Seeking and obeying God’s will even when it seems unsettling.
Genesis 46:1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
3 “I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”
- God knows and addresses man’s concerns.
- Don’t trust our presumptions and confine God’s plans.
- Greatest assurance: “I will go down with you”.
- The “where” and “what” do not matter much, if God is with us.
- When unsure >>> seek God; Once clear >>> resolutely obey.
5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
26 All those who went to Egypt with Jacob—those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives—numbered sixty-six persons. 27 With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.
28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.
30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”
33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”
Gen 47: 5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.”
The importance of being set apart as the people of God.
- Goshen:
- Most suitable land in Egypt for shepherding.
- Far from the capital of Egypt >>> Far from religion and culture of Egypt.
- Being set apart comes with a price:
- Egyptians detested shepherds.
- Following God may not make us popular with the world.
- Set apart in our:
- Beliefs (perspectives).
- Interests (priorities).
- Ways of living (practice).
The “weak” Patriarch blessed the “mighty” Pharaoh.
Gen 47:7 Then Joseph brought his father Jacob in and presented him before Pharaoh. After Jacob blessed Pharaoh, 8 Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”
9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been few and difficult, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” 10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.
- “My years have been few and difficult”: Because of his own sins and unbelief, but also brought about his sanctification.
- Despite weak, still could bless Pharaoh.
- <Heb 7:7> “the lesser is blessed by the greater”: Jacob is the “greater”, and Pharaoh is the “lesser”.
- We may be small on earth, but if we know gospel, we can bless those who seem better and happier than us on earth.
