Bible Talks: The story of Joseph

From: Messages of God's Love: 1967

Gen. 46:5-27⁵And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: ⁷His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. ⁸And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. ⁹And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. ¹⁰And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. ¹¹And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. ¹²And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. ¹³And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. ¹⁴And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. ¹⁶And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. ¹⁷And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel. ¹⁸These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. ¹⁹The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. ²⁰And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On bare unto him. ²¹And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. ²²These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. ²³And the sons of Dan; Hushim. ²⁴And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven. ²⁶All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; ²⁷And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. (Genesis 46:5‑27)

Whether or not Jacob had knowledge of the earlier relation given his grandfather concerning his people’s move to Egypt, we are not told. But Jacob revealed his confidence in the same God that Abraham and Isaac had known and was encouraged by His assurances as he undertook the long journey southward. It is delightful to see the old patriarch’s trust in God at this important time of his life.

“And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods which they had gotten in the land of Canaan,... and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.” He and his sons had no idea of entering that land as mere dependents on its prince, whatever his desire to show all honor to Joseph. They therefore took their “stuff” along with them.

Nevertheless the message from Pharaoh had been: “regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.” What a generous welcome this was to the little company! There was no cause for concern, for the best of the new land lay before them. Pharaoh voiced the highest authority in these assurances to Joseph’s people. May we ever remember that God has promised complete care and provision for all who are Christ’s, for He identifies all such with His Son, just as Pharaoh identified Israel and his people with Joseph and showed kindness for his sake. Has the believer assurances of divine care in this our day? Indeed he does. He is told not to trust “in uncertain riches but in the living God, who giveth it; richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Tim 6: 17. “Therefore take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?... for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matt. 6:31-33³¹Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³²(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:31‑33). The psalmist was in the good of this when he said: “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” Psa. 68:19¹⁹Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. (Psalm 68:19).

The names of those accompanying Jacob are listed and counted in verses 8-26, a total of 67, including the father. “And the sons of Joseph, which were borne him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.” v. 27. How instructive it is to see God taking account of the names and the number of His people, few and feeble though they were. Be the circumstance ever so small, or the occasion ever so great, the eye of the Lord is at all times upon those who are His. Well may the believer say with Hagar of old, “Thou God seest me,” and be encouraged to know more of this watchfulness and care. “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways.” Psa. 139:2-4²Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. ³Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. ⁴For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. (Psalm 139:2‑4).

Memory Verse: “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36³⁶For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36).

ML 11/26/1967

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.