A number of years ago as a family we faced a decision. Do we stay in Tasmania so I could become the pastor of one of the Tasmanian Reformed churches, or do we move back to Melbourne, back home, but without any surety of a call to any congregation. After much debate we decided to move back to Melbourne, even though I had no immediate pastoral prospects and my wife was pregnant with our first because we believed that God was not calling us to stay. It was a major change that filled us with both fear and a bit of hope. That’s what I think Jacob feels in Genesis 46. He is about to leave the land of promise and go down to Egypt. Not that I think Tassie is the land of promise (although I am sure some of you reading this disagree!). But for Jacob it would have felt exciting because his beloved son Joseph was alive, but it would also be terrifying. He is leaving the promised land. What would happen to God’s promises now? Let’s have a look.
Genesis 46 (ESV)
So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”
So Jacob is old, and the thought of leaving Canaan must have felt like leaving behind God’s covenant. After all, Jacob inherited the Covenant promises “I will give you a land, I will make you into a great nation, I will bless all the nations through you”. Sure he had a good beginning on a great nation (12 sons and many grand children), but now he was giving up the land, and who knew how the blessing to all the nations would play out?
But the Lord speaks directly to him: “Do not be afraid.” Why? Because God promises that “I myself will go down with you.” And He promises His faithfulness to his covenant promises. He will bring the Israelites back to this land again. God will be with his people wherever they go, and this will not undo his covenant promises.
Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
The whole family moves to Egypt, along with everything they had. Nothing is left behind. The proto-nation of Israel, seventy people in all, go down to Egypt. Now this might feel odd, but God would use this move to bring about a great salvation. This group of 70 would become 1 million within a relatively short amount of time. This small group is just God is planting His people in a foreign land, where they will grow into a nation. Sometimes we have to be transplanted into new soil to grow.
Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons… (insert a long list of names you are welcome to read for yourself here)…
All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.
I have come to really appreciate the lists and genealogies in the Bible. Even though they don’t mean much to us today, they nevertheless remind us that God knows every family, every child, every household. To us, it might read like a genealogy to skim over, much as we have, but to God’s people it is a record of His covenant faithfulness. Every name in this list would have played a part in setting up and becoming the nation of Israel.
He sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 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. And 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.’ When Pharaoh calls you and says, What is your occupation?’ you shall say, Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
After decades of grief Jacob sees Joseph alive and now he is ready to die. The hug is long, the tears are many. Jacob says, “Now I can die, since I have seen your face.” It’s the sigh of a man who finally has peace. Yet even here, the story points beyond Joseph. One day, we too will see the face of the greater Son, the risen Lord Jesus. One day we will be reunited with the ultimate Father, and let out a sigh of relief as he says “Well done, good and faithful servant”. I long for that day. Do you?
Prayer
Father, thank You that You go with us into every unknown. Thank You that You keep Your promises, even when we feel small or afraid. Forgive us for doubting You, for clinging too tightly to our own plans. Teach us to trust that Your presence is enough. Give us hope as we wait for the day when we see the face of Christ and are finally home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.