Genesis 46
Jacob Goes to Egypt
1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
3
“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go
down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”
5
Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob
and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to
transport him. 6 So Jacob
and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock
and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.
8 These are the names of the sons of Israel (Jacob and his descendants) who went to Egypt:
Reuben the firstborn of Jacob.
9 The sons of Reuben:
Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.
Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.
10 The sons of Simeon:
Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
11 The sons of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
Gershon, Kohath and Merari.
12 The sons of Judah:
Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan).
The sons of Perez:
Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan).
The sons of Perez:
Hezron and Hamul.
13 The sons of Issachar:
Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.
Tola, Puah, Jashub and Shimron.
14 The sons of Zebulun:
Sered, Elon and Jahleel.
Sered, Elon and Jahleel.
15 These were the sons Leah bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, besides his daughter Dinah. These sons and daughters of his were thirty-three in all.
16 The sons of Gad:
Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.
Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi and Areli.
17 The sons of Asher:
Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah.
Their sister was Serah.
The sons of Beriah:
Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi and Beriah.
Their sister was Serah.
The sons of Beriah:
Heber and Malkiel.
18 These were the children born to Jacob by Zilpah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Leah—sixteen in all.
19 The sons of Jacob’s wife Rachel:
Joseph and Benjamin. 20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
Joseph and Benjamin. 20 In Egypt, Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
21 The sons of Benjamin:
Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.
Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim and Ard.
22 These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob—fourteen in all.
23 The son of Dan:
Hushim.
Hushim.
24 The sons of Naphtali:
Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.
Jahziel, Guni, Jezer and Shillem.
25 These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah, whom Laban had given to his daughter Rachel—seven in all.
26
All those who went to Egypt with Jacob—those who were his direct
descendants, not counting his sons’ wives—numbered sixty-six persons. 27 With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.
28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29
Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father
Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around
his father and wept for a long time.
30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.”
31
Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will
go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my
father’s household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to
me. 32 The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34
you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our
boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle
in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the
Egyptians.”
vs 33-34: Jospeh's family finally came to Egypt, but to settle down in their land was a daring and risky thing to do. For one thing, they were Hebrews, whom they Egyptians hated. For another, their main occupations were shepherding, which was all the more considered a lowly job to have amongst the Egyptians... probably something close to a cleaner in Singapore's context.
Joseph told the family they had to humble themselves and tell the Pharaoh that they were shepherds so they could stay in Goshen outside the city (I think Joseph was living nearer there too, taking care of crops and stocks). How painful to be as outcasts just to have land to be reunited with the family and have food. My focus on the careers though, that even God could use their lowly status as a means to further his plan-->the Hebrews would grow to become a nation under Israel in Egypt before being brought back to Canaan, as God promised. (vs 3-4).
APPLICATION: At times the only job available would be the one everyone doesn't want, but when God can use it as a blessing, he definitely has a bigger purpose for us. I need to find that part-time job in school, though for a grueling six months of work, but at least I can get my mum off my back and still evangelise around campus. *sssssssssh =))
