Genesis Chapter 47

GENESIS 

CHAPTER

 47

1. So Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; they are now in the land of Goshen."

(Genesis chapter 47 verse 1)

Joseph went to the Pharaoh to give him the good news of his family's arrival. As Christians we are also to spread the 'Good News' of God's Word to others. In order to deal with the existing bias that dictated that foreigners especially shepherds do not mingle with Egyptians, Joseph obtained the Pharaoh's permission for his family to live in the land of Goshen, which was a secluded area in Egypt.

2. From among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3. Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were." 4. They said to Pharaoh, "We have come to reside as aliens in the land: for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, we ask you, let your servants settle in the land of Goshen."

(Genesis chapter 2 to 4)

On reflecting I imagine myself before God as in an interview where I will be asked to give an account of all that I have done in my life. All the good things skills and knowledge that I have acquired and how much I have utilised them in order to be of help to others.



5. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6. The land of Egypt is before you: settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know that there are capable men among them put them in charge of my livestock."

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 5 to 6)


When reflecting on verses 5 to 6 I hear the echo of God's voice on meeting us in heaven at the end of our earthly life. It is as if He is saying, "Okay my friend now that you have finished your pilgrimage on earth you can go and dwell in heaven. You were humble and obedient on earth and now you can dwell humbly in heaven.


7. Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob, and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8. Pharaoh said to Jacob. "How many are the years of your life?" 9. Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The years of my earthly sojourn are one hundred thirty, few and hard have been the years of my life. They do not compare with the years of my ancestors during their long sojourn."

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 7 to 9)


On reflecting the dialogue between Jacob and the Pharaoh was rather brief and simplistic, however there is more than one can perceive at a first glance. It is as if Jacob is saying to the Pharaoh, do not be impressed by my appearance because appearances are deceptive. My age is nothing when compared to that of my ancestors. I have not matched their age on earth.

In order to refer back to the lifespan of Jacob or Israel's lifespan and moreover that of his ancestors please refer to the following exhibit that is cited from the book of Genesis Chapter 25 of this Analysis:

Ishmael lived for 137 years

Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 year

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years

Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.

Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.

Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.

Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.

Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.

Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years

Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years

Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.

Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.

Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years

Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.

Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.

Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.

Isaac 60 years old when fathering children

Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.

(Genesis Chapter 25 of this Bible analysis)


According to this detailed analysis that I compiled throughout my reflection on the book of Genesis, Abraham died at the age of 175, thus Jacob was absolutely correct when saying that his age does not compare with that of his ancestors.


10. Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and granted them a holding in the land of Egypt, in the best part of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had instructed. 12. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 10 to 12) 


As Joseph provided the best part of the land of Egypt, so will God provide us with the best of his providence both on earth and even better in heaven. It is worth noting that in reality it was God who had provided the family with that particular holding in the land of Egypt. It is also worth noting that God does not waste his resources. He provided Joseph's family according to their needs and not in surplus more than their needs.


13. Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 14. Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 13 to 14)


During times of crisis we may also languish in our sorrows, especially if we do not have a healthy relationship with God. We end up feeling so insecure and afraid that all our securities become at risk. We end up trading our spiritual security resources such as our faith in God and the blessings that He gives to us by means of the Roman Catholic Church in order to acquire worldly resources both in services such as worldly counselling legal aid etc, which may not solve the problem at all.


15. When the money from the land of Egypt and from the land of Canaan was spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, "Give us food! Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone."

(Genesis chapter 47 verse 15)


When the material resources had been exhausted the people of Egypt and Canaan went to Joseph for more food. The resources of this world seem to satisfy our needs on different levels, however in truth our real need is that of God in our lives and no resource of the world, can ever satisfy this need, therefore when we are away from God we are always hungry, because the world can never satisfy all our needs, therefore we are always lacking on one level or another.


