Judah went on ahead of the rest of his brothers and was the first to meet Joseph. The rest came later. This would remind us of how the Jews (the two tribes) will be brought back to their land and be the first to meet the Lord when He appears in glory. Then the other ten tribes will be gathered back also, and the whole twelve tribes will be made one in the land. What a time of blessing that will be for Israel, just as it was for all Joseph’s brethren as they were nourished in the best of the land.
Five of Joseph’s brothers were brought to Pharaoh and he asked them about their occupation. They replied that they were shepherds, so he gave them the land of Goshen for their dwelling place, where they could be near Joseph. Then Jacob came in and blessed Pharaoh. Poor failing Jacob was used to bless so great a king, and we know that the Jews who are so despised today will someday be used of God in blessing to all nations. All will have to come to Jerusalem each year to worship there (Zechariah 14:1616And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16)) and acknowledge that “God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth” (Psalm 59:1313Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah. (Psalm 59:13)).
Dependence on the Lord
While Jacob and his sons had plenty, because they were depending on Joseph, the Egyptians had to come and buy their corn with money. Before long all their money was gone and yet they were still hungry. They, too, were dependent on Joseph, but they did not realize it as long as they had money of their own. As long as a sinner’s money lasts, he can get along fairly well, but when his money is gone, then all his pleasure is gone too. Joseph then told them to bring their cattle, and this kept them from starvation for another year. But what about the next year? They had to sell their land to provide the needed food for themselves and their families. This would remind us of how the Lord often has to bring the sinner to the end of his own resources, like the men of Egypt, and then He gives His free gift of eternal life. After the Egyptians had sold everything they had, they were willing to accept the corn which Joseph gave them freely to sow their land. They were to give a fifth of their harvest to the king and acknowledge that the land was his. They said to Joseph, “Thou hast saved our lives,” and they were willing to give what he asked from them. The Lord has done far more than this for us, and He wants our all. Are we willing to give it?
Reigning in Power
Joseph bought up all the land in Egypt, and this is a beautiful picture of how the Lord Jesus, in a coming day, will receive all the kingdoms of the world and reign in power over them. But Joseph had bought them for Pharaoh, and so after the Lord Jesus has reigned for one thousand years, He will then turn the kingdom over to the Father, that God may be all in all (Revelation 11:15; 115And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)
15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. (Revelation 1:15) Corinthians 15:24).
Jacob was 147 old, and he knew that he was near the end of his earthly life. He called Joseph to him and made him promise not to bury him in Egypt. Jacob believed God’s promise that his descendants were to possess the land of Canaan, and he knew that even though his whole family had come down into Egypt, God would bring them back to the promised land in His own time.
Further Meditation
1. What did Pharaoh give to Joseph’s brothers?
2. The Lord Jesus’ reign of power is something that all Christians are looking forward to. A small number of the details are given in Revelation 20. What do they tell us about that time to come?
3. You would no doubt enjoy the short and enlightening book The Coming and Reign of Our Lord Jesus Christ by E. H. Chater.