Tag: Famine

Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 7

On By Carmen1 Comment

In the previous post, Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 6, we learned about the preservation of Israel through Joseph, Jacob’s first son by Rachel.

Joseph was sold in to slavery by his jealous half-brothers, which landed him in Egypt where he suffered many wrongs. God, however, was watching over Joseph, and preparing him for a great role—one that would make him second in charge under Pharaoh over all Egypt.

Impressive?

Yes, but Joseph had a role to play in God’s plan, just as we all do if we’re surrendered to Him.

God chose Joseph to carry out His plan to save the nation of Israel, just as he chose Abraham, Issac, and Jacob to bring about the greatest blessing of all time.

But first, Let’s see how the rest of Jacob’s life unfolds.

We resume with Joseph’s brothers on their way back to Canaan to their father Jacob to give him the good news about Joseph.

When they arrived in Canaan, they told Jacob that Joseph was alive and ruled over the land of Egypt. At first, he did not believe them, but when he saw all the provisions that Joseph sent, he became a renewed man. The Bible says his spirit revived.

Jacob was looking forward to leaving Canaan and going to Egypt to see his son Joseph before he died.

So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.”

Genesis 46:1-4

Did you read what Jacob did?

He didn’t forget to thank God for His faithfulness by worshiping Him and offering sacrifices to Him.

When God makes a way for us, it benefits us to give Him praise and thank Him for His faithfulness, protection, provision, miracle—whatever it is that only He could have done for us.

Next, God spoke to Jacob and assured him that it was okay for him to go down to Egypt and that He would be with him.

Often, when God purposes something in our lives, He will confirm it. Whether it be through His speaking to us through the Holy Spirit, through someone who speaks to us, or through something that we read.    

Don’t forget that God also reiterated His promise of making a great nation of him.

So, Jacob took all his family (sixty-six in number), servants, belongings, and livestock with him down to Egypt.

Jacob and Joseph were reunited with tears of love and joy. Imagine being reunited with your loving father or lost son for over twenty years. No doubt it was an emotional day.  

Joseph tells his father and brothers that when they meet Pharaoh and he asks their occupation to tell him that they are keepers of livestock. This was done so that they could live in Goshen which was a great place to graze herds. Also, shepherds were not well accepted in Egyptian society, they were looked down on and thought of as an abomination.

Joseph’s wisdom about where to place his family came from God. This distance between Israel and the Egyptians was to keep the Israelites from intermingling with the Egyptians and picking up their customs.

Remember that God chose Israel for His own. He did not want them to follow the customs of other cultures because they were set apart and were to be different from all the rest of the world.

Joseph chose five of his brothers to meet with Pharaoh, and he asked them about their occupation. They told Pharaoh they were shepherds just as their fathers were. They stated they needed land for their livestock to graze, because the famine was severe in Canaan.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

Genesis 47:5-6

What favor!

God not only saved Jacob and his family from famine, He took them to another land that was at that time better for them and their livestock. He gave them the best land in Egypt perfectly suited for them and their livestock.

What is it that God is moving around in your life, child of God?

Even if it feels uncomfortable and “way out there,” you can trust Him. He will only give you His very best and provide opportunities you never dreamed of.

The Bible tells us that God even gave Pharaoh, a Gentile, the opportunity to be blessed. Yes, Joseph brought his father in to meet with Pharaoh, and after they spoke to each other, Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

My friends, we are blessed to be a blessing to others.

It doesn’t matter whom we meet, we have the privilege to bless others. This is serving the LORD, this is our mission, this is our calling.

Israel settled in Egypt and became successful and grew greatly in number.

When Jacob was dying, he called Joseph and made him promise that he would not bury him in Egypt, but in Canaan where his fathers were buried.

Jacob told Joseph that his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, although born in Egypt before Jacob came to Egypt, were his (Jacob’s), and any other children born to him would be Joseph’s own. 

