Genesis 47:1-31

May 14, 2017

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

Download the bulletin.

Download the Kids’ Korner.

The sermon starts at 15:30 in the audio file.

Or, How Joseph Brought Blessing to All the Land of Egypt

There are only four more chapters until our study of Genesis is finished. There are many more chapters left in the Bible after Genesis, and there have been multiple chapters in the history of God’s work since John finished his book of Revelation. The main idea in Genesis 47 is not new, nor is it unique, but it is worth both understanding and repeating as God makes us able.

When God elected Abram to be His man, He told Abram that Abram would be a blessing to the nations through his offspring (Genesis 12:1-3). That blessing continues to come through the one seed, Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16), but blessings abounded from Abram’s own life and his descendants before Jesus. In Genesis 47, blessing comes through Jacob, Abram’s grandson, but Jacob’s blessing only comes because of the blessing of his son, Joseph. Joseph brings blessing to all the land of Egypt, to the royal palace, to all the Egyptians, and to his own father and brothers.

It took Joseph a long time to get to this position to be such a conduit of blessing. He endured two-plus decades of labor as a foreign slave, then as an unjustly accused prisoner. But he did endure, and God used him to save Pharaoh and the famished and his family.

In this chapter we’ll see how Joseph is part of blessing Pharaoh by settling his family in Egypt (verses 1-12), how Joseph is part of blessing Pharaoh by securing money and land and a future in Egypt (verses 13-26), and how Joseph is part of blessing Israel by promising to return him to the Promised Land (verses 27-31).

Joseph Settles His Brothers in Egypt (verses 1-12)

Joseph and his father and brothers met each other in Goshen at the end of chapter 46 (Genesis 46:28-29). Joseph knew where he wanted his family to settle (Genesis 45:10), and he explained to his family that he would go before Pharaoh on their behalf (46:31-32), and that they should answer Pharaoh about being shepherds (46:33-34). The scene moves to the palace as Joseph brings some of his family before the king.

Presenting His Brothers before Pharaoh (verses 1-6)

Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” This has the ring of an official report. But it moves from a just a report to include a personal introduction. And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Why only five? Which five? The five that looked the most noble and impressive? The five that looked the most weak and needy?

As Joseph anticipated, Pharaoh asked about their employment. ”What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servant’s flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” The brothers go beyond Joseph’s catechism, but it’s all true, and it’s humble, referring to themselves as servants three times. They are shepherds, so they aren’t gunning for any important positions in the land. In fact, they came to sojourn, to be immigrants, not thinking it to be a permanent move. Though Joseph has promised them Goshen, and though that’s where their families and flocks were at the moment, they still don’t presume, they ask. This way they wouldn’t have to unpack twice.

Pharaoh turns to Joseph and authorizes him to take care of the needs of his family. ”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 settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my liv[...]