Setting out on a long journey can be quite an ordeal sometimes. There is the packing and planning and closing up the house while you are gone. So many things to do. You can be absolutely exhausted before you even start out on your trip. Think about what a trip to Egypt would have required during Jacob’s time. There would be no comfort stops along the way so all provisions for the journey had to be brought along.
In our reading today, Jacob and the entire family are moving to Egypt for an indefinite period of time. They intend to live there with Joseph at least until the famine is over. We can see in verse 1 of our reading that when Jacob sets out, he first goes to Beersheba and offers sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.
Can you remember what happened in Beersheba? This is where Isaac, Jacob’s father, and Abimelech made the peace treaty and settled the issue they were having over ownership of wells (Gen 26:23-25). God appeared to Isaac at Beersheba and identified Himself to Isaac as the God of his father, Abraham. Isaac built an altar there and worshipped God. We also saw, years later, that Jacob worshipped and offered sacrifices on that same altar. This is where Jacob had his dream of the angels ascending and descending a ladder and God spoke with him (Gen 28:10-15). God had ministered to the Patriarchs at this location and reaffirmed His covenant promises. This is an important spiritual place to the members of this family and Jacob goes there to offer sacrifices to God before heading to Egypt.
Read verses 2-4. We see that Jacob has yet another theophany while he is there at Beersheba. In this vision, God gives Jacob five assurances about going to Egypt.
- Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt.
- I will make you a great nation there (Deut 26:5, Ex 1:1-7).
- I will go to Egypt with you (Ex 2:24-25).
- I will bring you back to Canaan (Ex 3:8, Acts 7:15-16).
- Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes (Gen 50:1).
Four of these assurances are specific promises and we know that God always keeps His promises. But there is something I want you to understand here about God’s promises.
Read Hebrews 11:8-13. This section in Hebrews talks about seeing God’s promises fulfilled from a distance. God made many promises to the Patriarchs and God keeps His promises. But, for the most part, the Patriarchs did not see these promises fulfilled in their own lifetimes… particularly the covenant promises (Heb 11:39-40). We often, from our own perspective, tend to think promises should be fulfilled now, in our lifetimes, so that we can see things happen. But God often sees things differently. His perspective is always on what will bring glory to Himself and that often means promises being fulfilled in the distance rather than in the person’s own lifetime.
Let’s look again at these assurances in verses 3-4. There are three instances of the words you/your. In the first one, God is referring to both Jacob and his descendants. In the second, God is referring to the entire nation of Israel. And in the third, He is referring to Jacob only. If we look at the words in this manner, we will see differently God’s fulfillment of His promises. Also, when we think about the fulfillment of God’s assurance #4, we must remember to think of it in light of the prophecy God has already given in Gen 15:13. God has previously told this family there will be 400 years of enslavement. God will not be bringing them back to Canaan from Egypt until after these 400 years (which is the time period between when they go with Joseph to Egypt in Genesis and when the book of Exodus begins, 400 years later, and God uses Moses to deliver them out of Egypt).
They go in the carts that Pharoah has provided, and they take everything they own. They are not coming back any time soon. But God has promised these people the land of Canaan and they are coming back. And we know that they trust God to bring them back because they don’t leave any people or possessions behind to hold the land God has promised them while they are gone. This is faith.
Verses 8-25 list everyone that went with Jacob to Egypt. This is a lot of people. This is all of Jacob’s male descendants. With the exception of Dinah, you will notice that the names are all male/sons. It is an ancient Middle Eastern culture and this is what was done. But these are the charter members of the nation of Israel. They will go to Goshen and become God’s chosen people… a nation chosen to deliver a Messiah, our Savior, to provide a plan of Salvation for Mankind. Verses 26-27 give us the headcount of this founding group. Don’t get too caught up in the numbers. They are different each time they are quoted as they are counted differently each time (Acts 7:14-15). Don’t let it make your head hurt.
Read verses 28-30. The family arrives to Egypt and Judah is sent ahead to sort out the arrangements. He is given responsibility. Remember, the three oldest sons have disgraced themselves in the family and have lost Jacob’s respect. Judah is the next oldest (4th) and is emerging as a leader. We will see him, as we go forward, taking on more and more family responsibilities and leadership. Keep your eye on him. He is an important figure, in the future, as God will choose Judah’s lineage through which to deliver the Messiah.
Joseph and Jacob have not seen each other for over 20 years and there is a tearful reunion. Imagine the emotions. And Jacob tells Joseph that now he is ready to die. We know, from Exodus 1:1-7, that God did indeed grow this group into a large nation there in Goshen.
Responding to God: Praise God for His covenant promises and His plan of Salvation. Thank Him for His love, grace, and mercy that allow us to be forgiven of our sins. Ask Him to help you find ways to develop generational connectedness, particularly in spiritual matters and seek to be a family that worships together. Trust God in all things and spend regular, fervent time with Him in prayer.
Further Research: On the internet, search for archeological information concerning Goshen and the Israelites.
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