A Case for the Old Testament, Joseph to Moses: Israel in Egypt and the Prophecies of Jacob, Genesis Chapters 47-50

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In this week’s class presentation we are concluding our study in the book of Genesis by covering answers for Genesis chapters 47-50 and the period of time that begins Israel’s stay in Egypt, along with the deaths of Jacob (Israel) and Joseph. We will also take a closer look at the prophecies and blessings Jacob bestows upon his sons whose families will become the tribes of Israel during the Exodus, and most importantly, we will look at the prophecy of Judah fulfilled in Jesus!

As part of the apologetics for this time period, events and major players, we are recommending Timothy Mahony’s “Patterns of Evidence” documentary series, and we will now be focusing specifically on the first one simply called “The Exodus.” Each week’s class includes prayer, an “apologetics” presentation, a review of last week’s Bible study, and a homework assignment. You will also find the presentation notes, Bible study questions and additional resources below.

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the Presentation

Joseph to Moses: Israel in Egypt

Prayer and Reflection

Write out your prayer cards and exchange them at the end of the class.

Bible Knowledge Practice (answers can be found in the introduction session of this class):

1.  What are the five categories of the Old Testament books in the Christian Bible and what are the 39 books of the Old Testament in each of those five categories? (Hint 5-12-5-5-12)

2.  What are the “Major Historical Events” – the “Major Players” involved in those events – and the “Major Covenants” found in Genesis and Exodus?

3.  What is the “Big Picture” of the Bible (12 points to remember)?

4.  What are the (8) most important focus points to watch for when studying the Old Testament?

Read, or recite, the memory verses out loud with your group:

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”  Genesis 50:20 (NASB)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28 (NASB)

Review of last week’s Bible Study: Genesis chapters 47 – 50

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1.  Review of Class Topic: Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Answers will vary…

Read Genesis Chapter 47 through Chapter 50, then answer the following questions:

2.  (Genesis 47:1-31) In this chapter the family of Israel begin to settle in the land of Goshen (leaving the Promised Land in Canaan), and Jacob with some of his sons meet with the Pharaoh and Joseph. What was the conversation and what special thing did Jacob do to the Pharaoh? What was the agreement Joseph made with the people of the land when the famine became more severe, and how do you think that might affect them down the road, especially later during the time of Moses? How long did Jacob live in the land of Egypt, how old was he when he died, and what did he make Joseph promise to do for him after he died?

Going Deeper: How do we see God’s sovereignty play out with the separation of the people of Israel in the land of Goshen from the Egyptians and the rest of the country, and why that is ultimately important?

Going even deeper (for those of you who like a challenge): Investigate the name Rameses and discuss why this name is the main reason for the controversy over the period of time these events, along with the Exodus, occurs?

Note: The Scripture passage is pasted, underlined and highlighted as an example, then specific answers to the questions are below in bullet form…

“Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers and their flocks and their herds and all that they have, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now, therefore, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.” Then Joseph brought his father Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many years have you lived?” So Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my sojourning are one hundred and thirty; few and unpleasant have been the years of my life, nor have they attained the years that my fathers lived during the days of their sojourning.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from his presence. So Joseph settled 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 ordered.  Joseph provided his father and his brothers and all his father’s household with food, according to their little ones. Now there was no food in all the land, because the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the grain which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.  When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food, for why should we die in your presence? For our money is gone.” Then Joseph said, “Give up your livestock, and I will give you food for your livestock, since your money is gone.”  So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent, and the cattle are my lord’s. There is nothing left for my lord except our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh. So give us seed, that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”  So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he removed them to the cities from one end of Egypt’s border to the other. Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh, and the lived off the allotment which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore, they did not sell their land. Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have today bought you and your land for Pharaoh; now, here is seed for you, and you may sow the land. At the harvest you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four-fifths shall be your own for seed of the field and for your food and for those of your households and as food for your little ones.” So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.”  Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt valid to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s. Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous. “Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When the time for Israel to die drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Please, if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” He said, “Swear to me.” So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.”  Genesis 47:1-31 (NASB)

Jacob meets the Pharaoh

  • After Joseph introduces five of his brothers, and his brothers answer Pharaoh about their occupation that confirms why they needed to be in a land fertile for shepherding, Joseph then introduces his father for the first time.
  • The first thing Jacob does is to bless Pharaoh – this is not unusual in that the older person would be the one to do the blessing.
  • Pharaoh seemed to respect Jacob’s age, and Egyptian culture was obsessed with the afterlife and eternal life, thus the importance of embalming and mummification.
  • Pharaoh seemed to be intrigued by Jacob’s age, and Jacob confessed that they had been hard years “few and unpleasant” and that he had not yet lived as long as his “fathers” had lived (Abraham was 175 and Isaac was 180, we know Jacob lives another 17 years and dies at the age of 147).

