HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 416
G EN ES IS 4 7
22 These
were the sons of Rachel and Jacob. The
number of Jacob’s descendants through Rachel
was fourteen.
23 The
son of Dan was Hushim.
sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni,
Jezer, and Shillem.
25 These were the sons of Bilhah, the servant
given to Rachel by her father, Laban. The number of Jacob’s descendants through Bilhah was
seven.
24 The
26 The total number of Jacob’s direct descendants who went with him to Egypt, not counting his sons’ wives, was sixty-six. 27 In addition,
Joseph had two sons* who were born in Egypt.
So altogether, there were seventy* members of
Jacob’s family in the land of Egypt.
Jacob’s Family Arrives in Goshen
28 As they neared their destination, Jacob sent
Judah ahead to meet Joseph and get directions
to the region of Goshen. And when they finally
arrived there, 29 Joseph prepared his chariot and
traveled to Goshen to meet his father, Jacob.
When Joseph arrived, he embraced his father
and wept, holding him for a long time. 30 Finally,
Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die,
since I have seen your face again and know you
are still alive.”
• Opportunities
G E NE S IS 4 7 :5 -6
Why does it seem that who you know
is often more important than what
you know? Joseph’s brothers were
facing famine. But knowing they were
facing starvation and being able to do
something about it were two different
things. Joseph’s brothers gained an
audience before Pharaoh because of
their relationship to Joseph. Pharaoh then
gave permission to Joseph to employ any
of his brothers with exceptional skill to
work with his livestock. While influential
people may help provide opportunities for
us, we must be responsible to diligently
pursue those opportunities. After all,
Joseph’s brothers could have decided to
stay in Canaan and wait out the famine.
If it seems that others are unfairly getting
opportunities because of who they know,
that may be the case. This world is not
always fair. It may also be the case that
they are pursuing opportunities and being
rewarded for their diligence. But always
remember that in the world of “who you
know,” the most important one to know is
God! He is always your champion.
page 46
31 And Joseph said to his brothers and to his
father’s entire family, “I will go to Pharaoh and
tell him, ‘My brothers and my father’s entire
family have come to me from the land of Canaan.
32 These men are shepherds, and they raise livestock. They have brought with them their flocks
and herds and everything they own.’”
33 Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for
you and asks you about your occupation, 34 you
must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised
livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let
you live here in the region of Goshen, for the
Egyptians despise shepherds.”
Jacob Blesses Pharaoh
Then Joseph went to see Pharaoh and
told him, “My father and my brothers
have arrived from the land of Canaan. They
have come with all their flocks and herds and
possessions, and they are now in the region of
Goshen.”
2 Joseph took five of his brothers with him
and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh
asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?”
They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors. 4 We have come
to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no
pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is
very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen.”
5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that
your father and brothers have joined you here,
6 choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for
them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt.
Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any
of them have special skills, put them in charge
of my livestock, too.”
7 Then Joseph brought in his father, Jacob,
and presented him to Pharaoh. And Jacob
blessed Pharaoh.
8 “How old are you?” Pharaoh asked him.
9 Jacob replied, “I have traveled this earth for
130 hard years. But my life has been short compared to the lives of my ancestors.” 10 Then Jacob
blessed Pharaoh again before leaving his court.
11 So Joseph assigned the best land of Egypt—
the region of Rameses—to his father and his
brothers, and he settled them there, just as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph provided
food for his father and his brothers in amounts
appropriate to the number of their dependents,
including the smallest children.
47
Joseph’s Leadership in the Famine
13 Meanwhile, the famine became so severe that
all the food was used up, and people were starving throughout the lands of Egypt and Canaan.
46:27a Greek version reads nine sons, probably including
Joseph’s grandsons through Ephraim and Manasseh (see
1 Chr 7:14-20). 46:27b Greek version reads seventy-five;
see note on Exod 1:5.