So, two Egyptian-born citizens instantly became citizens of Israel and were blessed accordingly with all the other children of Jacob.

Jacob then blessed Joseph and told him that God would be with him and take him back to Canaan where he had a plot of land for him.

Then he called his other sons to bless them and prophesy their future. 

Some received good news and others did not. Those who caused him grief and trouble did not get positive news in Jacob’s blessing. (Genesis 49)

Jacob’s sons are the Twelve Tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, and Joseph.

All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah—the field and the cave that is in it we bought from the Hittites.” When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 49:28-33

Jacob died at the age of 147 years after having lived 17 years in Egypt.

Although Jacob was not perfect and endured some difficulties during his life, he was blessed by God.

He kept the promises of God forever on his mind and believed Him for not only his own life, but the lives of his children, his grandchildren, and his descendants for years to come.

It’s important to note that over 400 years later, one of his descendants from the tribe of Levi, Moses, led the Israelites out of Egypt and into the promised land. The land was divided among the following twelve tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Gad, Dan, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh.

Although Joseph was given land, it was not listed as part of the land of the twelve tribes. The lands of his sons (Ephraim and Manasseh) were.

Levi’s descendants did not inherit land because they served the LORD at the tent of meeting and later in the temple. Some were priests and others were laborers, and their inheritance was the LORD Himself. They received tithes from the congregation and lived in cities among the twelve tribes where they pastured their flocks.

Please join me next for Israel—Chosen by God: A Blessing to All

I have included a song for your listening pleasure and to help you in your walk with God.

“Faithful Still” – KingsPorch

Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 6

On By Carmen3 Comments

In my previous post, Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 5, we learn about some of Jacob’s sorrows after moving to Shechem.

One of these tragedies was the loss of Rachel, the love of his life. She died giving birth to their youngest son, Benjamin.

Jacob loved his children by Rachel as he was older when they were born. If you remember from a previous post, Joseph was the oldest child of Rachel—and he was Jacob’s favorite.

Joseph was hated by his jealous half-brothers because of this. When Joseph was in his teens, Jacob gave him a beautiful robe of many colors which only caused more jealousy. He would often send Joseph out to check on his older brothers when they were working in the field tending to the livestock. One day, Joseph gave his father a bad report about them making their relationship even worse.     

Joseph was a special child to whom God gave the gift of interpreting dreams. One day Joseph told his brothers about one of his dreams in which their sheaves bowed down to his. The dream was prophetically true, but his brothers did not receive it well; they understood that it meant they would bow down to him and he would reign over them.  

It is true that God gives to each of us special talents and gifts, but it’s probably best to not share them with others if it’s going to insult people and make them jealous.

Joseph was around seventeen years of age and had some learning to do.   

Once again, Jacob sent Joseph out into the field to check on his brothers, but this time they decided to get rid of him and sold him to an Ishmaelite caravan that was passing by. They, in turn, sold him into slavery to the Egyptians.

His brothers told their father that he was killed by a wild animal and showed him his robe of many colors ripped and covered in blood.

Just imagine Jacob’s response when he heard this.

And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.” And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

Genesis 37:32-35

Jacob “the deceiver” was deceived by his own sons.

Some years later, there was famine in all the land except for Egypt where they had prepared for the famine by storing up grain seven years prior under Joseph’s command.

Yes, Joseph—Jacob’s beloved son, sold to the Ishmaelites by his brothers some twenty years prior.

Joseph had severe trials while in Egypt, but God was with him, and in time placed him second in command under Pharaoh. Joseph took care of all Pharaoh’s business in Egypt and was responsible for the abundance of grain in Egypt’s storehouses.

When the famine began, the Egyptians purchased grain from Joseph, and then other countries began traveling to Egypt to purchase grain to survive.

When Jacob found out that Egypt had grain for sale, he sent ten of his sons down to Egypt to purchase from them, and his brothers had to purchase from no other but Joseph.

