Remembering

DEVOTION

GENESIS

REMEMBERING

Gen 48:1-7

48:1 Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, "Your son Joseph has come to you," Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me 4 and said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.' 5 "Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).

NIV

There is something special going on here which certainly has a cultural significance. Jacob, now near death hears that Joseph has come to visit, having heard his father is ill. This moment is special. Joseph was his first born son to his first and who he thought would be his only wife, Rachel. With Joseph there, Jacob is reminded of his Rachel and her death. This surely brings sorrow to his heart, missing her, as well as the fact she did not get to see her beloved son Joseph before she died, since he was sold into slavery that was the last time she ever saw him. What is happening in this scene is that Joseph is considered as the first born rather than Ruben who was the oldest of all the twelve sons. The first born receives a double portion of the inheritance given by the father. Jacob bestows this upon Joseph by including his two sons as his own in the giving of the inheritance. They each received the same portion of the land of Canaan as the other sons did, therefor Joseph received his double portion. In actuality none of the sons saw the land of Canaan, but it was their descendants, each a tribe onto themselves. So what is our lesson in this narrative? Could it be Israel having rallied his strength for his family, to bless them? Could it be Israel having never forgotten his first love? Could it be Israel never forgetting the words of the Lord concerning his promise? Could it be all three? It might be easy in the last moments of life to become extremely introspective. To think what now, my life is about over, we can no longer enjoy the people we love. We can no longer enjoy the things we have acquired. We can no longer enjoy the things we like to do. Even the simple tasks may have to be done for us. We might be the last in our family, no loved ones to be by our side or hold our hand while we step into eternity. We might have loved ones who are at our side. Do we think about them or ourselves at that moment? Israel rallied his strength to give his blessings to his sons, to make sure they knew about the promise of God in his life and for theirs. Yes, he recalls his beloved Rachel at the sight of his son Joseph, but he is also reminding and informing Joseph of the life and death of his mother. It would seem the point here for us may not be for today, but for our moments before stepping into the presence of God. Hopefully we too may rally our strength to bless our family, to pass on that which we have for them. Sure we make certain preparations way ahead, in the writing of wills and such. Yes, we decide who gets what, and how all our stuff is split up among our children and or our grandchildren. But what about our last moments making sure they know the blessed hope we hold so dear? What about giving them a blessing? What about leaving this place talking about the Lord and his charge for their lives? There may be members of our family who have not listened to our words about Jesus throughout our lives. They may have wandered, not paying close enough attention to our words. But at the moment of our last breathe, if we are so blessed by God to have them at our side, they may well be more intent to our last words. These are the moments in which we can impart Jesus to them. Not only can we live our faith throughout our days, but we can live it in our last breathe. True we should not wait till then to make sure they know all the blessing of being born again. But if that is the only time we have, during our last breathe, let us make wise use of it. Speaking about the Lord, but also remember life, our loved ones. 

The Promise

DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE PROMISE

Gen 47:27-31

27 Now the Israelites settled in Egypt in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and were fruitful and increased greatly in number. 28 Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. 29 When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." "I will do as you say," he said. 31 "Swear to me," he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.  

NIV

Israel is beginning to face the end of his years. He must know the time will soon be at hand because he calls for his son Joseph to his side. Here he makes him promise that he will be carried out of Egypt and buried with his own people on his own land, the Promised Land that God had brought him to. Jacob remembers the words of the Lord before he came to Egypt.

Gen 46:3-4

3 "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes."

