Year 1, Week 7, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 7, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Genesis 46-47.

Today’s reading records the reunion of Jacob and Joseph. But today’s reading not only highlights the restoration of a father and a son; it also brings some resolution to matters laid out in earlier chapters of Genesis. Genesis 46 describes Jacob’s journey to Egypt, even supplying a genealogical manifest of Jacob’s descendants who journey to Egypt as well. Jacob and Joseph are finally reunited after more than twenty-two years of separation. Jacob meets Pharaoh as well. Genesis 47 recounts further conversations with Pharaoh as well as details of Joseph’s work of securing food during the remainder of the famine.

What struck me in today’s reading was how it reveals the LORD’s plans being worked out as the Book of Genesis is nearing completion. While the ultimate outworking of the LORD’s plans does not occur by the end of Genesis, we are provided with peeks into and foretastes of God accomplishing His purposes: “The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Psalm 33:11). In yesterday’s reading, Joseph reassured his brothers that his presence in Egypt was ultimately the LORD’s doing, for the LORD was using Joseph’s role in Egypt to preserve them. Today’s reading expands on the role that Joseph is playing in the carrying out of God’s plans and purposes.

Jacob is on the move to Egypt, but he first stops at Beersheba. The LORD has instructed him to go: “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. 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.” (Genesis 46:3-4). Beersheba was a place where Jacob had an encounter with the LORD as he was heading to Haran (See Genesis 28:10). Beersheba was also a place that both Abraham and Isaac had encounters with the LORD (see, Genesis 21:33; 26:25). Interestingly, during his time with famine, Abraham decided to go down into Egypt without any indication that he consulted the LORD (Genesis 12:10), whereas Isaac was told not to go while he faced famine (Genesis 26:2). Jacob is going with permission from the LORD. The LORD has plans to be worked out by his going down to Egypt.

Before we read of the much awaited reunion between Jacob and Joseph, we are interrupted by a genealogical manifest. When the number of people are added up, the total number of Jacob’s descendants who will reside in Egypt will make a significant statement: "All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy” (Genesis 46:27). The significance of seventy is reflected in the total number of nations that existed in the aftermath of flood, which also adds up to seventy (see Genesis 10). The LORD would use this one nation of seventy people to bless all seventy nations. This is a key provision of the Abrahamic Covenant: “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you…I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis. 12:2-3). This is ultimately fulfilled in Christ (see Galatians 3).

Jacob is being sent to Egypt to bless them: “Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh…And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.” (Genesis 47:7,10). Egypt did not rescue Israel from famine; Israel had rescued Egypt. Even as the nation of Israel would later be held captive by Egypt, Moses wanted them to see that it was neither Egypt nor Pharaoh who were great. The LORD was great: “Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised” (Psalm 48:1a). But there is a tension between Jacob’s descendants blessing Egypt, and the need for there to be a distinction in the two. The LORD provides a distinction between Israel and Egypt by the arrangement for Jacob’s descendants to live nearby, in Goshen: “The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” (Genesis. 47:6). The work of shepherding was an offense to Egyptians, and that provided a separation of the two peoples.

The LORD is at work within Jacob’s descendants as well. The LORD was not only using them as a means of blessing, He was blessing them: “Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly.” (Genesis 47:27). What began as a command: “And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28a, see also Genesis 9:7); became a promise: “I will make you exceedingly fruitful” (Genesis 17:6). What the LORD commanded, He turned into a promise and then fulfilled it Himself. The LORD is faithful to all His promises: “Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” (Psalm 36:5).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe