(A) The God who provides through human means: Pharaoh’s invite, Joseph’s gift (Gen 45:15-28)

After Joseph revealed himself to his brothers earlier in the chapter, he promised to provide for them in Gen 45:9-13. He told them to return, bring their family and their father, and they could live in Goshem. Pharaoh heard of the arrival of Joseph's family and was pleased. The Pharaoh promised the best of Egypt for the family of Joseph. Joseph really enjoyed great favor with the great king of Egypt! Jacob's family is blessed abundantly through this act of provision (Gen 45:21-24). They received so much, and remember that this was a famine! They had enough provisions for the entire journey back to Canaan, and also enough for them to bring their whole family back to Egypt. 

When the brothers return, they tell Jacob of their encounter with Joseph (Gen 45:25-28). Jacob's heart "became numb" initially, "for he did not believe them" (Gen 45:26b). Yet, his sons told him Joseph's words and when he saw the provisions as proof, his spirit was revived (Gen 45:27b). Jacob in his old age, could see his son one more time, and from the description, he was like a man with hope again. What is our hope? For Christians, we preach the gospel to ourselves daily, but this also means preaching the resurrection! And this is our hope. 

What do we learn from these verses? After all that has happened, we see a God that used natural means, political powers to save His covenant people, to keep his promise to Abraham! How do we look to experience God? Do we see God in the little things, and see how he continues to bless us also through other people? God is not too big for the little things in life!

 

(B) The God who meets with his people: Jacob’s encounter with God (Gen 46:1-7)

The narrative switches to Jacob in Gen 46:1-4. God does six things in these verses:  

  • God appears in a vision (Gen 46:2)

  • God reveals himself as the God of his father (Gen 46:3a)

  • In Gen 46:3b God assuages Jacob's fear about leaving the promised land to enter Egypt (unlike Gen 26:2). Remember how the people were usually forbidden to enter Egypt up till now. Here we see God leading his people step by step, sometimes in unexpected ways! It might be misleading to human eyes, but God had other things in mind. What about us today? What happens when we seem to be led to a confusing situation? Are we willing to obey what God has revealed?

  • God reiterates His promise to make him into a great nation (Gen 46:3c). He is being reminded that they are the covenant people, and that God is still keeping his covenant to them. God did not forget them!

  • God promises His presence down in Egypt and He will bring him up again (Gen 46:4a).

  • Joseph will not be taken away from him again and he will be with him until his death (Gen 46:4b)

Why does God do this? Jacob is being reminded that the blessing and provisions are ultimately because God made it possible. This God continues to remind us that He will accomplish His work in His ways. 

Jacob encountered God at Beersheba. What is so significant about this place? Abimelech and Abraham previously made a pact there (Gen 21:31). Isaac too, had the covenant reiterated to him there, and he had his own pact with Abimelech (over a well) (Gen 26:23). It was the place where oaths were made, because God's presence with His people were plain for the world to see. It was also place that catalysed intimate encounters with God. How do we encounter God today? Remember that He has provided His Word, His Words of encouragement to us. Do we realise that as we read the Bible, these are the very words of God.

 

(C) The God who keeps promises: Israel’s family entering Egypt (Gen 46:8-27)

The writer of Genesis inserts for us a genealogy here in these verses. Jacob's family enters Egypt, him and his twelve sons. Fast forward to Exodus 1. From this one family, they burgeon into a nation. Notice the number 70 being mentioned. Scholars are unsettled about the relationship between the number 66 (Gen 46:26) and 70 (Gen 46:27), but Kent Hughes has this to say -- "Perhaps 70 is treated here as a round number, representing the ideal, conveying the idea that all Israel went down to Egypt." 

Joseph went down to Egypt, and in the end, God used him to save all of Israel. In the same way as Joseph was the saving son for his family, Jesus came to save the world so that the covenant family is saved. In Genesis, we see God keeping his promise to Abraham and his offspring time and time again. In the subsequent chapters of the Bible, we see that God kept the promise that He made at the Fall -- that one day, the curse will be reversed through the Seed of the woman. God kept in promises, by sending the true Joseph -- Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, all promises find their fulfillment. 

This is the hope that we have, the hope that can revive our souls. We can have hope that his promise of salvation and deliverance will stand to the end of the age. This is why we can sing: 

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.