NIV

Although Israel is not ready to breathe his last, he still knows it is Joseph whom he must count on to fulfill the promise God made to him. He requires Joseph to swear he will carry his bones out of Egypt and bury him with his fathers. When we get to the portion of this whole narrative when Israel dies, we see Joseph does fulfill his promise. But let us see the truth within this promise for our own lives. Again seeing Joseph as a picture of Jesus we can see Jesus making that promise to his Father about his creation, us. God sent his son to bring us out of this land when we die and bring us back to the Promised Land. That would seem to imply we were once there, as Israel was once in the land of Canaan. It is going to be many years in the lives of the descendants of Israel before they actually enter the Promised Land as a nation to conquer and occupy the land as the twelve tribes of Israel. It may be many years before we are carried off to our Promised Land in the heavenly realm, or it could be sooner then we think. Either way because of the promise Jesus made to his Father, we will be carried off to that place when we breathe our last. We certainly do not know the conversation the Father and Jesus had before he was sent to redeem us, so how do we know he promised he would? It is his words in his prayer in the garden before his crucifixion, “Nevertheless, your will be done”. Jesus promised he would carry out the will of his Father in order that we might be carried back to the Promised Land. This also means that we must accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, for it is only those of us who put our trust in him who will be carried to that land. Just as Israel was assured that Joseph would do as he promised, and carry him out of Egypt and bury him with his fathers, we can be assured Jesus will carry us out of this land and bring us to the place of our rest. There is one more truth within this narrative. Israel was promised that Joseph would close his eyes. We have the promise that Jesus will close our eyes. Our days our numbered, he knows the minute of the day in which we breathe our last and he comes to close our eyes and carry us home. 

Job 14:5
5 Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. 
NIV

Ps 139:15-16
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 

NIV

 What a glories truth, a wonderful picture shown to us throughout all of scripture. The true story of God loving his creation. We can live with peace in our heart, because of his promise.

To Live or Die

DEVOTION

GENESIS

TO LIVE OR DIE

Gen 47:13-25

13 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh's palace. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, "Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is used up." 16 "Then bring your livestock," said Joseph. "I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone." 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock. 18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, "We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes — we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate." 20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh's, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land. 23 Joseph said to the people, "Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children." 25 "You have saved our lives," they said. "May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh."

NIV

Several truths are within this narrative regarding all the people of Egypt and Joseph. Because of the famine, everyone needed to come to Joseph as decreed by Pharaoh. It was not Joseph who demanded their coming to him, but it was Pharaoh. The first truth here is that Jesus never commanded we come to him in order to receive salvation. It was decreed by the Father.

John 3:16-17

 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

NIV

It is God who sent Jesus.  Christ did not decide to come on his own as well as all that he said, all that he taught are the words and teaching of the Father. He worked and continues to work under the authority of the Father.

John 7:16-19

16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own . 18 He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

NIV

This is the state of Joseph. Although he has absolute authority to sell the grain, he does so at the command of the king of Egypt. Plus all that he gains for the sale of the grain belongs to the king, Pharaoh. The people used up all their money and still ran out of food, so they sold all their livestock, their source of money, so to speak. Still the famine continued and more food was needed so they sold their land as well as themselves.

Everything Joseph collected was for the Pharaoh, nothing for himself. Another truth here for us. Although we might amass a certain amount of material wealth, it does not belong to us, it belongs to the King of kings, the Lord of lords. We see over and over again narratives regarding not storing up wealth for ourselves but rather being rich toward God. These people had given everything in order to live, rather than die from starvation, including becoming bondservants to Pharaoh. In our culture today it seems there is a lot of worth put on ownership. The American dream of owning a home, having a two car garage filled with two or more cars. Owning so much stuff many of us have to rent a storage locker somewhere in town. It seems so many place a great deal of value on how much money they have. All the material things of life were surrendered to Joseph so they could live. When all their material wealth was gone, all they had was their own beings to give. Although it may seem true God does not desire for us to surrender all our material wealth to him, that he only expects us not to value it more then we value our relationship with him. The point is he truly does want us to surrender all we have to him in order to live, especially ourselves. If we are clinging onto material goods, our wealth so to speak, then we truly have placed a greater value on it then on God. If we are trusting in our wealth to sustain us, we have lost our way.

Matt 6:19-21

 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

NIV

Of what value did the Egyptians consider all their wealth if they were going to starve to death? Nothing. They did not even value their independence in order to live. If our heart is in our material wealth, then we have not gained life. If we want eternal life, we must have our whole heart in God. True, if we confess Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will be saved. But what does that mean? Can we departmentalize our spirit life from our material one? Can we keep a portion of our heart on the things of this world, giving Jesus only a portion of our heart? If we want to live, if we want eternal life, then we must give everything to the Lord. Now, does that mean actually giving it, physically selling everything we have and giving every last cent to the church? Absolutely not, but it means we should not be trusting in it either. We should be willing to give everything up, in an instance, if God requires it. What if he did require it, how would we respond? We cannot have a divided heart in this issue. We cannot trust God and trust in our wealth. We must give our all to the Lord, even ourselves. What does servitude mean? Our lives are completely in the hands of the King. We have no independence. We make no choices of our own. We must do whatever the King desires.  This is not about living our own lives, doing things our own way and expecting God to bless whatever we decide to do. This is about master and servant. This is about giving our all in order to live.

