"Goodbye Canaan for 400 years" https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-47/
Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Joseph tells Pharaoh of his family's arrival to Egypt. Pharaoh meets with Joseph's family and tells them that they are welcome to live in the land of Goshen. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. Then, Joseph settles his father and family in the land of Egypt. Pharaoh gives the Israelites the best part of the land, the land of Rameses. Joseph also provides his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food for their dependents. The famine gets worse in the land of Egypt, and the food and money is now scarce in Canaan and in Egypt. People from all over the land sell themselves into slavery to receive just enough food to stay alive. They have already sold everything, including cattle and land, that they own in order to buy food. In this way, Joseph acquires all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. All the people are moved into the cities of Egypt. Joseph then gives all the people seed to sow in the confiscated land. 1/5th of the harvest goes to Pharaoh and 4/5th of the harvest is theirs to keep for a food supply for their families. The people become slaves to Pharaoh, and Joseph establishes a law that a 1/5th of all produce belongs to Pharaoh. Israel and his family are able to survive in the land of Goshen for 17 years thus far. Israel is 147 years old, and he feels that he will die soon. Israel tells Joseph to bury him in his family's burial place in Canaan. Joseph swears that he will do this for his father."
Some key verses from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know of any men of ability among them, put them in charge of my livestock.” v.5-6
- "Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. Few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, and they have not reached the years that my fathers lived during the days of their pilgrimage.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and departed from his presence." v.9-10
- "Now [the people of] Israel lived in the country of Egypt, in [the land of] Goshen, and they gained possessions and acquired property there and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was a hundred and forty-seven years." v.27-28
- "And when the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh and [promise to] deal loyally and faithfully with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I lie down with my fathers [in death], you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place [at Hebron in the cave of Machpelah].” And Joseph said, “I will do as you have directed.” v.29-30
My personal observations and reflections...
- PHARAOH COURTESY CALL. After arriving in Goshen, and a tearful reunion of Joseph with his father Jacob-- it’s time to officially talk to the Pharaoh. Joseph chose 5 brothers to present to Pharaoh, and I’m sure Judah was one of them. As Joseph expected, the Pharaoh asked of the brothers (Israel’s) occupation. So they stated that they were “shepherds”, and that they have come to live temporarily as sojourners in the land of Egypt (Goshen), for there was no pasture for the flocks in the famine-stricken land of Canaan. This “temporary stay” will stretch out to 430 years, btw, according to the next book, Exodus. God used the life of Joseph mightily to obtain this kind of favor from Pharaoh. Pharaoh is literally indebted to Joseph and Joseph’s God (Elohim), for saving the Egyptians (along with Israel) from the severe famine.
Description: Joseph provided for his family. He brought them to Pharaoh and then with permission Joseph settled his father and brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt. And then Joseph provided his whole family with food.
- LIFE’S A PILGRIMAGE. I like how Jacob answered Pharaoh when he was asked about his age. His years of pilgrimage (on earth) are 130. That is really what our lives are. Just a pilgrimage. We know that we are just travelers, and this is not our real home. Our real home is with God. I would love to have that fixed mindset in my heart and mind too. One day I’m here, and the next day I will be gone, so why attach/cling too much on earthly material things, when I cannot carry them to the next life. Everything is borrowed, and I am just a steward of whatever God has blessed me with. By reading His word daily, I hope I will be able to honor and glorify God, trust and put all my hope in Him-- the one, true God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
"All these died in faith [guided and sustained by it], without receiving the [tangible fulfillment of God’s] promises, only having seen (anticipated) them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return. But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:13-16
"And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Colossians 3:1-4
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"b. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life: This was not a cynical statement by Jacob. He recognized that the general character of his life (lived in the flesh) and the length of his life did not compare both to eternity and to the lives of his ancestors."
* Bible Footnotes: Genesis 47:9 "Abraham, Jacob’s grandfather, had lived to be a hundred and seventy-five years old; Isaac, Jacob’s father, lived to be a hundred and eighty. Jacob lived seventeen years after making this statement to Pharaoh, in which time he had an opportunity to get a much more optimistic view of God’s treatment of him. He died at a hundred and forty-seven, having said, “The Angel...has redeemed me continually from all evil” (Gen 48:16)."
