Gen. 46:28-3428And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. 29And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. 31And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and show Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; 32And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? 34That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Genesis 46:28‑34)
“And (Jacob) sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.” We can see the sense of propriety in Jacob in sending Judah before him to give good notice of his coming to Goshen. We have noticed earlier the faith and wisdom of Joseph who had already in chapter 45:10 sent to his father the message as to Goshen, bore he had said a word to Pharaoh. It was the outlying part of Egypt, where they could best retain their old occupation as shepherds, and were least exposed to the idolatrous and moral corruptions of that land.
“And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.” Thus the long cherished meeting took place — the aged father, the long-separated son, and all the brethren happily united and brought into joyous harmony with one another. Here was a beautiful foreshadowing of the time when God will see His Son united with His earthly people. Yet it also tells of the joy that is the present portion of any of Israel’s race now, who coming to Christ the rejected One, own Him as their Saviour. Their blessing will not be earthly — as will be Israel’s in the future day — but heavenly, along with those saved from among the Gentiles in this day of grace.
“And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and show Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me, and the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and: their herds, and all that they have vv. 31,32. Egypt, the world’s mightiest nation, enjoyed a high degree of culture and achievement in various sciences. In their estimation it was considered an abomination to even eat with a Hebrew. Furthermore, they held shepherds in low esteem and disdained those engaged in this occupation.
Joseph knew the difficulties that would arise if his brethren were to attempt dwelling close to, or mixing with, the people of Egypt and undertook to speak to Pharaoh on their behalf. He thus appeared as a “daysman” or “intercessor” between the great ruler and these people who, by nature and practice, would have no access to his person or to his favors. In identifying himself with them, he is a type of Him who in a later day identified Himself with His poor, sinful and hopeless people; “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Heb. 2: 11.
The blessed Saviour, taking upon Himself the form of man, has taken the sinner’s place on Calvary before a just and holy God and this is all-availing for salvation to all who through faith lay hold of it. “Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation (or atonement) for the sins of the people.” Heb. 2:1717Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17).
ML 12/03/1967