Genesis 47

Father, thank you for your Word. We thank you that You have anointed Your Word to change and transform our lives and edify our relationship with You in the name of Jesus, Amen.

In Genesis chapter 47, Joseph's family has officially arrived in Egypt. They receive a warm welcome from Pharaoh. In fact in Genesis 47:10, we see Jacob blessing Pharaoh. As much as Pharaoh was king of Egypt, Israel's covenant with God as the blessed one qualified him to bless Pharaoh. Pharaoh also gives Joseph the liberty to place his people in any land in Egypt that he deems best for their settlement. Joseph settled his family in the land of Goshen. Genesis 47:11-12 NKJV says, "And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Then Joseph provided for his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with bread, according to the number in their families."

In addition, the Egyptian people at the time were not predominantly herdsmen, Pharaoh was open to making any competent men in Joseph's family herdsmen over his livestock as well (Genesis 47:6). For a season filled with lack and famine, Joseph and his family were not doing too badly at all!

When I read this chapter, I see God's goodness towards His people highlighted in various ways. In this post, I'll mention two. The first thing that comes to my observation is God's faithfulness towards Israel. The entire time he thought his son, Joseph had died, God not only kept his son safely in a foreign land but also ensured that he would be the deliverer and redeemer of his family's posterity. When God had re assured Israel and told him to head to Egypt for His presence would be with him and that Joseph would cover his eyes before his departure to heaven, you would imagine that meant that Israel's time on earth was short. But no, Genesis 47:28 NKJV tells us, "And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, So the length of Jacob's life was one hundred and forty-seven years old." God faithfully and abundantly added Israel strength and years to enable him enjoy and spend an extra seventeen (17) years in the land of Egypt with his sons. Psalm 91:16 NKJV testifies to this truth and it reads, "With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

The second thing that comes to my observation is God's infinite wisdom and powerful nature. Proverbs 26:4 AMP reads, "The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil." Nothing is truly past his understanding. What may look like a negative situation is ultimately working in your favor because you are God's child. God's providence and power for His people was revealed during a time of lack and scarcity. The main part of this sentence is God's child. A child of God is one who has a relationship with God, the Father through His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. When you are God's child, it is literally heaven's agenda to see to it that your steps are ordered to enable you behold the same victory that Christ obtained on your behalf when He conquered sin, death, hell and the grave after He had died on the cross, rose from the dead and ascended to heaven in glory.

The LORD God gives a powerful reminder in Isaiah 54:15 NKJV, "Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake." - Amen, thank you LORD.

Child of God, it is well with you in the name of Jesus.

Invitation to salvation: I invite you to make this confession that invites you to new covenant of love that is found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ where we get to have a personal relationship with God, the Father where His heart to lead and guide you as His child is found when you choose Jesus Christ, His only Son as your Lord and Saviour.

Please speak the words below:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

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PS: In case you have not already, please remember to read Genesis 47 alongside this post in your personal devotional time and share your thoughts in the comments below!