ISRAEL IN EGYPT

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

 ISRAEL IN EGYPT   

        

Genesis 45:9, 20, 25-28 NKJV

⁹ “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.

²⁰ Also do not be concerned about your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

²⁵ Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.

²⁶ And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.

²⁷ But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.

²⁸ Then Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Genesis 46:5-7

⁵ Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

⁶ So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him.

⁷ His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt. 

When Jacob and his family joined Joseph in Egypt all of Israel was in Egypt.  Their immediate future had a double guarantee.  The human part of their guaranteed well-being was temporary because it was tied to Joseph and his position as ruler of Egypt. 

The Divine promise had far more certainty.  In Genesis 46:2-4 God promised Jacob two things.

² Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
³ So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.

⁴ I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

First, Jacob’s family was to become a great nation.  Why this required a sojourn in Egypt is uncertain.  But it may have been that they were insulated in Egypt from the Egyptian people and were confined to a particular geographic location where they could grow unhindered and without opposition. 

They also had the might of Egypt to protect them from attack by other stronger tribes and nations.  This opposition by stronger nations proved to be a problem for them when they returned to Canaan. 

The return to Canaan was the second part of God’s promise to Jacob. “I will go down with you to Egypt and I will bring you up again.”  Jacob’s family went to Egypt with the understanding that their stay was temporary.  Joseph’s dying prophecy and request are statements of Israel’s responsibility to consider Egypt a temporary residence. 

Israel had the best of the land, Pharaoh’s favor, and their brother as ruler to protect them.  But they were to be shepherds and “every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”  Genesis 46:34D.  This was related also to their race.  Genesis 43:32.  They were from the beginning living on borrowed time and their danger was ever present. 

Joseph’s position with Pharaoh and his favor with the rulers of Egypt was all that kept them from feeling the disfavor of their host.  Life was ever so pleasant for them.  All the good of the land lay before them.  They could practice their vocation, grow in wealth, and increase in numbers as a distinct people.  Human nature being what it is and has always been it is certain that hostility began with their entrance in Goshen and was a festering sore that was ever growing.  Their prosperity was limited and their comfort temporary. 

Application:

1.  Our brother, for He is not ashamed to call us brother, is the Lord of all.  We need not fret or fear.
2. In the midst of any and every famine we have His invitation to come and dine with Him.