Matt 16:24-26

 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life  will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

NIV

The one choice the Egyptians had was whether to live or die. That too is the one choice we have. To live or die. 

Tend the flock

DEVOTION

GENESIS

TEND THE FLOCK

Gen 47:1-6

47:1 Joseph went and told Pharaoh, "My father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and everything they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen." 2 He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What is your occupation?" "Your servants are shepherds," they replied to Pharaoh, "just as our fathers were." 4 They also said to him, "We have come to live here awhile, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants' flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen." 5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you, 6 and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock."

NIV

Once again we see a picture of Jesus in the person of Joseph. Here he stands before Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, one whom the Egyptians consider a god. He presents his brothers and requests they be given the best of the land. The Pharaoh not only gives then the land, the best portion, he inquires if any of them have special skills so to take care of his flocks. What a picture of our heavenly Father with Jesus standing before him presenting his brothers, us, to the Father. He requests we be given the best portion of the land, the new city of Jerusalem. This is certainly a future picture in eternity. But there is also a picture of the present, in our current lives. Jesus still stands before the Father. He still presents us as his co-heirs, his brothers and his own. He request we be given the best portion of the land. We could see this as a material blessing, that we should have the best homes, the best cars, the best portfolio, but that simply is not the case. Some believers live in near poverty while others live in the lap of luxury. There is such a diverse economic position among believers we simply could not compare the land of Goshen with a material land for us. However in the spiritual sense, there is complete equality among all believers. We have all be given the Spirit and given equally the same portion. We have the best portion of all things, we dwell in the hand of God and he dwells in us. Jesus told his disciples that he must go to the Father so he could send the Spirit, given us the best God has to offer, himself. Pharaoh also asked Joseph if any of his brothers had special skills that they could be in charge of his own flocks. Here again we see a picture of the church, the body of Christ. Are there any among us who have special skills? Are there any shepherds among us? They should be put in charge of the Father’s own. This is not an overall endorsement of every person who claims to be a pastor, or minister of some denomination. Some of them look at their roles as jobs securing some material gain for their retirement from the ministry. These are not the ones with special skills the Father has put in charge of the spiritual well-being of his flock. This is also not an indictment of all who pastor churches. There may be only a few, but then there may be many who have heard the call to tend to the flock all the days of their life. Once a shepherd, always a shepherd. Just as God told Adam that he would toil the ground all the days of his life, no retirement, the true shepherd, the one with the special skills can never retire from the call of God to shepherd his own. The disciples shepherded the flock until they were killed for their faith, all the days of their lives. John, the only one who lived out his days, in exile, continued to write to the churches. He continued all the days of his life. Should we do any less? Who among us has those special skills? Do not many of us? Has not the Spirit given us gifts? Are they not special skills which we should use to minister, to tend to his flock all the days of our lives? Let us never retire from our labor, utilizing the gifts he has bestowed upon us, to tend his flock.  

John 21:16

Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 

NIV

Although he was speaking directly to Peter in this charge, he speaks those words to us all.  Certainly we cannot shepherd the entire flock, but we all have circles of influence to which we have been called. These are those who we should shepherd, starting first with our own family, then to those we have contact with. Let us tend the flock of God. 

