and brothers before Pharaoh. This Pharaoh is much different than the one the Israelites will encounter 400 years later. Pharaoh gives Joseph’s family the choicest land in Egypt. They will continue their occupation as shepherds. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. Jacob continues the calling of Abraham and that is to be a blessing. We are children of that promise as well. All Christians need to be looking for opportunities to bless others.
The middle of the chapter shows the shrewdness of Joseph. He sets up the Pharaoh and those to come after him with great wealth. The people end up selling their livestock and land for food, and then selling themselves as well. This will not be the kind of slavery that we in America know where people were sold in absolute servitude, but would be more like the sharecroppers who were popular years ago in America. The people were treated fairly and with dignity, and they sold themselves willingly. It is interesting that Joseph set up the system that would later result in the children of Israel being enslaved. It has been said, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Joseph unintentionally gave Pharaohs to come so much material gain and power that they became corrupted. This would be especially true if they did not have such godly advisors as Joseph. But here again we can see the hand of God at work. It was never God’s intention for the children of Israel to stay in Egypt. If it had not been for them being enslaved then they may have never wanted to have left Egypt.
The last part of the chapter has Jacob making Joseph promise that he will not be buried in Egypt. Jacob wants to be buried in the Promised Land.
“Father, help us to stay true to our calling and the promised You have given us. Allow us to bless others. I pray this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.”
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Jacob is afraid and worried because he has been asked to pick up and move from Canaan to Egypt, but in verses 2-4 in Chapter 46 God appears to Jacob and reminds him of the great promise made to Abraham and tells him to not be afraid for God will be with him.
When things around us seem to be falling apart, God always draws our eyes away from the disarray and onto His Word which reveals God's love and faithfulness to us through His promises to us.
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