Arrangements
Read This Week: Genesis 47
Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years. When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.” – Genesis 47:28-30 NIV
Now that there has been reconciliation within his family, the time has come for an introduction to Pharaoh. In verses 1-4, Joseph informs Pharaoh that his father and brothers have arrived from Canaan and settled in Goshen. He introduces his brothers to the Egyptian ruler, and the response is positive. He offered them the best land in Goshen and even suggested they take charge of his livestock if they were skilled shepherds. Joseph then brings his father before Pharaoh. Jacob blesses him, and they briefly discuss Jacob’s age and life. Jacob mentions that his years have been few and challenging compared to those of his ancestors.
Joseph then takes an extra step of compassion and love toward his brothers and father. He ensures they are well provided for during the famine, settling them in the best part of the land and supplying them with food. As the famine worsens, the people of Egypt and Canaan spend all their money on grain. When their money runs out, they come to Joseph for help. He arranges for grain to be traded for livestock, thus keeping the population fed. He then shows his great wisdom and ingenuity by instituting a policy where the people give Pharaoh a fifth of their produce while keeping four-fifths for themselves. The Egyptians agree, recognizing that Joseph has saved their lives.
The next scene of this chapter is both poignant and powerful. It is the account of Jacob’s last days and his arrangements for his own burial. He says in verses 28-30:
Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.”
Jacob and his family prosper in Egypt, and he lives there for 17 years, reaching the age of 147. As he nears death, Jacob makes Joseph swear to bury him in his ancestral burial place in Canaan, not Egypt. Joseph agrees in a touching moment between a father and a son who had long been apart. Then Jacob turns and does what his ancestors had done before him in their capitulating moments; he worshiped God.
Genesis 47 showcases God’s providential care for His people through Joseph. Despite the severe famine, Jacob’s family is provided for and protected. This reminds us that God often works through human agents and circumstances to fulfill His promises and care for His people. Joseph’s economic policies demonstrate his wisdom and administrative skills. He manages resources effectively to ensure the survival of Egypt and his family. Leaders today can learn from Joseph’s foresight, integrity, and ability to adapt to changing circumstances.
More importantly, and as we have studied repeatedly in this account, we can trust in Father God’s provision and care even in times of crisis. Just as the Lord used Joseph to provide for his family, He can use various means to meet our needs. Joseph’s example encourages us to manage our resources wisely and prepare for future challenges. Strategic planning and ethical management can help us navigate difficult times.
As we live in a world among those far from God, maintaining respectful and positive relationships with people can lead to mutual benefit and peace. Approaching interactions with humility and honor can also pave the way for opportunities to share the love of Christ and His gospel with those who desperately need it. This posture and attitude are especially important in a rapidly changing world where values and traditions can be easily lost.
Genesis Chapter 47 Verse 27
And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they gained possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly.
~Blessings and Rewards~
God Is Saying To Me:
I am righteous and just in my timing and fulfillments. I promised Jacob that I would go down to Egypt with him and this promise is coming to fruition. There is no reason to fret or worry because I will provide for you, bless you and keep my promises to you just like I did for Jacob. Stay close to me. Follow my lead. Remain obedient and your family will prosper, becoming productive and being blessed beyond measure while others falter, become oppressed and lose their footing with me.
What This Means To Me:
1. God is faithful and just to keep his promise, prospering and blessing those that stay on track, seek His heart and wisdom and respond rapidly.
2. Keep our eyes and hearts focused on remaining obedient in times of question, because God blesses the deserving and the undeserving through us and our commitment to Him. Be on your best Godly behavior for Him and those around you because others are watching.
3. Don’t focus on the unfulfilled ways of the world. Focus your attention on God’s favor and blessings and everything will fall into place!
Have you heard the saying about storing up for a rainy day? How about, “a penny saved is a penny earned”?
Learning to save and invest what God gives you when you can is wisdom.
When you’ve gone through hard times and didn’t have much money, did you reflect back on when you were making money and wish you would have saved more?
Using wisdom and having foresight helps us prepare in times of plenty for the times to come.
There are seasons in life, and recognizing this helps us to do well in all seasons.
We have gone through seasons where we prepared, and seasons where we did not. Learning this has made a big difference in my life, and it’s something we all should learn and practice. Because the seasons of life will change, that is for sure.
1. Learn to do the right things, honoring the people around you.
2. Learn to store up during plentiful seasons and prepare for lean seasons.
3. Seek God’s wisdom when negotiating and don’t give in to fear. God has an infinite number of ways to solve your challenges.
PODCAST
This Week in the Life: Genesis 47
For the best experience, we suggest you listen to the first song, the message, and the second song.
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2. Sunday Message: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240602-Message.wav
3. Sunday Worship – Second Song: https://reachchurch.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/20240602-Worship2.wav
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In Genesis 47: 7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and presented him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh
And in 47: 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.
Even thou pharaoh was a leader of Egypt he didn’t know God.
Jacob had a relationship with Father God.
Jacob was being grateful and returning a blessing for Pharaoh’s kindness.
I see him being thankful. That’s encouraging and ministering because of Father God’s love.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we must remember we are chosen, we are children of God and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us.
We can stand before anyone and God can use us to bless someone for blessing us and we could lead them to Jesus, it’s a blessing when they see Jesus in our hearts, Father God’s love.
God was saying to me
It’s always good to bless someone who blesses you because you don’t know the outcome but I do!
It’s important to do your part in all situations, for others to see your heart, a thankful and a heart that is grateful.
That’s what draws others to me.
What this means to me is blessings are big!
Having a grateful and thankful heart is blessing Father God’s heart!
Only God knows the end so we want to bless others with God ‘s heart and hopefully we got to be an apart of someone giving their heart to Jesus!
Thank you Father for opportunity’s to bless others with your kindness and your love❤️
Love you Father God, Jesus and your Holy Spirit ❤️️
This week in Genesis Chapter 47 I got a song
Seeking you
we want to seek you we want to seek you we want to seek you through all things. All things are possible with our Lord.We are blessed blessed because we believe we believe in our Lord, we all are on a journey a special journey with our Lord we are trusting believing obeying our Lord knowing his way is the only way we desire to seek You seek you we desire to see you every minute of every day We are blessed blessed because of your grace and mercy. Amen
we are blessed because we know we need you in our life’s and all things are possible with you thank you Lord, for guiding us through being there through it all Amen