Genesis 47 - 48

 

Genesis 47:1-27 – Trusting God to Provide

Joseph told Pharaoh his family had arrived and was in Goshen.  Pharaoh was a wise, courteous and gracious ruler.  He trusted Joseph and recognized his gifts and honored him for them.  He allowed Joseph’s family to settle in Goshen and gave them the best of the land.  Joseph continued providing food for all of his family.

Joseph introduced his father, Jacob to Pharaoh.  Jacob gave Pharaoh a blessing and thanked him for his kindness.  Pharaoh acknowledged that he was a man of God and both were blessed.  Jacob explained his hard life, but that he had been blessed because the Lord was in his life.

Principle:  Surrendering our lives to God matures our faith and secures our future.

If God has sent you to an unexpected place, how are you blessing someone else?

How do you respond to the challenge to be totally dependant on God?

How grateful are you to be able to serve God?

Do you recognize it is a privilege to serve Him?

The famine was so server that there was still no food in the whole region.  The people ran out of money to buy food from Joseph, but he was wise and continued to feed the people so they did not die.  He devised a plan in 3 stages for relief of the famine:  1st, they paid for food with money; 2nd, when they ran out of money they paid for food with their livestock; 3rd, when they ran out of livestock they paid with their land and with themselves making themselves slaves to Pharaoh.  The people could still grow their crops, but they were to give Pharaoh a 5th of the produce.

These strict measures may seem unfair, but the Bible doesn’t approve or criticize Joseph.  Joseph was honest and gained nothing for himself.  He did what was best for all the people.  It taught them to cooperate, work hard, and appreciate and value what they had.  It taught them to appreciate God and how He had provided for them. 

The Israelites prospered and multiplied.  The Egyptians surrendered their land, while the Israelites acquired property.  This reinforced God’s earlier promise to Abraham.  God promised Abraham’s descendant would become a great nation and be blessed as they became a blessing to the world. 

Do you plan wisely for the good of others?

Do you ask God for help? 

Principle:  God is the ultimate source of every blessing.

Genesis 47:28-48:22 – Trusting God as Shepherd 

Jacob (Israel) lived for 17 years in Egypt.  He was 147 when he died.  Before he died, he asked Joseph, before God, to not bury him in Egypt, but to bury him in Canaan with Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah.  This was the country that God had promised to him and his descendants.  “‘Swear to me,’ he said.  Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top op of his staff.” – Gen. 46:31.  This is a visual of standing on the promises of God.

Jacob had been a liar, self-reliant, careless, and worried about his own reputation most of his life, but he did not end his life that way.  When Jacob was very ill and ready to die, he spoke words of encouragement from his deathbed.  “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers.  I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’” – Gen. 48:3-4.  He took time to remind Joseph about God and His promises, the same promises given to Abraham and Isaac. 

Joseph brought his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to his father for his blessings before Jacob died.  Jacob declared Joseph’s sons to be his own.  He gave them a special blessing.  He put his right hand on the youngest, Ephraim and gave him the greatest blessing instead of giving it to the older Manasseh.  He gave Ephraim the blessing of the firstborn.  This was God’s choice and Joseph accepted it because it was God’s will.  God is sovereign and He can do what He wishes. 

Jacob then repeated God’s promise to Joseph.  He told him that God would be with him and would take him back to the Promised Land. – Gen. 48:21.  

Joseph is the one most like Jesus in the entire Bible.  His life illustrated the future life and work of Jesus.  Here are a few ways Joseph was like Jesus:

both were shepherds

both loved by their father, but hated and rejected by their brothers

both had a prophesy of their coming glory

both endured unjust punishment

both were sold for money and handed over to Gentiles

both were thought dead but raised out of the pit

both went to Egypt

both were made servants

both falsely accused, but made no defense

both put in prison and endured unjust punishment from Gentiles

both associated with 2 criminals – 1 was pardoned and 1 was not

both showed compassion and brought a message of deliverance in prison

both showed to have divine wisdom and were recognized as having the Spirit of God

both betrayed by friends

both glorified after his humility and honored among Gentiles

both were 30 years old when his life work began

both blessed the world with bread and became the only source of bread for the world

the world was instructed to go to both of them

both were given the name “God speaks and He lives”

both in their 2^nd appearing didn’t go to the brothers; they came to him

both were not recognized by brothers

both blessed brothers without their knowledge

both wanted all to come to him

both gave a way of deliverance

both prepared a place for brothers

both brought Jew and Gentile together

Why the right hand?  The right hand is associated with God’s strength (Ex. 15:6, God’s favor (Ps. 16:11), God’s help (Ps. 20:6), God’s authority and sovereignty (Is. 41:13, Rev. 5:1, 7, 10:2).  Jesus is described as sitting at the right hand of God the Father.  We see in Matt. 25:32-33 the separating the sheep from the goats at the judgment.  The shepherd will put the sheep on the right and the goats on the left.  To be on the right hand is a special place of honor.

When you die, will you be known as a person who relied on God?

What would others say about your character?

Do you bless your children and grandchildren?

Do you share the promises of God with them?

It is important for parents, especially fathers and grandfathers to bless their children.  Many children never hear encouraging words from them.  Every child needs to be touched and verbally affirmed by his father and grandfather.  Instead, a lot of times they are criticized, rejected and reminded of their weaknesses and failings.  We must bless our children and tell them of God’s amazing salvation and grace.  Jacob hugged and kissed is grandsons.  That’s what fathers and grandfathers today should do.

How is God asking you to surrender to His plan that you don’t understand?  Peace and blessing come through surrender.

How can you share what God means to you?

Principle: With God as our Shepherd we will have peace and blessing beyond our understanding.

Jacob ended his life full of thankfulness to God and of God’s underserved goodness to him.  His words reveal his faith in God and in His promises.  This shows us that we must pray for guidance before making decisions; God guidance is different for each person; God always fulfills His Word.

Join me here next week for the last lessons in the book of Genesis.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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