GENESIS
CHAPTER
46
1. When Israel set out on his journey with all that he had and
came to Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 1)
When Jacob went on his journey/ On arriving at Beer-Sheba he made a Sacrificial to God in thanksgiving, who had never stopped being faithful to him and his descendants who had inherited the promise starting from Abraham. Today we are subject to gift offerings to each other, however when it comes to thanking God, we hardly give Him the bare minimum in service to others, spending time with significant who may need our support or others such as people living in homes for the elderly or in hospitals. When offering our time to such people, we are offering our gift to God.
2. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am."
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 2)
As in previous case God spoke to Jacob in a dream. Jacob who had now become close with God responded that he was present and available to his will. One might say God has never spoken to me by means of a dream. I am a living witness that He actually does, so much that since then my whole life has changed and has never stopped changing. God manifests himself to us by many means. Since He has no limitations of time and space God can be everywhere at any time. He can speak to us, for instance, by means of his Word, this blog, significant people such as teachers, priests, spiritual directors etc and even by means of our family.
3. Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 3)
By means of this dream God comforted Jacob by confirming His true identity and that Jacob was not to be afraid because what God was asking of him was the fulfilment of the Will of God. This declaration meant that the promise that had been passed on to Abraham and his forefathers was now going to be fulfilled by means of his generation. After having waited for such a long time for this revelation the moment had finally come.
4. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's own hand shall close your eyes."
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 4)
God revealed to Jacob what was to become of him and his generation. His family and their descendants were to go down to Egypt. However their stay was not to be permanent. There would come the time when God would lead them out of Egypt again. Moreover God shared with Jacob that while in Egypt, Jacob would spend the last moments of his life and that Joseph would declare him as being dead. In order for us to continue growing as humans and as children of God He permits us to endure moments of tribulation and trials, that may even place our physical and spiritual welfare at stake but never in total danger. God promises to save us from such situations, even if we are wounded or scarred as a consequence.
5. Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6. They also took their livestock and the goods that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
(Genesis chapter 46 verses 5 to 7)
In response to God's revelation in the dream Jacob felt empowered and responded positively to the will of God. Jacob took everything he had, meaning, his sons their wives livestock and went to Egypt on the vehicles that the Pharaoh had given him to fulfil such purpose.
8. Now these are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to Egypt. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn,
(Genesis chapter 46 verses 8 to 27)
All the people travelling with Jacob, who came into Egypt were sixty six including his offspring’s. Jacob and his sons, were seventy when they came into Egypt. In order to recapitulate the author of this chapter Mr Deevain Ajit Pawar gives us the following summary in order to help refresh our memory of the works of God with Jacob. While reflecting we can look back on our lives and reflect on our personal experience of God and His works.
As we reflected in the previous chapters, Jacob was sent by his father far away to avoid his brother's wrath and he was alone there at Laban's house where he endured alot of pain and anguish due to Laban's avaricious attitude and behaviour. In time God continued to increase Jacob's descendants. Although as a family they encountered many difficulties as in the case of the rape of Dinah God remained faithful to His predicaments and promises. On having been separated from his beloved son Joseph due to Jacob's preferential treatment God permitted Joseph to end up in Egypt in order to pave the way for his family and their future descendants. On the other hand God informed Jacob or Israel as he was later called that he would die in Egypt and that Joseph would declare him as being dead. However, this would be the beginning and no the end, for God also promised Jacob that He would lead them out of Egypt.
God also acts in the same way in our life. He permits us to endure trials and tribulations, ad even to embark on personal projects, or meet particular people for special reasons that at the given time we may not understand why, however in time God shows us His reason to sustain our understanding and belief.
In order to get a detailed picture of the size of Jacob's descendants before going down to Egypt please refer to the following exhibit:
28. Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 28)
Jacob upon reaching land of Goshen sent Judah ahead of the family i8n order to lead the way to the land of Goshen. One may question Jacob's reasons for having sent Judah to lead the way. It could be that since Jacob was a foreigner to the land he did not know the way. Moreover due to his weak condition Jacob could not lead the way. During the course of our lives not everybody is a leader. There are leaders and followers and both are equally of value. In the spiritual life we also need somebody to guide us along the way.
29. Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 29)
At long last Joseph met the person whom he had been waiting to meet for such a long time. This was his father Jacob. It had been a long time since he had been befriended from his father and mother due to the circumstances that had taken place between Joseph and his brothers. On the same line of thought we can also the happiness expressed by God on meeting us at the moment of our end of our life on earth.
30. Israel said to Joseph, "I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive."
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 30)
After seeing Joseph Jacob then says that now that he had seen Joseph again he was ready to die peacefully. On reflecting what is that situation or person in life that gratifies our soul.
31. Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.' 33. When Pharaoh calls you, and says, 'What is your occupation?'34 you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors'- in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians."
(Genesis chapter 46 verses 31 to 34)
In the given circumstances Joseph uses his knowledge of the land along with its customs likes and dislikes in favour of his family, so that they could settle down in a location where they would not be bothered by the pagan Egyptians and their pagan rites with which he was now familiar. Using our intelligence is no sin. On planning his strategy before the Pharaoh Joseph did not fabricate a lie regarding the occupation of his family but said the plain truth.
2. God spoke to Israel in visions of the night, and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am."
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 2)
As in previous case God spoke to Jacob in a dream. Jacob who had now become close with God responded that he was present and available to his will. One might say God has never spoken to me by means of a dream. I am a living witness that He actually does, so much that since then my whole life has changed and has never stopped changing. God manifests himself to us by many means. Since He has no limitations of time and space God can be everywhere at any time. He can speak to us, for instance, by means of his Word, this blog, significant people such as teachers, priests, spiritual directors etc and even by means of our family.
3. Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 3)
By means of this dream God comforted Jacob by confirming His true identity and that Jacob was not to be afraid because what God was asking of him was the fulfilment of the Will of God. This declaration meant that the promise that had been passed on to Abraham and his forefathers was now going to be fulfilled by means of his generation. After having waited for such a long time for this revelation the moment had finally come.
4. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again; and Joseph's own hand shall close your eyes."
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 4)
God revealed to Jacob what was to become of him and his generation. His family and their descendants were to go down to Egypt. However their stay was not to be permanent. There would come the time when God would lead them out of Egypt again. Moreover God shared with Jacob that while in Egypt, Jacob would spend the last moments of his life and that Joseph would declare him as being dead. In order for us to continue growing as humans and as children of God He permits us to endure moments of tribulation and trials, that may even place our physical and spiritual welfare at stake but never in total danger. God promises to save us from such situations, even if we are wounded or scarred as a consequence.
5. Then Jacob set out from Beer-sheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6. They also took their livestock and the goods that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and they came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters; all his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
(Genesis chapter 46 verses 5 to 7)
In response to God's revelation in the dream Jacob felt empowered and responded positively to the will of God. Jacob took everything he had, meaning, his sons their wives livestock and went to Egypt on the vehicles that the Pharaoh had given him to fulfil such purpose.
8. Now these are the names of the Israelites, Jacob and his offspring, who came to Egypt. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn,
(Genesis chapter 46 verses 8 to 27)
All the people travelling with Jacob, who came into Egypt were sixty six including his offspring’s. Jacob and his sons, were seventy when they came into Egypt. In order to recapitulate the author of this chapter Mr Deevain Ajit Pawar gives us the following summary in order to help refresh our memory of the works of God with Jacob. While reflecting we can look back on our lives and reflect on our personal experience of God and His works.
As we reflected in the previous chapters, Jacob was sent by his father far away to avoid his brother's wrath and he was alone there at Laban's house where he endured alot of pain and anguish due to Laban's avaricious attitude and behaviour. In time God continued to increase Jacob's descendants. Although as a family they encountered many difficulties as in the case of the rape of Dinah God remained faithful to His predicaments and promises. On having been separated from his beloved son Joseph due to Jacob's preferential treatment God permitted Joseph to end up in Egypt in order to pave the way for his family and their future descendants. On the other hand God informed Jacob or Israel as he was later called that he would die in Egypt and that Joseph would declare him as being dead. However, this would be the beginning and no the end, for God also promised Jacob that He would lead them out of Egypt.
God also acts in the same way in our life. He permits us to endure trials and tribulations, ad even to embark on personal projects, or meet particular people for special reasons that at the given time we may not understand why, however in time God shows us His reason to sustain our understanding and belief.
In order to get a detailed picture of the size of Jacob's descendants before going down to Egypt please refer to the following exhibit:
Reuben
|
4
sons
|
Simeon
|
6
Sons
|
Levi
|
3
Sons
|
Judah
|
5
Sons
|
Perez
|
2
Sons
|
Issachar
|
4 Sons
|
Zebulun
|
3 Sons
|
Dinah and Leah
|
33 Sons
|
Gad
|
7 Sons
|
Asher
|
5 Sons
|
Beriah
|
2 Sons
|
Joseph
|
2 Sons
|
Benjamin
|
11 Sons
|
Dan
|
1 Son
|
Naphtali
|
4 Sons
|
28. Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph to lead the way before him into Goshen. When they came to the land of Goshen,
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 28)
Jacob upon reaching land of Goshen sent Judah ahead of the family i8n order to lead the way to the land of Goshen. One may question Jacob's reasons for having sent Judah to lead the way. It could be that since Jacob was a foreigner to the land he did not know the way. Moreover due to his weak condition Jacob could not lead the way. During the course of our lives not everybody is a leader. There are leaders and followers and both are equally of value. In the spiritual life we also need somebody to guide us along the way.
29. Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 29)
At long last Joseph met the person whom he had been waiting to meet for such a long time. This was his father Jacob. It had been a long time since he had been befriended from his father and mother due to the circumstances that had taken place between Joseph and his brothers. On the same line of thought we can also the happiness expressed by God on meeting us at the moment of our end of our life on earth.
30. Israel said to Joseph, "I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive."
(Genesis chapter 46 verse 30)
After seeing Joseph Jacob then says that now that he had seen Joseph again he was ready to die peacefully. On reflecting what is that situation or person in life that gratifies our soul.
31. Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.' 33. When Pharaoh calls you, and says, 'What is your occupation?'34 you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors'- in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians."
(Genesis chapter 46 verses 31 to 34)
In the given circumstances Joseph uses his knowledge of the land along with its customs likes and dislikes in favour of his family, so that they could settle down in a location where they would not be bothered by the pagan Egyptians and their pagan rites with which he was now familiar. Using our intelligence is no sin. On planning his strategy before the Pharaoh Joseph did not fabricate a lie regarding the occupation of his family but said the plain truth.
I
would like to end the chapter with the following prayer:
God
your are a humble, loving and kind father who has done a lot for humanity. You keep on caring for us up to this very day. When I see the world, I feel sad, especially, when I see people, who still do not believe in you and neglecting even though, you have done a lot for them.
Thank you God for everything.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment