Genesis 47

The Explanation

The palace was cool inside. Outside, the sun burned the dry fields until they cracked.

Joseph walked in and bowed before Pharaoh, the most powerful man in Egypt. "My father and my brothers have come," he said. "They are in Goshen." Then he brought in five of his brothers.

Pharaoh looked at them. Rough coats. Dust on their sandals. Hands hard from work.

"What is your occupation?" he asked.

"Your servants are shepherds," they said. "We and our fathers before us." And they asked something brave. "Please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."

Would you have dared to ask a king for land? They did. And Pharaoh said yes. Not just any land. "Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land."

Then came the strangest moment of the day. Joseph brought in his father, Jacob. An old, old man, leaning and slow. And that old shepherd lifted his hands and blessed Pharaoh. The king of Egypt stood still and let himself be blessed by a stranger with a stick.

"How old are you?" Pharaoh asked.

"One hundred thirty years," Jacob said. And then he said something sad and honest. His years had been few, he said, and hard. Jacob had cried a lot in his life. He had lost his wife. He had thought Joseph was dead for years and years. He did not pretend everything had been lovely. He blessed Pharaoh again and went out.

Meanwhile the famine got worse. Not a green blade anywhere. People came to Joseph with money for grain, until their money was gone. Then they brought their animals. Horses, donkeys, sheep, cows. Joseph gave them bread. Then even that was gone.

"Buy us and our land for bread," they begged. "Why should we die before your eyes?"

So Joseph gave them seed and a rule: plant the fields, keep four parts of the harvest for your families, and give one part to Pharaoh. The people said, "You have saved our lives!"

And in Goshen, Jacob's family grew. Babies were born. Tents multiplied. Seventeen years went by.

Then Jacob was dying. He called Joseph close and made him promise something. "Please don't bury me in Egypt." Carry me home, he said. Bury me where my father and grandfather lie. Joseph swore it. And old Jacob bowed his head on the top of his bed.

What Does This Mean?

Everybody in this chapter is hungry. Kings, farmers, shepherds, children. Nobody could grow one single loaf.

And God had already put bread in Egypt, years before, through a boy his brothers had thrown away. God plans ahead. Long before you know you will need something, He is already busy.

Notice too that God's family did not get saved because they were rich or important. They were dusty shepherds asking for a corner of land. God takes care of small people.

The Common Thread

Jacob would not stay in Egypt, not even in a grave. Why? Because God had promised him a different land, and Jacob believed that promise more than he believed his own eyes.

Egypt was only a stop along the way. God's family was going home one day.

And Joseph, who kept people alive with bread, is a picture of Someone later. Jesus said He is the bread of life. People came to Joseph and said, "You have saved our lives!" One day people would say that to Jesus, and mean it forever.

For You

Somebody near you is hungry for something small today. Maybe your little sister wants someone to play with. Maybe a kid at school eats lunch alone.

Do a Joseph thing. Share half of what is in your hand. And tonight, thank God for your bread out loud, because it did not come from nowhere. It came from Him.

Talk About It

Jacob told Pharaoh his life had been hard. Why do you think he was honest instead of pretending?

What is one thing you have that you could share this week?

Praying Together

Father, thank You for food on our table today. Thank You that You take care of small people. Help me to share what I have. Amen.