INTRODUCTION:

1. When Jacob’s sons told him that Joseph was alive, and that he was the governor over all the land of Egypt, “Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not” (45:26).
2. “Jacob’s heart fainted.” He nearly had a heart attack.
3. But when Jacob “saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him,” the spirit of Jacob revived (45:27), and he said, “It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die” (45:28).
4. Since Genesis 37, the focus has been on Joseph. Jacob is seen briefly a few times, but for the most part Joseph dominates the last fourteen chapters of the book of Genesis.
5. But now we are reminded that Jacob is still the head of the family. At this point, Jacob is an old man but he will get to live another 17 years.
6. Everything that has transpired in these chapters of Genesis (Joseph’s dreams, his servitude in Egypt, his dealings with his brothers, the famine, etc.) should be regarded as secondary to the development of God’s promises concerning Jacob and his family (cf. 46:1-4).
7. God was leading Jacob and his family step by step, sometimes by outward circumstances (Joseph being sold into Egypt, the famine, etc.) and sometimes by special visions (cf. 46:2).
8. After seeing the wagons, the spirit of Jacob revived, and he decided to go down into Egypt with his family (46:1).

1. MULTIPLICATION (46:1-30)
2. PREPARATION (46:31-34)
3. PRESENTATION (47:1-12)

I. MULTIPLICATION (46:1-30).

1. The first seven verses of Genesis 46 describe Jacob’s journey. He had been living in Canaan for many years so it took faith to take such a trip.
2. Besides this, the grave of his beloved wife Rachel was not far away from his home, and it must have been difficult to uproot himself once again and leave the land of Canaan, the Land of Promise.
3. Canaan was the land of promise which God had promised to him and to his father Isaac and to his grandfather Abraham before him.
4. Therefore, “we can well understand therefore the mixed feelings with which he left a country so full of blessed memories and strong ties” (W.H. Griffith Thomas, Genesis).
5. On his way down into Egypt, Jacob stopped off at Beersheba, and it was there that he offered sacrifices and worshipped the God of his father Isaac (46:1).
6. Years earlier, “Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God” (21:23).
7. And after Abraham offered up Isaac, he dwelt at Beersheba (22:19).
8. It was there in Beersheba also that Jacob’s father Isaac lived, and it was there that God appeared to him (Genesis 26:24).
9. Beersheba was also the place where Jacob lived before he set out to Haran to find a wife. Genesis 28:10 says, “And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.”
10. Therefore, it is easy to understand and to appreciate the reasons why it was so important for Jacob to approach God on this solemn occasion.
11. God revealed Himself to Jacob as the God of his father (46:2, 3). God encouraged Jacob, and this encouragement was further emphasized by the words, “Fear not to go down into Egypt,” followed by a fourfold promise of what should happen there:

1. “I will there make of thee a great nation.”
2. “I will go down with thee.”
3. “I will also surely bring thee up again.”
4. “Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes” (46:3, 4).

