Category: Genesis

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.

Genesis 45:13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

I wonder what everyone was thinking and feeling in this situation. I see that Joseph hugged and kissed Benjamin and then all of his brothers. He wept over his brothers. But what was going through their minds? Their hearts?

Genesis 45:14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 

Were they consumed with guilt? Were they terrified of retribution? Did they realize after all they had endured that they didn’t have to feel guilt or fear retribution because Joseph had well and truly forgiven them? How did they get to that place of forgiveness, acceptance, letting go?

Genesis 45:15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

Precious Savior, Again You are showing me that I’ve got a lot of ground to cover when it comes to forgiveness and trust, letting go and moving on. I readily admit that I struggle in these areas. Help me, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 45:16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 45:9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. 

What a spectacular way to resolve this situation–allegations of lying and cheating, past evil deeds (selling your brother into slavery), entrapping the youngest to test the others…Joseph being alive and in a position to save the rest of the family from five years of famine is quite the surprise. The brothers didn’t even know to pray for this solution.

Genesis 45:10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 

I’ve been in situations where I have pleaded with God over a situation. I’ve seen Him answer my prayers in a spectacular manner. I’ve seen Him leave doors firmly closed that I was positive He would open. I’ve turned situations over to Him that I still have no idea how He resolved, I just knew it was absolutely out of my hands and I had to let it go.

Genesis 45:11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

Precious Savior, Sometimes it is so hard for me to put things in Your hands and say, “Thy will be done.” I know that’s ridiculous, but it’s true. Forgive me that I want things handled my way. Help me to trust You–always and in every situation. I know You are sovereign and You love me fiercely. I know You are working all things to my good and Your glory. Help me to trust, Lord. Help me. Amen.

Genesis 45:12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 45:5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  

I’ll be honest…while I admire Joseph’s attitude here, I am having a really difficult time with it. Perhaps he has dealt with his anger at his brothers’ actions “off the page” and we just didn’t see it, but I would have a hard time being as generous as he even if I felt God had used the events to my good and His glory.

Genesis 45:6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.

I absolutely know that says something about me and exposes an area that God has been working with me on for quite a while: trust and forgiveness. Seems a little silly since I’ve never had to deal with anything on the scale of forgiving my siblings for selling me into slavery nor languishing in an Egyptian prison, but here we are.

Genesis 45:7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Precious Savior, This morning I feel You calling me once again to work on my issues of trust and forgiveness. You know these are difficult for me, and I know that You call me to get over myself and figure out how to incorporate both more generously into my life. Forgive me. Help me. Amen.

Genesis 45:8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Have a blessed day.

Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 

I have tried and failed to imagine what I might do in this situation. This Egyptian official, who has been incredibly stern, who has accused me of stealing (and made it look like I was stealing), who demanded I bring my youngest brother, is actually the brother I helped sell into slavery 22 years ago, the brother I was all set to murder before the slavery plan was hatched.

Genesis 45:2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

I would be terrified, afraid for my life, convinced that said brother would murder me (or at the very least, sell me into slavery) to settle the score. I’d be incredibly confused by said brother’s tears and crying out. I would not feel that I deserve forgiveness because I would not have been able to forgive myself.

Genesis 45:3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.

Precious Savior, That last sentence resonates: “I would not feel that I deserve forgiveness because I would not have been able to forgive myself.” We are human, flawed, deeply fallible. We make mistakes every single day. Help us to forgive ourselves and to come to You for forgiveness so that we don’t live shackled with chains that You never intended for us to bear. Help us, Jesus. Amen.

Genesis 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!

Have a blessed day.