- JACOB BLESSED PHARAOH. This shows me that people of God are called to bless other people, even if they were not asking for it. That is who we are; we are blessed to be a blessing. That’s why even when we are cursed by others, we still bless them. Forgive as God forgives, love as God loves others. This is not to show how great or awesome we are-- but to show others how great and awesome God really is. The God who is full of love, grace and mercy, has loved and forgiven and blessed us, that's why we can do the same for others. At this point, Jacob is demonstrating God's goodness to the Pharaoh, because God has been really good to Jacob. Also, now that God's people were living in the land of Goshen, Egypt-- I think that, that 'blessing' was more for the Israelite's than the Egyptians.
"c. So Jacob blessed Pharaoh: Pharaoh acknowledged Jacob was a man of God by accepting his blessing. In the Egyptian religion, Pharaoh himself was thought to be a god. They considered Pharaoh the human embodiment of Ra, the sun god. This means that it was remarkable that he allowed Israel to bestow a blessing on him."
- GOSHEN—also called Land of Rameses. Who's Rameses, though.
- KILLER FAMINE. All the money in Egypt and Canaan was exhausted, and Joseph brought them all to Pharaoh’s house. Side note, I admire how Joseph was never tempted by all the riches before his eyes and before his hands. Joseph’s love and focus with God was greater, than all the ‘temporary’ lure or satisfaction that earthly riches can give. Joseph is one of the great, godly stewards that God has ever established, to be an example to many believers.
- BARTER EXCHANGE. We’re not sure what year of the famine was this (3rd year?), but it’s been getting harder and harder for everyone. Joseph had to think of an alternative payment for all the people who needed to buy grain for food. So he made them give up their livestock, such as horses, donkeys, etc.
- NO MONEY, NO LIVESTOCK-- NO PROBLEM. The next year, the people have spent all their livestock, so they offered their lives (able bodies), and their lands. For a moment, I thought how mature or responsible the Egyptians were in their responses to the ‘famine’ problem; they always come up with a solution, instead of complaining and murmuring with each other. They showed ‘acceptance’ of their current situation. This shows me how these Egyptians are still God’s creation, made in the image of God, despite of their wrong worship of the gods/idols.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"a. So the land became Pharaoh’s: In the process, the power and wealth of Pharaoh was multiplied greatly. In times of national crisis the power of central government often increases.
b. In the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh: Joseph wasn’t unfair. He fed the people when they would have starved, and in return asked for one-fifth (20%) annually from the produce of the land. Many people today would be happy with only 20% in total taxes."
- ISRAEL PROSPERED BY GOD. As God promised, He multiplied and made Israel fruitful in the foreign land of Egypt. They gained possessions and even acquired properties. By this time, famine was over, and times of abundance has been granted by God. Jacob lived in Egypt for additional 17 years (5 years of famine, and 12 years of abundance, not bad!). That’s plenty of time to catch up and spend more time with Joseph, his favorite son. This tells me that whenever we are within God’s presence, will, and favor-- we will be blessed by Him, eventhough outside circumstances seems to tell us otherwise.
"b. Multiplied exceedingly: Henry Morris calculated the initial group of five (Jacob and his four wives) grew into a clan of about 100 in 50 years (the 100 includes the 70 of Genesis 46:27 plus a few wives of the sons not mentioned and grandchildren). That is a growth rate of just over 6% per year. At that rate, there would be several million descendants by the time of the Exodus 430 years later."
- JACOB/ISRAEL’S DEATH (Burial). Joseph’s importance to Jacob was clearly emphasized here—even matters about his death, Jacob called Joseph, not his firstborn Reuben, not even Judah (Messianic line). I think this also served another purpose, Joseph was in the POSITION OF POWER, so it make sense that Jacob placed the request to bury him at the cave of Machpelah, to Joseph. This was a very serious thing for Jacob so he made Joseph swear and to put his hand under his thigh (much like when Abraham made his servant Eliezer swore when he make him promise to find a wife for Isaac, and to never let Isaac marry a Canaanite).
"a. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers: Israel knew Egypt was not his home. He belonged in the land promised to he and his descendants. He clearly believed and understood he was the inheritor of Abraham’s covenant."
Read the Bible here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+47&version=AMP
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Gen/Gen-47.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
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