12. When the Lord told Jacob, “I will also surely bring thee up again” (46:4), it is doubtful that Jacob fully understood these words. He naturally expected to return out of Egypt as soon as the famine was over, but his family was there for over four hundred years.
13. Jacob did return to the Promised Land, but only to be buried (Gen. 50).
14. God’s fourfold promise (46:3, 4) extended far beyond the temporary circumstances connected with the famine and the need of going down into Egypt for food.
15. The real object of Israel going down into Egypt was much more than that. It was a definite and very significant step by which the family became transformed into a great nation.
16. And the promise about Joseph “putting his hand” on his father’s eyes probably refers to the closing of Jacob’s eyes in death (49:33; 50:1).
17. When Jacob put himself into God’s hands at Beersheba, God gave him the assurance that He would be with him, and would guide him safely into Egypt, and would bless him there.
18. For many years God’s chosen people were only a small handful of people. If God’s promise to Abraham about being “as the stars of heaven for multitude” was to be fulfilled, something very special and definite must take place. This is what happened in Egypt (cf. 46:3).
19. Deuteronomy 26:5 says, “A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.”
20. Exodus 1:7 says, “And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.”
21. God’s plan for Joseph and his father and his brothers was more than preservation through the famine. It was in Egypt that Jacob’s family became “a nation, great, mighty, and populous.”
22. In Canaan, there was the constant danger of attack from the Canaanites, as well as the possibility of being destroyed through intermarriage with the idolatrous Canaanites.
23. For example, besides the terrible and shameful sins recorded in Genesis 34 and 38, Genesis 46:10 tells us that Simeon had a son with “a Canaanitish woman.” This reference is there for a reason.
24. To prevent attack from the Canaanites or corruption through intermarriage, and to allow the family to grow in safety, events were overruled to bring about their journey into Egypt. There they would have all possible safety and all necessary separation from others.
25. Furthermore, it was in Egypt, that these plain, simple shepherds came into contact with civilization, established government, and the administration of law.
26. While Jacob and his sons thought that the family was in Egypt as a protection against famine (cf. 50:20), God was using these temporary circumstances to bring about His own wonderful purposes concerning the nation Israel.
27. Genesis 46:1-7 describe Jacob’s departure from Canaan. Verses 8-27 list the names of his family members.
28. This list of names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt probably includes some who were born in Egypt.
29. The number given is seventy (46:27), and students of Scripture recognize the symbolism of that number.
30. Genesis 50:3 says the Egyptians mourned for Jacob seventy days.
31. There were the seventy elders of Israel during the days of Moses. And there were the seventy disciples of our Lord.
32. According to Stephen, the number of those who came with Jacob into Egypt was seventy-five (Acts 7:14). The additional five might include the grandsons of Joseph. The Scofield Study Bible thinks Stephen’s larger number might include the wives of Jacob’s sons.
33. The “Job” in Genesis 46:13 might be the famous Job. James 5:11 says, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job.” It is difficult to say.
34. Genesis 46:28-30 records the meeting of Jacob and Joseph after being separated for many years. (46:28-30).
35. Joseph came to meet Israel his father, “and presented himself unto him, and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while” (46:29).
36. Jacob was so overwhelmed, that he said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive” (46:30).
37. Jacob implied by these words that he was perfectly ready to depart this world, now that he had once again seen his beloved son.

II. PREPARATION (46:31-34)

1. The arrival of Jacob and his household in Egypt meant a great deal of work for Joseph, and the last few verses of Genesis 46 describe Joseph’s arrangements for his family (46:31). Many things had to be attended to before they could be perfectly settled in the new surroundings.
2. First of all, it would be impossible for Jacob’s household to settle in Egypt without first discussing everything with Pharaoh (46:31).
3. Joseph’s instructions regarding their occupation as shepherds were very important, because he was aware of the feelings of the Egyptians towards shepherds (46:34b).
4. The Bible says that while Christians are in the world, we are not of the world. Jacob and his family were to live in Egypt, but they were not to live like the Egyptians.
5. The Egyptians’ dislike for shepherds necessitated the two peoples being kept apart (46:31-34). Joseph knew that this would allow his family to maintain a clear line of demarcation between themselves and the Egyptians.
6. This separation was difficult to maintain in Canaan (cf. 34:6-10).
7. The Israelites were to be a separated people, just as Christians today are to be a separated people. The Bible says, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord” (II Cor. 6:17).
8. John Phillips said this “illustrates what the Lord expects of His people in the world today. The world’s attractions are not for us; its religious systems are anathema to us. This world is not our home” (Exploring Genesis).

