GENESIS 46
26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 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. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 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 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.’ 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 fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
– Genesis 46:26-34
GENESIS 46 FATHER AND SON REUNITED
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
After Israel journeyed towards Egypt with all his household
He finally arrived in Goshen where they are to settle
Then Joseph came to meet his father whom he hasn’t seen for years
He wept on his father’s neck long enough as they were reunited
Then Joseph sent his brothers ahead of him to tell Pharaoh
They were to report to him that their men were shepherds
Since shepherds were disgrace to the Egyptians
Pharaoh had to know so they could stay in the land of Goshen.
It must have been a relief to both Joseph and Israel to see each other again after many years of absence. In this account, we witness God’s plan for Joseph’s life fulfilled from the dream he gave him. He was sold to slavery so that he can be in authority in Egypt so that the promise of God to Abraham’s offspring will be fulfilled. The remnants of Israel are now taken care of to be preserved in the land of Goshen.
REFLECTION
- How is Joseph’s life instrumental for God’s covenant promise to be fulfilled?