When they met him, they bowed down to him, just as he had dreamed so many years ago.

When God gives us a vision for His purpose, He is faithful to carry it through.

Although they didn’t recognize him, he certainly recognized them, the very ones who sold him into slavery.

He did not let them know who he was and accused them of being spies. They denied being spies and told him that they came from Canaan where their father still lived with their youngest brother.  

Joseph tested his brothers by insisting they were spies and kept Simeon while he sent them away with their grain to bring Benjamin back to prove their story.

They became fearful and while talking among themselves admitted their wrong so many years ago in selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites. They understood that their sin had finally caught up to them.

When we sin, we can be sure that there will be consequences—sometimes immediately, other times it may take years.

The good news is that if we admit our sin and repent, God is faithful to forgive us and He will help us through the consequences.  

When they returned to Canaan and told their father all that had transpired, Jacob was very angry with them for mentioning Benjamin—and he was heartbroken. He was not about to allow Benjamin to go down to Egypt with them, especially being bereaved of Joseph for so many years.  

After some time, they were running out of grain again and Jacob had to allow Benjamin to go to Egypt with them, so Judah took responsibility for bringing Benjamin back to him.

When they returned to Egypt, they were invited to eat with Joseph in his house. They were afraid, but the steward of Joseph’s house put them at ease and brought Simeon out to them.

When Joseph returned home, they came to him and bowed down to him again. Joseph recognized Benjamin and inquired of their father. They told Joseph that their father Jacob was alive and well.

Then Joseph saw Benjamin and asked if he was their youngest brother, and immediately became so emotional that he had to leave the room to find a place to cry. Once he regained composure, he returned and commanded the food be served.

Joseph sat separately from his brothers because it was forbidden for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews. In fact, it was considered an abomination to the Egyptians. 

At their table, they were seated in order of birth, youngest to oldest, and they were amazed at this. In addition, Benjamin, Joseph’s brother by his mother Rachel, was given more food than the others.

Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.

Genesis 43:34

I would have liked to have known what was going on in their minds when this was happening—their reaction to their table setting in birth order, Benjamin being given more food than them, and still, they had no idea who Joseph really was.  

Soon it was time for them to return to Canaan and they all started back with their grain. Joseph tested them once more by placing a silver cup in Benjamin’s sack. Then, he pursued them after they departed and accused them of stealing the silver cup. It was found in Benjamin’s bag, and Judah pleaded with Joseph to hear him out.

Judah tells him about how his father is already broken due to the loss of Benjamin’s brother, and now if he doesn’t return with Benjamin to Canaan, it will be the end of his father.  

Joseph becomes emotional and finally tells his brothers that he is the brother they sold into slavery.

The brothers are in disbelief!

I imagine Joseph saw the fear in their eyes and told them that although they meant to do him harm by their actions twenty years prior, God meant it all for good. And this good was for stored up for that particular day when Joseph could help them in a time of severe hardship.

What an amazing person to forgive such affliction. Joseph had a committed relationship to God and was willing to be used for His purposes no matter how it affected him. He was humbled in his trials in Egypt, and because he remained obedient to God, he was lifted up to a high place of power. In essence, God could trust him to do the right thing.

He tells them that the famine will continue for another five years and he has made provisions for them to travel back to Canaan to bring their father back to Egypt, that they would not succumb to poverty and he would give them all they needed to live in Egypt.

Throughout all the hardship that Jacob and Joseph endured, God had a plan. It was to preserve and strengthen Israel, to allow Israel to grow in number, and to give Israel only the best.

They could not have known all this at the time of their suffering, but God knew. He was behind the scenes working everything for the good of his chosen people. (Romans 8:28) 

We serve an amazing God!

Join me next week for the rest of Jacob’s story in Israel—Chosen by God: Jacob – Part 7.

Below is a song about how God takes care of us through trials that serve to build faith in us.

May it bless you while you walk with God.

“Good to Me” – Rhett Walker