Genesis 45-48

In Genesis 45, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his brothers, a very dramatic moment indeed. We also have revealed to us God’s purpose in all of this as he has been working behind the scenes. Joseph says to his brothers, “For God sent me before you to preserve life…. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God.”

One can understand how Joseph would see the good hand of God in his circumstances since he was enjoying prosperity in Egypt. The harder thing to do is to keep this same perspective upon God and our lives when things are not going so well, when we, like Joseph, end up in slavery, or prison, or other hard circumstances. During such times it is hard to believe or even remember that “all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

In addition to this spiritual lesson, drawn from Joseph’s life story, we get, in the midst of the story, some nice literary touches. For example, when Joseph sends his brothers to retrieve their father and bring him to Egypt, Joseph says to his brothers, “Do not quarrel along the way.” Joseph is acting, not only as a “father to Pharaoh” (45:8) but as a father to his brothers.

At the beginning of chapter 46, we see Jacob continuing to worship the Lord in the midst of his rollercoaster-like life journey. Intriguingly, Jacob offers sacrifices to “the God of his father Isaac”. Was this not Jacob’s God as well? I presume this is merely a formal way of referring to God. However, does the phrase not reveal something of which we all need to be careful? There is the danger, especially among people whose parents have faithfully worshiped the Lord, that they will see this as "enough". There is the danger that we might really begin to believe that being born to believing parents makes us believers. However, as Luis Palau says, “God has no grandchildren.” Every individual needs to establish a personal relationship with the Lord.

It seems evident to me from Jacob’s entire life story, and from this little exchange, that he did indeed have a personal relationship with God. Not only does he offer sacrifices to the Lord, but the Lord speaks to him personally. Is it not interesting that quite often when the Lord speaks to people in Genesis he has to first tell them: “Do not be afraid.”? Unhealthy fear of God, and fear of life itself, worry, seem to be extremely common problems for us as human beings. Yet, God in his grace answers our need and calms our fears by telling us that he will be with us all along our life’s journey.

The rest of chapter 46 gives us another genealogy, this time listing the names of all the Israelites who go down to Egypt, seventy in all. This is quite a small number compared to the large number of Israelites who will leave Egypt in the exodus four hundred years later.

Another intriguing numerical comment comes in chapter 47 when Jacob tells Pharaoh that he is 130 years old but that his years have been few and hard. A 130-year lifespan could hardly have seemed short to the first audience of this story, just as it seems extremely long to us.

Also in chapter 47, we have a brief reference to the land of Ramses. There were in fact eleven Egyptian Pharaohs given this name. This, most likely, was a reference to Ramses II who reigned from 1279-1213 BC. His name appears as an anachronism in this story.

Towards the end of chapter 47, we have a reference to the Israelites being fruitful and multiplying exceedingly. As mentioned previously, it was certainly important for a small, struggling nation like Israel to be fruitful and to multiply, otherwise they might easily be wiped out. Thus, “fruitful and multiplying” becomes a sub-theme of this book.

At the end of chapter 47, we have what is to us the unusual custom of “putting one’s hand under the thigh” of another person to swear an oath. Some Rabbis think that “thigh” here is a euphemism for testicles. Others think that “thigh” means thigh. In either case, this was a common manner for swearing a solemn oath.

Finally, in chapter 48 we have Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. In an unusual gesture, Jacob crosses his hands and puts his right hand on the younger grandson, Ephraim, thus giving to him the blessing that would normally belong to the older grandson. This action echoes the fact that Jacob was the younger one in his family yet received, by deception, the blessing that should have belonged to his older brother Esau. Apparently, Jacob did not learn his lesson with Joseph; thus, Jacob is still showing favoritism. Ah well, I suppose it takes a lifetime, and maybe longer, to learn certain lessons well.

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