Author: Beth Duncan

Genesis 47:1 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, “My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.” 

Now is the time when I hit (yet again) the “Are we *still* talking about Joseph?” point of the story. It feels like we have been talking about Joseph and his brothers for a very, very long time. And yet, we are still here. There must be a reason.

Genesis 47:2 He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

There has been more than once in my career where I was so miserable with the way things were that I prayed, “God, Open a door, any door, and I will walk through it. Clearly this is not where You want me.” And yet, no other doors opened, so I remained where I was. Sometimes, God says wait.

Genesis 47:3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.”

Precious Savior, It’s hard to be in a season of waiting. It’s tedious and boring and incredibly frustrating. And yet, just like Joseph and his brothers, sometimes that is exactly where You need us. Help us to remember always that You are with us in the waiting. Give us strength and hope as we wait. Amen.

Genesis 47:4 They also said to him, “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants’ flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 46:15-17 These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all. The sons of Gad: Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli. The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Beriah: Heber and Malkiel. 

More genealogy. Yay. Interesting, with all this genealogy, I glazed over the most important lineage yesterday: the Messianic lineage of Judah.

Genesis 46:18-20 These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all. The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.  

Judah, with all his faults and failings. Judah with all his growth…never perfect, yet perfectly suited to help fulfill God’s kingdom work.

Genesis 46:21-22 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard. These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob—fourteen in all. 

Precious Savior, Thank You once again for the reminder that we do not have to be perfect to be useful in Your kingdom work. I will never reach perfection on this earth, so thank You for the understanding that I am still useful, still valuable to You. Amen.

Genesis 46:23-25 The son of Dan: Hushim. The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem. These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel—seven in all.

Have a blessed day. 

Genesis 46:9-10 The sons of Reuben: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi. The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.  

I know I have mentioned before that these lists of genealogies make my eyes gloss over. My sister loves the challenge of a genealogic treasure hunt. I do not. But there is some reason that we have interjected here so many verses of genealogy. What does God want us to notice?

Genesis 46:11-12 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 

Commentary says this list is important here to show that Israel is all in, that he is moving everyone–the entire family–to Egypt in accordance with God’s will. We know he’s afraid (remember all the Jacobs in yesterday’s scripture?), but he is acting in faith anyway, and moving his entire family shows his great faith, even in his fear.

Genesis 46:13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, a Jashub b and Shimron. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that we can act in faith even when we are afraid. Thank You for the reminder that our actions of faith affect more than just ourselves. Help us to be bold and brave for You, even when we struggle with fear. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 46:14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon and Jahleel.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 46:5 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. 

I had to double check yet again that Jacob and Israel are the same person. (They are.) Once again in today’s scripture, the names Jacob and Israel are both used, often in the same verse, to refer to the same person. What is the Lord trying to get me to see?

Genesis 46:6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 

If I had to guess, it would be that I can be scared to pieces and still act in great faith. Jacob, Israel, is moving his entire family–every single person–to Egypt. If verse 5 is any indication (Jacob, Israel, Jacob), this was an incredible act of faith. There was a lot of Jacob’s fleshly humanity involved in this leap, but Israel still took the leap, even though Jacob was afraid.

Genesis 46:7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

Precious Savior, Thank You for the reminder that I can act in Your name even when I am afraid. I can be afraid and still trust. Help me to work on trusting more and being less afraid, but as I work on that balance, help me to keep working for You. Amen.

Genesis 46:8 These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt: Reuben the firstborn of Jacob.

Have a blessed day.

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.

Today, again, I notice that the father is called Israel in places and Jacob in others (sometimes within the same verse). Yesterday, commentary posited that he is called Jacob when his fleshly humanity is coming through, yet when he shows up in faith, he is called Israel in scripture.

Genesis 46:2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.

What that tells me is that Jacob, Israel, is still struggling with his fleshly humanity. He is both confident that God is with him, leading him, AND afraid of what he may encounter. I’m pretty sure we all know that crazy mix of emotions–confidence and fear, but it brings to mind the saying, “Where God guides, He provides,” a paraphrase of Isaiah 58:11.

Genesis 46:3 “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.

Precious Savior, Thank You for understanding that we can be confident of Your leading and afraid of what we will encounter, both at the same time. Help us, when we feel this mix of emotions, to know that You are with us, guiding us. Help us to remember that You will never leave us nor forsake us. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 46:4 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.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 45:25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.  

What jumped out at me as I read today’s scripture is the fact that the father of this crew is called Jacob in verses 25-27 but Israel in verse 28. That seemed rather odd, though it’s happened more than once since he was renamed Israel back in chapter 32 after wrestling with an angel (or God, depending on the interpretation).

Genesis 45:26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.

Commentary posits that he is called Jacob when his fleshly humanity is coming through, when he’s whiny or doubtful, yet when he shows up in faith, he is called Israel in scripture. That means that there was no “one and done” conversion, the fight that gave him his new name didn’t fundamentally change his personality. The fleshly side was still there and still showed itself at times.

Genesis 45:27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 

Precious Savior, Thank You for showing me again and again that You do not need us to be perfect to use us in Your kingdom work. None of these characters, even those given a new name by You, are perfect, have totally conquered their humanity, and yet You are able to use them in mighty ways. Thank You for this reminder, Lord. Amen.

Genesis 45:28 And Israel said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 45:17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 

Not going to lie…Today I feel a little like “Good Grief. Are we still here?” We have been dealing with Joseph and his brothers for a very, very long time. That thought reminds me of a mug I saw in a store recently that said, “In the waiting, God is working.” That got me thinking.

Genesis 45:18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’

I believe we serve a loving God. I also believe that He is very intentional, so if we are still tiptoeing through this family saga, there’s a reason. Letting go of anger? Resolving family issues? Leaning in to trust? If we look closely, He will speak to each of us exactly where we are.

Genesis 45:19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come.

Precious Savior, Thank You for speaking to us through scripture. Help me to seek You, to see You each morning as I study Your word. Be with each of us reading this reflection and help us to discern what You need us to understand in this scripture. Thank You. Amen.

Genesis 45:20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’ ”

Have a blessed day.