Jacob and his large family set out with all they own for the land of Egypt. As wealthy people, they would be driving many sheep and cattle, as well as bringing all the wives, children, and goods in wagons provided by the Egyptians Pharaoh. Before leaving the Promised Land of Canaan, however, Jacob stops at Beersheba to offer sacrifices to God.
Interestingly, both Abraham (Gen. 22:19) and Isaac (Gen. 26:23) lived for a time at Beersheba. Israel’s (Jacob) grandfather Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba many years before and had called on the name of the LORD there (Gen. 21:33). Isaac received a special promise from God and built an altar for sacrifice there, calling on the name of the LORD (Gen 26:24-25). It was probably at this very place Israel sacrificed, remembering what God had done before.
The Night Vision
It’s very interesting how, despite all that Jacob had been told about Joseph’s being alive in Egypt, the Lord still gave him “visions of the night” (v. 2) and in them commanded him to leave. Jacob is to leave the Land of Promise for, of all places, Egypt — which later becomes associated with the one place that God’s people do not want to go (Deut. 17:16).
In the night vision, God referred to Jacob in this passage using his God-given name of Israel (Gen. 35:10). God tells Jacob that he should not be afraid to move his family to Egypt. God promises to continue to be with him and to make a great nation of Israel even within Egypt. Finally, God sweetly tells Jacob that his once long-lost son, Joseph, will be the one to close his eyes in death (Gen. 46:1-4).
Leaving the Promised Land
When Jacob leaves his place in Canaan, he is full of hope. The assurance that he will no longer be hungry and the good news that Joseph is alive must have given him the momentum that he needed to leave the Promised Land.
Jacob’s departure echoes the experience of Abraham, though in Abraham’s case he was heading to the Promised Land. Jacob hears the same promise Abraham heard from God, namely that He will make him “a great nation” v. 3; compare with Gen. 12:2). God’s call here is also reminiscent of God’s covenant with Abraham; in both occasions God uses the same reassuring words “do not fear” (v. 3; compare with Gen. 15:1), which carry the promise of a glorious future. God also assured Jacob that he would bring him up again, meaning God would bring him back to the Promised Land. This would be fulfilled after Jacob’s death, but it would be fulfilled – Egypt would never be the permanent home for Israel (Jacob) and his children. The final assurance was for God Himself to tell Jacob that Joseph lived and would care for him until his dying day. This was sweet assurance, and Jacob lived another seventeen years.
This blessing from God finalizes Jacob’s move out of Canaan, beginning the family’s slow march into Egypt (Gen. 46:5-7).
Listing of Israel’s (Jacob) Descendants
The comprehensive listing of the names of the children of Israel who went to Egypt, including his daughters (a total of 70), recalls God’s promise of fruitfulness to Abraham even when he was still childless.
Judah is of special note because this is the Messianic lineage. The line of descent to this point went like this: Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Judah to Perez to Hezron (Luke 3:33-34).
The number “seventy” represented the total number of males of this clan, which included Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s two sons; expressing the idea of totality. It is “all Israel” that goes to Egypt. It is also significant that the number 70 corresponds to the number of nations (Genesis chapter 10), suggesting that the destiny of all the nations is also at stake in Jacob’s journey.
In Acts 7:14, Stephen said that there were 75 who went into Egypt. This is because Stephen quoted from the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, which says 75. The number in the Septuagint is not wrong, just arrived at in a different way, specifically adding five more sons (or grandsons) of Joseph born in Egypt.
This truth will become more evident only many years later, after the cross and the fuller revelation of the plan of salvation, which, of course, was for all humanity, everywhere, and not just for the children of Abraham.
| “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved’ ” (Romans 10:12-13, , NKJV). |
In other words, however interesting the stories are regarding this family, the seed of Abraham, and whatever spiritual lessons we can take from them — these accounts are in the Word of God because they are part of salvation history; they are part of God’s plan to bring redemption to as many as possible on this fallen planet.
Jacob Sends Judah Ahead
It was fitting for Judah, of the Messianic line, to do this. He demonstrated the true spirit of repentance and change of heart among Joseph’s brothers.
Jacob Sees Joseph
This reunion of Israel with Joseph was more than he ever before dreamed. He had heard the news that the favored son lived; now it was fulfilled. This was a dramatic change from the attitude that said before, all things are against me (Gen. 42:36).
Joseph Preps His Family for the Meeting with Pharoah
Joseph begins prepping his brothers for an audience with Pharaoh. He tells them how to answer Pharoah’s question about their occupation. Joseph urges them to say they are lifelong shepherds and herdsman, as were their fathers. In one sense, this is likely meant to reassure other Egyptians that these newcomers were not going to take resources from the local culture. They were more than capable of providing for themselves – once the famine was over. Interestingly, Joseph states that Egyptians have some special dislike for shepherds. Although it is not revealed why shepherds are so detested, the result is that foreigners in Egypt are often given the role of herdsmen. This might have been joseph’s way of ensuring that his people would be tolerated, but not fully absorbed, into the pagan Egyptian society (vs. 31-34).
Joseph became the representative and the advocate for the whole family. They came to safety in Egypt, but needed Joseph to represent them. In the same pattern, the believer needs Jesus Christ to represent him or her.
Indeed, the pharaohs after Joseph’s death forgot about Joseph and made the people of Israel slaves (Ex. 1:8-10). This shows what would happen (in theory) if we had no representative or advocate before God. But Jesus – not Mary, not saints – is our eternal representative and advocate, being the same yesterday, today, and forever.
God had a place for His people. He didn’t bring them to Egypt and give them no home. It wasn’t enough for Joseph to provide for their needs in Canaan; he had to bring them to the place he prepared for them.
We see Jesus in both aspects – He takes care of us in the present, but has gone to heaven to prepare a place for us – and will receive us to Himself.