The Famine increases and Joseph makes an agreement with the people

  • As the famine worsened, Joseph needed to bargain with the people in order to feed them.
  • Just giving out free food would result in its quick depletion, and chaos, and Joseph needed to control the way the food was disseminated, therefore he instilled what many believe is the first taxation program.
  • The people agreed to give livestock for food and this eventually led to them agreeing to sell their land to the Pharaoh (only the Priests of Egypt were allowed to keep their land).
  • The people had now become “crop-sharers” and were given seed to plant.
  • Pharaoh would now receive a fifth of all that was harvested, and this would now constitute government property.

Jacob in the land of Egypt, and Joseph’s promise

  • Jacob was 147 when he died and he lived in Goshen, Egypt for 17 years prior to his death.
  • Jacob said to Joseph, ““Please, if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” He said, “Swear to me.” So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.”
  • Note: When Jacob said “but when I lie down with my fathers” it shows a faith statement in God’s promises that included the Land. It also shows faith in an after-life because he speaks of his fathers in a sense of existing in an eternal life. The faith of the Patriarchs would include this hope of returning in a physical form to be part of the Covenant Promise (people, land and blessing).

Cross-reference:

Hebrews 11:1-2 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.”

Hebrews 11:13-16. “All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”

Going Deeper: God’s Sovereignty in the protection of Israel

  • God ‘s hand is seen in the separation of His people from the Egyptians, and they will ultimately grow as a family and into a nation by the time of the Exodus.
  • Joseph’s decree ultimately led to the people’s enslavement and dependence on the Pharaoh, especially Israel by the time of Moses some 400 years later – what started as a way for the people to live and work during the famine, became a way of enforced slavery by future Pharaohs, as we will see in the book of Exodus.
  • This is important in the formation of the Nation and their return to the land of Canaan at the time of Moses as promised by God in the Abrahamic Covenant.

Going even deeper: The City of Rameses and its connection to the dating of the Exodus

  • Goshen was part of the land of “Rameses” (47:11).
  • Rameses is the name of a line of 11 Pharaohs starting in ca. 1295 BC, and off and on through 1070 BC.
  • Many secular scholars (and some Christians) date the Exodus at this later date because they believe it was Rameses II (ca. 1279 – 1213 BC) that was the Pharaoh at Moses’ time.
  • However, many Biblical Scholars date the Exodus earlier (ca. 1440s BC according to Biblical calculations) and give at least two possible explanations that are important in understanding the earlier dating:

1) This was the name of the city/area during Joseph’s time and future rulers took that title name, or

2) Later Scribes changed the name in the Biblical text so that people (their current audience) would know what area was being referred to in the story.

  • Either way, there is much evidence within the Biblical narrative, including references at the time of Solomon and in the book of Judges, and in current archeological finds that makes the naming of the city alone not enough to stand on the later Exodus dating.

3.  (Genesis 48:1-22) Jacob, nearing his last days, gives the promise of the birthright (but not the blessing of the “Seed Promise”) to Joseph through his two sons by giving him a double-portion. What did Jacob tell Joseph about God appearing to him, and what part of the Abrahamic Covenant did he reinforce? Summarize what happened during this blessing of Manasseh and Ephraim and how Jacob compared them to Reuben and Simeon.

Going Deeper: Why did Jacob put Ephraim over Manasseh, and how do we see this played out in the future?

“Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. When it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed. Then Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.’ Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. But your offspring that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance. Now as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, in the land of Canaan on the journey, when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath; and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” So he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well.” Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground. Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd [p]all my life to this day, The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” He blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’” Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers. I give you one portion more than your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.””  Genesis 48:1-22 (NASB)

Jacob’s talk with Joseph; Ephraim, Manasseh and the birthright

  • Jacob recounts God’s Promise to Joseph in verses 3-4, specifically the “Nation and Land” part of the Covenant, by saying, ““God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.’”
  • Jacob proclaims: “Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.” He then adopts Joseph’s two sons into his own family, securing the double portion of the birthright he has given through Joseph to them, and by doing this neither Joseph, nor his two sons get the birthright in its previous form as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had. In essence, this does away with a single birthright and the patriarchal period for Israel as there would no longer be an individual family leader.
  • In addition, this secures the safety of the Nation of Israel because any of Joseph’s future children would not be part of the inheritance.
  • The tribes would carry forward with individual tribal leaders up through the time of Moses, although Judah’s tribe will eventually emerge as the leading tribe during the period of the Kings, noting Judah as the carrier of the “Seed Promise” and blessing part of the Covenant.

Going Deeper: Ephraim over Manasseh

  • Jacob was not the oldest, nor was his father Isaac, and they both received the birthright, so he had experience in knowing that God’s plan is not always based on cultural norms.
  • In a sense, Jacob is prophesying Ephraim’s future here as his descendants will become a strong tribe, and eventually (and unfortunately) the leading tribe of the “Northern Kingdom” of Israel (who practice idolatry and fall captive to Assyria some 1000 years later).
  • Special note: This is also an interesting picture of adoption for us (the Church) through the saving grace of Jesus, into the family of God – it is only by God’s sovereign grace that we become His children.

4.  (Genesis 49:1-28) In this chapter Jacob gives a blessing and prophecy to each one of his twelve sons before he dies. This, in effect, does away with the “patriarchal” rule and institutes individuality for each tribe as they move forward, even though it is clear that future and final rulership of the Nation (in the form of kings) will specifically come through one tribe, Judah. What did Jacob say to Reuben, Simeon and Levi that gives clues as to his reason for blessing Judah? What does Jacob say to Judah, and what prophetic statements are specifically related to Jesus?

Going Deeper: Make a list of each of the twelve sons and summarize what Jacob prophesied about them (use Joseph’s two sons instead of Joseph).

Going even deeper (for those of you who like a challenge): Can you find, historically, what happened to each of these tribes in fulfillment of the prophecies, and any other Biblical characters that come from these tribes?

“Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the days to come.  “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father. “Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. “Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch. “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Their swords are implements of violence. “Let my soul not enter into their council; Let not my glory be united with their assembly; Because in their anger they slew men, And in their self-will they lamed oxen. “Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; And their wrath, for it is cruel. I will disperse them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel. “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. “Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. “He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes. “His eyes are dull from wine, And his teeth white from milk. “Zebulun will dwell at the seashore; And he shall be a haven for ships, And his flank shall be toward Sidon.  “Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds. “When he saw that a resting place was good And that the land was pleasant, He bowed his shoulder to bear burdens, And became a slave at forced labor. “Dan shall judge his people, As one of the tribes of Israel.  “Dan shall be a serpent in the way, A horned snake in the path, That bites the horse’s heels, So that his rider falls backward. “For Your salvation I wait, O Lord. “As for Gad, raiders shall raid him, But he will raid at their heels. “As for Asher, his food shall be rich, And he will yield royal dainties. “Naphtali is a doe let loose, He gives beautiful words. “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a spring; Its branches run over a wall. “The archers bitterly attacked him, And shot at him and harassed him; But his bow remained firm, And his arms were agile, From the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),  From the God of your father who helps you, And by the Almighty who blesses you With blessings of heaven above, Blessings of the deep that lies beneath, Blessings of the breasts and of the womb. “The blessings of your father Have surpassed the blessings of my ancestors Up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; May they be on the head of Joseph, And on the crown of the head of the one distinguished among his brothers. “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And in the evening he divides the spoil.” All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them. He blessed them, every one with the blessing appropriate to him.”  Genesis 49:1-28 (NASB)

Concerning Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah:

  • Reuben slept with his father’s wife (concubine), and foolishly offered up to kill his own sons in place of Benjamin if something happened
  • Simeon, along with Levi, had murdered the men in the town of Shechem; Simeon was also in charge when Joseph was sold into slavery to Egypt
  • None of the first three had stepped up in the role of leadership, nor had shown leadership abilities.
  • But for Judah, he is given the blessing, and as we know is the carrier of the “Seed Promise” – underlined parts are specific Messianic references:

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s sons shall bow down to you. “Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him up? “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. “He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes. “His eyes are dull from wine, And his teeth white from milk.”  Genesis 49:8-12 (NASB)

Going Deeper, and Even Deeper:

Son Prophecy Fulfillment – typified in tribe Biblical Characters
Reuben uncontrolled as water, undisciplined; shall not have preeminence because he defiled his father’s bed Tribe of Reuben never amounts to much in Israel’s history (no leaders or judges or prophets) none
Simeon violent men; Jacob does not want his soul to be united with them; they are angry, wrathful and self-willed; they will be dispersed and scattered Tribe of Simeon never receives any land of their own and are absorbed into the land and tribe of Judah none
Levi same as Simeon’s (see above) Tribe of Levi never receives any land of their own; This tribe is assigned the priestly role and are dispersed among the other tribes to serve God Moses, Aaron, Eli, John the Baptist
Judah will be praised; his hand will be over his enemies; relatives will bow down; he is a lion, a ruler and the carrier of the scepter of Messiah (Seed Promise) and is blessed with Jacob’s longest blessing including prosperity and wealth Tribe of Judah receives the right to rule (but not in a “patriarchal” sense) and will have all the “God appointed” kings of Israel in the southern kingdom; this tribe has power and authority as a foreshadow and picture of Jesus’ first and second coming David, Solomon, (many other Kings in the southern Tribe of Judah) Joseph and Mary, Jesus
Zebulun a sea dweller and a haven for ships; will border Sidon Tribe of Zebulun will have this prophecy fulfilled in the end times – Ezekiel 48 speaks of this happening in the “kingdom to come” when Messiah rules none
Issachar a strong donkey, hard worker with livestock, a burden bearer (slave) Tribe of Issachar was known for complacency; they worked as land laborers who did not aspire to any leadership or wealth and eventually became slaves in Canaan none
Dan A judge, and a snake that causes people to fall away; he will still see salvation Tribe of Dan produces some of the Judges during the period of Judges; they are also the first tribe to practice idolatry and are the first to fall away from worshipping the one true God Sampson
Gad A raider who is also raided Tribe of Gad would settle as the eastern most tribe, they would be the first line of defense for the Nation of Israel none
Asher An expert in food; a server of fine food to royalty Tribe of Asher will settle in the most fertile land area that will give them the best food sources, therefore the best servers of delicacies to Kings none
Naphtali A doe let loose; a giver of beautiful words Tribe of Naphtali will settle in the mountain area of Israel and will become very independent Barak, Elijah
Joseph A fruitful bough; blessed by God; distinguish among his brothers; a picture of Messiah (Jesus) Received the richest blessing by the double portion going to his two sons: Ephraim whose tribe will lead in the north, and Manasseh who will have one of the largest tribes split in two Joshua, Deborah, Gideon, Samuel
Benjamin A ravenous wolf; will devour and conquer others Tribe of Benjamin becomes a victoriously warring tribe; this tribe will also be a thorn to his brothers and at one point are so wicked that they will almost be eliminated and eventually become part of Judah Saul, Jonathan, Esther, the Apostle Paul

5.  (Genesis 49:29 – 50:26) This is the final section of Genesis, and the end of Jacob and Joseph’s stories. Where does Jacob tell his sons he wants to be buried, why and who else was buried there? What seems to be unique about the burial process that happened for Jacob? After their father’s death, the brothers’ were afraid that Joseph would now enact revenge upon them, but how does Joseph respond? How old was Joseph when he died, what did he say prophetically to his brothers and what did he make them swear to do? (This comes true in Exodus!!!)

Discuss: How has Joseph’s story inspired you? The key verse for his entire story is found in Genesis 50:20 – copy and use as a memory verse along with the cross-referenced verse of Romans 8:28!

“Then he charged them and said to them, “I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,  in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a burial site. There they buried Abraham and his wife Sarah, there they buried Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there I buried Leah— the field and the cave that is in it, purchased from the sons of Heth.” When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.

50 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Now forty days were required for it, for such is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. When the days of mourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak to Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’” Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.” So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed seven days mourning for his father. Now when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.” Therefore it was named Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had charged them; for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field for a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father charged before he died, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.”  So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.”  Genesis 49:29 – 50:26 (NASB)

Jacob’s burial request

  • So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them. They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the cave that Abraham had bought as a permanent burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 50:12-13 (NASB)
  • It was here that Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah were buried (Rachel was buried on the road near Ephrath/Bethlehem).

The uniqueness of Jacob’s burial process

  • Egyptians had a strong belief in the after-life and thus preservation of the body was important to them so they used embalming and mumification methods.
  • It was unusual for nomadic shepherds to have this done to them yet it showed respect that the Egyptians had, not only for Joseph, but for his father Jacob.
  • Note: 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. 9 There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company. Genesis 50:7-9 (NASB)
  • With this great of a company of people, Pharaoh would also be assured that the Israelites, and especially Joseph, would not stay in Canaan but return to Egypt.