16. And Joseph answered, "Give me your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone." 17. So they brought their livestock to Joseph; and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. That year he supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 16 to 17)


On reflecting although the people of Egypt and Canaan were becoming plentiful in grain and supplies with which they could nourish themselves, in truth they were becoming poorer than ever. The world gives us many resources but never without a price. Generally the price that we end up paying is that of our spiritual welfare as in prayer or prayer time, which we either quit altogether or reduce to a minimum in order to spend more time in work,  full time  along with part time in order to support our luxuries.


18. When that year was ended, they came to him the following year, and said to him, "We can not hide from my lord that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. 19. Shall we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We with our land will become slaves to Pharaoh; just give us seed, so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate."

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 18 to 19)


 When at the peak of our crisis the only thing that is left is our souls and selves, that can also be traded to the forces of evil, and then Satan will have full possession and control over us. In such instances we become totally worldly.


20. So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. All the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe upon them, and the land became Pharaoh's. 21 As for the people, he made slaves of them from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh, and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 20 to 22)


It is very interesting to observe that when dealing with such a crisis, the affairs of the state, in this case 'Egypt' did not conflict, harm or negatively discriminate against the spiritual order, represented by the Egyptian priests. Respect was given duly to what was divine, which is more than what can be said to the current world situation, where secularism is always on the increase, along with the introduction of legislation that in content dictates concept that go against the will of God.


 23. Then Joseph said to the people, "Now that I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh, here is seed for you; sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give one fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones."

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 23 to 24)


In order to continue ensuring revenue from the people to support the financial economic system in Egypt and Canaan, Joseph imposed the law that one fifth of all produce was to be given to the state. On reflecting as Christians,  as civil servants we have our obligations and duties to the state, however we also have our duties and obligations to God which are to be treated and considered as being on the same level.


25. They said, "You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be slaves to Pharaoh."26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. The land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 25 to 26)


As humans we tend to make heroes and declare as our saviours, any body or creature that or who has done an act of courage or bravery, on behalf of somebody else. On the other hand God gave us his only Son to save us from eternal damnation, and we still take Him for granted and deny Him the honour and praise and worship that is entitled to Him as being our one and only ultimate hero.


27. Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen; and they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly. 28. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life were one hundred forty-seven years.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 27 to 28)

It seems that God remained faithful with Jacob and his family while in Egypt, so that God's plan for us through his chosen people could continue to unfold and thus lead to our salvation by means of the birth of Jesus Christ.

When updating the previous exhibit that portrays the days lived by each of the patriarchs Jacob is in the following position;

Ishmael lived for 137 years

Jacob lived 147 years

Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 year

Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years

Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.

Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.

Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.

Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.

Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.

Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years

Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years

Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.

Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.

Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years

Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.

Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.

Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.

Isaac 60 years old when fathering children

Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.

(Genesis Chapter 25 of this Bible Analysis)


29. When the time of Israel's death drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, " If I have found favor with you, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal loyally and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt. 30. When I lie down with my ancestors, carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place." He answered, " I will do as you have said." 31. And he said, "Swear to me"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the head of his bed.

(Genesis chapter 47 verses 29 to 31)


The wish of a dying father. Jacob as if treated his son Joseph as if he was a stranger. This is proved by the fact that Jacob bound Joseph by means of a promise. According to Jacob he was to be buried in the cave of Machpelah, the same place where Abraham and his descendants had been buried. Some parents make it hard on their sons and daughters during this critical time of their lives some parents force their children not to marry that person or on the contrary marry that person whom they do not love at all.


I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:


Thank You God for all the tribulations that you permit me to endure. I would also thank you for making me as I am with both my strengths and my weaknesses. Thank You for being my God and for being present during such moments. Thank You for all the resources that You give me, your love and generosity are non comparable. I would like to pray for those who put their souls in danger and even the well being of their children in order to get their way or achieve financial rewards such as betting or gambling. I pray for all the families of the world. This World Cup may be the cause of happiness to some people but a means of sorrow and poverty to others. Alot of money is being betted on these games which could have been put to better use for the good of the same family. I pray for such people, that if they lose their bets their time of famine or poverty will not be long and that you will still intervene on their behalf. Even if only one of these persons still believes in You my God please have mercy on the others.

Thank You God