Today's passage: Genesis 46:1-34
Helpful thoughts:
- Once again, before Jacob leaves the Promised Land, the Lord meets with him and confirms His promise, “I will go down with you…and I will also bring you up again.” The nation that comes from Jacob's descendants would once again return to the Promised Land.
- See Genesis 28:15.
- A great nation was promised to come up out of Egypt centuries later. But the group (The family) that went down to Egypt (Including Joseph's) was approximately seventy.
- Jacob chose a specific son to lead the way for the family to go down to Egypt. He chose Judah.
- Joseph continued to show his ability to manage situation with great wisdom. By informing Pharaoh of his family's work as shepherds, they would remain distinct (Separate) from the Egyptians so not to be assimilated into the culture (They were to be God's chosen nation who worship Him alone). It also provided them a great area of land so that they and their flocks could flourish.
Questions to consider:
- What was different about Jacob's stay in Beersheba before he left for Egypt in contrast to his stay in Beersheba before he left for Haran in Genesis 28? What did he do before God communicated his promise in today's passage?
- What is significant about Judah's new role as the leader of the family? Who chose him for this role? What evidence have we seen that Judah has become a servant leader?
- Knowing that Christ is building His church from every tribe, tongue and nation on the earth, we can be sure that separation from the world does not refer to race or location or other things like that. So, what then does separation from the world refer to? In what ways is the church to be separated from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)?