Joseph’s response to his brothers’ fears

  • Joseph’s response to his brothers’ fears gives us another great picture of Jesus (His response to his accusers) 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place?20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 21 So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 (NASB)

Joseph’s death

  • Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” So Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; and he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.  Genesis 50:22-26 (NASB)
    • Notice Joseph’s prophecy here in that he tells them that God will take care of them and bring them to the Promised Land.
    • Some 400 years later the tribes of Israel do just that and bring Joseph’s remains with them

Discussions on Joseph’s life and examples

Answers will vary…

Joseph’s foreshadowing of Jesus:

Parallels Joseph – Genesis Jesus – The New Testament
1.  Their fathers loved them dearly 37:3 Matthew 3:17
2.  Shepherds of their fathers’ sheep 37:2 John 10:11, 27
3.  Sent by fathers to brothers 37:13-14 Hebrews 2:11
4.  Hated by brothers 37:4 John 7:5
5.  Others plotted to harm them 37:20 John 11:53
6.  Tempted 39:7 Matthew 4:1
7.  Taken to Egypt 37:25 Matthew 2:14-15
8.  Robes taken from them 37:23 John 19:23
9.  Sold for the price of 20 shekels/

30 pieces of silver

 37:28 Matthew 26:15
10. Bound in chains 39:20 Matthew 27:2
11. Falsely accused 39:16-18 Matthew 26:59-60
12. Placed with two other prisoners, one who was saved and the other lost 40:2-3 Luke 3:23
13. Both 30 years old at the beginning of public recognition 41:46 Luke 3:23
14. Exalted after suffering 41:41 Philippians 2:9-11
15. Forgave those who wronged them 45:1-15 Luke 23:34
16. Saved their nation 45:7 Matthew 1:21
17. What people did to hurt them God turned to good 50:20 1 Corinthians 2:7-8

Take away: Memory Verses

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.  Genesis 50:20 (NASB)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28 (NASB)

We have now finished the book of Genesis and will be moving into the book of Exodus…

Bible Study

Each week, starting we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be part of the next presentation. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1.  Review of Class Topic: Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Read Exodus Chapters 1 through 4, then answer the following questions:

2.  (Exodus 1:1-22) In this opening chapter we see the connection to the end of Genesis and the story of Joseph and the Israelites. How, and why, did the people of Israel go from being a welcomed family in Egypt to a nation in slavery? What did the Pharaoh tell the midwives to do, and why; then what did they actually end up doing?

Discuss: Do you see any similarities in this story with Pharaoh’s command concerning the Hebrew boys and what happened to Jesus after he was born? (Cross-reference with Matthew 2:13-18)

Going Deeper: How does this slaughter of Hebrew boys, and other such incidents that seek to wipe out the Nation of Israel, connect to the original promise God gave in Genesis chapter 3:15?

3.  (Exodus 2:1-25) In this chapter we are introduced to Moses and his family. What tribe was Moses and his family from, and (if you know) what is the importance of that tribe later on? What did Moses’ mother and sister do to save him after he was born, what happened to him and how do you see God’s hand in this event? When Moses had grown up, what did he do to an Egyptian he saw beating a Hebrew; what happened to Moses afterward and where did he go? What happened at the well after Moses fled, who did he meet and who did he end up marrying?

Discuss: Why do you think Moses acted against an Egyptian at this time, and why do you think his own people not side with him, but rejected him?

4.  (Exodus 3:1-22) Moses meets God while in the land of Midian. From what we previously learned in Genesis, describe who it was that spoke to Moses in the burning bush, and what are the clues that tell us specifically who it is? What did God want Moses to do, and why?

Discuss:  What are some ‘prophetic’ things God tells Moses would happen in Egypt before they actually happened?

Going Deeper: Research the name God used for Himself when Moses asked ‘who should I say sent me?’ What are some interesting facts you can find about this name, and is it ever used in the New Testament?

5.  (Exodus 4:1-31) In this chapter Moses is given power and some help to complete God’s mission. What miraculous powers did God give Moses, and why was Moses reluctant? Who did God give to Moses to be his spokesperson, and how did the people of Israel respond when they met with the elders?

Going Deeper: At the end of this chapter (verses 24-26) there is a strange incident, and scholars have debated the meaning of what happened here. Research and share your findings on what this might have been about.

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament, Joseph to Moses!”

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15

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