“So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob.’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again…’ Then Jacob… and the sons of Israel… took their livestock and their property, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and came to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him: his sons and his grandsons with him, his daughters and his granddaughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt. Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time. Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.’ ” (v1-7 abr, 29-30)
Joseph’s family, the entire nation of Israel (70 people at this point), moves to the land of Goshen (in Egypt). Joseph is so happy to see his father again that he weeps on Jacob’s shoulder for “a long time”. Jacob and Joseph hadn’t seen each other in approximately 27 years, which may explain all of the weeping.
The majority of this chapter (v8-27) is the genealogy of Israel: his sons (all 12), his grandchildren, and a few great-grandchildren. Four of the generations in the lineage of Jesus are mentioned: Jacob->Judah->Perez->Hezron (in case you were wondering).
This blessing of moving to Egypt in a time of famine, unfortunately, later becomes a curse as the Israelites become oppressed into slavery, leading to God freeing them through Moses (stay tuned for Exodus). I only mention it now, since I had already forgotten how the Israelites came into Egypt in the first place – this is the account of how they came to live there, under the blessing of Joseph and this Pharaoh – the next Pharaoh isn’t so generous.
As for my takeaway from this chapter, I’m reminded not to grow complacent in my relationship with God. Yes, God gladly provides abundant blessing in seasons in our lives, and gives us more than we need. Israel’s family has more food and livestock than they need right now, plus they have the entire country of Egypt backing them. The human tendency however, is over time, in periods of blessing, we can forget God, and He allows us to fall into the lowest of circumstances. It seems like every time God addresses Israel, He calls him Jacob, and reintroduces Himself “I am God, the God of your father” (v3a). Why does God have to keep reintroducing Himself and referring to Jacob by his old name? God didn’t forget that He renamed Jacob to Israel and He certainly doesn’t forget that they’ve had previous conversations. It’s far more likely that Jacob has forgotten God (again), possibly out of complacency and comfort, relying on the people/things around him rather than on his God.
Father God, please help us to remember You at all times, not just in the bad times when we need Your help. Father please humble our hearts, keeping us aware that all things come from You, and all circumstances, both blessing and famine, are allowed by You so that we may be drawn nearer to You and glorify You in all situations. Father teach us to keep our eyes continually on You, acknowledging Your sovereignty over our lives, so that we may never forget to Whom we belong. You alone deliver us into and out of, You alone allow bounty and drought, You alone are our God. May we always serve You and walk with You, even when we are comfortable and don’t have an urgent need to call on You. Best friends talk to each other, even when they don’t need the other’s help or have urgent news to share – may we learn to treat You as our closest and dearest Friend. Thank you Father.
~ Conqueror in Training