Gen. 47:1-61Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. 2And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. 4They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen. 5And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: 6The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. (Genesis 47:1‑6)
“Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh... And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying... The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.”
There is much for our consideration in what has taken place thus far in the story of Joseph. We have seen a people impoverished and facing starvation in a distant land, where they were without hope until they encountered Joseph, the one whom they once rejected. Through him they were invited to come and enjoy the bounties that could only be theirs when near him. But first they needed to confess their past sins and guilt, then to believe and trust in Joseph. Acting in this faith they found access to Pharaoh and heard his abundant promises poured out — “the best of the land” was to be theirs.
This (in type) is exactly the way that God can accept and bless those who by nature and on account of their sins are far from Him. The Lord Jesus has said: “I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved”; and again: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 10:9; 14:69I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). It is evident that the sinner cannot come to God by himself — he (like Joseph’s brethren) needs an intercessor— and the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who can take this place for him.
Having owned that his sins hay placed him at such a distance from God he learns that Christ in His death has made atonement for his sins. He then accepts in simple faith that salvation that the Lord Jesus brings in all its fullness. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Rom. 5:1,21Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2). Through faith in Christ, the one who once was “without Christ... having no hope, and without God in the world,” is brought into a new relationship with God and finds Him the giver of every good and perfect gift.
One thing additional is impressed upon us at this point: The household of Israel was to be a separated and distinct people, although actually dwelling in the land of Egypt. Egypt is a type of the world, and the Lord Jesus, when praying to His Father on behalf of His own in John 17, said: “I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17: 15,16. The people of God are now seen by Him as “A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people... which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.” 1 Pet. 2:9,109But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9‑10). God grant that His own might remain undefiled and separate from this present evil world!
ML 12/10/1967