III. PRESENTATION (47:1-12)

1. Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and he took with him five of his brethren. The Bible does not tell us which brothers went along (47:1, 2).
2. As Joseph had anticipated, Pharaoh asked the brothers about their occupation, and they replied (according to Joseph’s directions) that they were shepherds (47:1-3).
3. Because of the severe famine in the land of Canaan, the brothers asked if they would be allowed to dwell in the land of Goshen (47:4).
4. Pharaoh immediately granted their request, telling Joseph that the land of Egypt was at his disposal, and that he was to arrange for his father and brethren to dwell “in the best of the land” (47:5, 6).
5. Pharaoh also said that if there were any “men of activity” (good workers), Joseph was to make them rulers over Pharaoh’s cattle (47:6).
6. It is noteworthy that this Pharaoh is consistently pictured as very wise and kind and gracious (cf. 45:16-20). From the moment that Joseph was taken out of prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dream to the end of the book of Genesis, he is portrayed as a man of character.
7. Undoubtedly, some of this may have been due to the influence of Joseph.
8. Charlie "Tremendous" Jones said, "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." I do not know what books Pharaoh read, but his life was certainly enriched by his friendship with Joseph!
9. (Remember, Joseph is a picture and type of Christ!)
10. After speaking with Pharaoh, Joseph then brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh (47:7). It says much about Joseph’s character that he was proud of his father. He was not ashamed of his father.
11. It would have been very easy for Joseph to keep his father in the background. It is very sad when children are ashamed of their parents.
12. Ephesians 6:2 says, “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise).” The promise is given in Exodus 20:12 – “that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” Joseph lived a long life – 110 years (Genesis 50:22).
13. “And Jacob blessed Pharaoh” (47:7). Jacob blessed him twice, first when he entered and then again when he left (47:10).
14. Jacob’s grandfather had been a curse to Pharaoh (a different Pharaoh). But Jacob was a blessing. When Abraham went to Egypt, he lied to the Egyptians and told them that Sarah was his wife (Gen. 12:13).
15. Jacob was led by God to go into Egypt (46:1-3), but Abraham was out of God’s will when he went to Egypt.
16. “And Jacob blessed Pharaoh” (47:7). Pharaoh was by far the greatest monarch of Jacob’s day. But it is not the mighty king who blessed the saint; it was the saint who blessed the mighty king.
17. Pharaoh asked Jacob his age. “How old art thou?” (47:8)
18. Jacob’s answer was very touching. “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been…” (47:9).
19. “And have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage” (47:9). In comparison with the 175 years of Abraham and the 180 years of Isaac, Jacob’s days (130 years) seemed few. He would live until the age of 147 (47:28).
20. That his days had been “evil” was mainly due to Jacob’s own shortcomings, his bent toward backsliding, his deceitfulness, and his tendency to walk by sight and not by faith. Sin has consequences.
21. Certainly God had blessed Jacob in many ways despite his many faults. The grace of God was magnified through all of his weaknesses.
22. If you want to study the doctrine of grace, read Paul’s epistles. But if you want a great illustration of God’s grace, read the story of Jacob.
23. As old Jacob stood before Pharaoh and blessed him, he did so not only as Joseph’s venerable father, but as the representative of the true God of heaven (47:10). Jacob was Israel, the Prince of God!
24. After the blessing, Joseph did as Pharaoh had commanded, and he placed his father and his brethren “in the best of the land” (47:11).
25. From this point on, Jacob and his household were under the special care of Joseph, who nourished them with bread “according to their families” (47:11, 12). The Hebrew word translated “families” is often translated “little ones” (cf. 46:5; 47:24).

CONCLUSION:

1. In this series in the life of Joseph, we have seen many important themes – the providence of God, the importance of repentance, etc.
2. Here in Genesis 47:9 we see another important theme. It should be noted that twice Jacob used the word “pilgrimage” to describe his long life, as well as the life of his fathers.
3. To Jacob, his life had been a long journey, with a starting point and a goal. This idea of life as a pilgrimage is found all throughout the Bible.
4. Jacob’s grandfather Abraham always dwelled in tents, and he considered himself a pilgrim and a stranger.
5. To the sons of Heth, Abraham said, "I am a stranger and sojourner with you" (Gen. 23:4).
6. Abraham was a pilgrim here in this world. He was just passing through without striking any roots into it.
7. Abraham never owned a house. He living in tents. A tent has no foundation, and a tent can be pitched or packed up on a short notice.
8. His tent life spoke of his separation from the world’s allurements, the world’s amusements, the world’s politics, the world’s friendships, the world’s religion, and everything this world has to offer.
9. Hebrews 11:9, 10 says, "By faith (Abraham) sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles (tents)...For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
10. Isaac said to his son Jacob, “that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham” (Genesis 28:4).
11. King David prayed, “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding” (I Chronicles 29:15).
12. The Bible teaches that the Christian’s life is a pilgrimage. We are temporary residents in a land which is not our own.

This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore. — Albert E. Brumley


No tranquil joys on earth I know,
No peaceful, shelt’ring dome;
This world’s a wilderness of woe,
This world is not my home.

We’ll work till Jesus comes,
We’ll work till Jesus comes,
We’ll work till Jesus comes,
And we’ll be gathered home. — Elizabeth K. Mills


I am a poor wayfaring stranger,
While traveling through this world of woe.
Yet there’s no sickness, toil nor danger
In that bright world to which I go.
I’m going there to see my Father;
I’m going there no more to roam. — author unknown.

13. First Peter 2:11 says, "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."
14. Question – are you a pilgrim, or are you very comfortable in this wicked, sinful world?