Read with Me
Genesis 47:1-12 (HCSB)
So Joseph went and informed Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their sheep and cattle and all that they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in the land of Goshen.”
He took five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh asked his brothers, “What is your occupation?”
And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants, both we and our fathers, are shepherds.” Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a while because there is no grazing land for your servants’ sheep, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please let your servants settle in the land of Goshen.”
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have come to you, the land of Egypt is open before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They can live in the land of Goshen. If you know of any capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”
Joseph then brought his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many years have you lived?”
Jacob said to Pharaoh, “My pilgrimage has lasted 130 years. My years have been few and hard, and they have not surpassed the years of my fathers during their pilgrimages.” So Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from Pharaoh’s presence.
Then Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food for their dependents.
Listen with Me
Now that Joseph’s family had arrived, there remained the matter of introducing them to Pharaoh and making their residence completely legal. Joseph took five of his brothers (although which ones these were is not specified) and his father.
Joseph’s brothers responded to Pharaoh’s questions precisely as they had been coached to do. They indicated that they were shepherds, as their people had been for generations. Pharaoh responded that they could all remain in the land, in the prime area of Goshen. He added that any of them was superior ability should be put in charge of his own flocks and herds.
When Jacob was presented to Pharaoh, the first thing that struck him was how old Jacob looked. The life expectancy in Egypt was not that great, as many of the mummies of young people who had died testify. Even among the wealthy who could afford the best medical care, lifespans were close to what they are today.
Even though Jacob had not reached nearly the age of his ancestors, the previous two decades had taken a severe toll on his body, making him look frail and worn. Even so, when he gave his age as “only 130 years old”, Pharaoh was stunned. That was easily twice the life expectancy of the Egyptians!
The audience with Pharaoh was over, the request for asylum had been granted, and Joseph settled his family in the eastern part of the Nile Delta, a very rich part of the country when there was no famine. Notice that Moses writes in verse 11 that Joseph’s family was settled in the area of Rameses, the name that was later given to that eastern region of Goshen, and the one that the Israelites who had come out of Egypt with him would have been most familiar with.
Pray with Me
Father, after the flood You documented a rapid decrease in lifespans (Genesis 11:10-26). But it is clear that the lifespans of many of the people groups outside your chosen line decreased even more rapidly. Your hand of protection and preservation was working even before You chose Abraham to found the line that would move Your plan forward to its completion. Today, our lifespans are much closer to those of the Egyptians than they are to those of the founders of the Israelites. But if we live all the years we have been allotted for You, then every year we are granted can be full and productive for Your kingdom. Help me to live every moment for You, Lord. Amen.