Happy Reunion

DEVOTION

GENESIS

HAPPY REUNION

Gen 46:28-34

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time. 30 Israel said to Joseph, "Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive." 31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and speak to Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were living in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 The men are shepherds; they tend livestock, and they have brought along their flocks and herds and everything they own.' 33 When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, 'What is your occupation?' 34 you should answer, 'Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

NIV

The happy reunion is at hand. Jacob has arrived in Egypt and knowing he is supposed to go travel to the region called Goshen, he sends Judah ahead to get the directions. Joseph heads there as well and when they see each other tears flow. What a wow event. The long lost son and his father are embraced with tears filling their eyes. We see similar scenes when returning soldiers are greeted by their spouses and children. The reunion of family after a long separation always seem to be one of those wonderful times in life. Yet we have also witnessed in our journey through Genesis a great deal of dysfunctional families. This one we are with now has had its share of maladjusted times. The discord between Joseph and his brothers due to the special attention given to him by his father. Then the dreams brought even more division among them to the point of selling him off and making their father think he was killed by wild beasts. But all that is set aside, forgiveness has prevailed and all are once again together rejoicing. How often we experience some form of dysfunction in families today. Maybe not to the point of selling off a sibling, but we have certain amounts of discord at times. Hurt feelings for various reasons that cause a various forms of separation. Some of them are emotional separation, some a spiritual one, others even become physical separation. Many of these hard feelings seem to never get resolved for one reason or another. Yet as believers we should not let this condition go unattended. We are admonished to as far as it depends on us, to live in peace with all others.

Rom 12:9-19

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

NIV

We need to resolve any issues we have with others, especially within our own family. But this command is not limited to families, it encompasses everyone. Yet sometimes it seems easier to be nice to strangers, or co-workers and while still allowing so much disharmony in our own family. It would behoove us to settle our differences, at least if it is possible. We should be the ones to make the effort. If the others do not want any part of a reconciliation then that is on them. But we should not be the ones to exasperate the situation, but rather attempt to reconcile it. If those various separations exist in our family, perhaps there can be a happy reunion, an embrace filled with tears.  

Bring them all

DEVOTION

GENESIS

BRING THEM ALL

Gen 46:1-7

46:1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he replied. 3 "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes." 5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt. 7 He took with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters — all his offspring.

NIV

Gen 46:26-27

26 All those who went to Egypt with Jacob — those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons' wives — numbered sixty-six persons. 27 With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob's family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.

NIV

We have left out verses 8-25 which are all the names of each descendant according to the wives of Jacob. It is not that they are not important, it is just at this time they are not germane to the narrative for our lesson. The point being that Jacob brought everything and everybody associated with him. He set out with all that was his. He left nothing or nobody behind. On the way the Lord God called to him during one of his nights on the road to Egypt. When he heard the Lord call, he responded, “Here I am” It is always a good thing to keep our words short when God wants to speak to us. It seems, at times, we want to wax on in prayer using hundreds of words, thinking that is a good thing. But the most important part of prayer is listening to the words spoken by God. Here he tells Jacob to not be afraid to go down to Egypt. The reason he gives Jacob is that he will make him a great nation there. This was the way God determined he should go. Jacob was following the directions of the Lord. He was also told that it would be Joseph, his beloved son, who would be with him when he died. What more could a man ask for? But our point here is that Jacob brought everyone who was his with him. When we find the lord, or rather we should say, when the Lord finds us, we need to bring everyone with us. Today, life is way different than in the time of Jacob. Then the whole family or clan lived in the same general area. Their encampment may have encompassed several acres of land or maybe even miles. The herds and flocks needed much land. But the family members were all in the same general location. Sons would bring their wives to the family area, build their own tents, or shelters around the main camp. A small community of sorts. Today our families may be spread all over the globe. Some may live thousands of miles away from the family patriarch. Most families have descendants. Some may not, but they still may have a family, a spouse. Whoever accepts the Lord as their Lord and Savior has a responsibility to bring everyone with them. God has called our name, just as he did to Jacob. We have responded just as Jacob did, “Here I am”. God has also told us not to be afraid to go where he has sent us. He may not have promised us to become a great nation, but he has promised us a whole lot more, eternal life. Following the example of Jacob, we should take all we have and all who are in our family and follow the directions of God. We certainly can do this with those who live within our household, but for those who have traveled afar off, the only way we can bring them with us is in a spiritual sense. With all the modern methods of communication we have at our disposal today, there should be no reason we cannot attempt to bring them all with us. It is true each person must make their own path, their own choice to follow God. We cannot make them come with us, but we should bring them with us. The members of Jacob's clan had no choice in the matter, he was the patriarch and his word was law. This seems to have gone by the wayside in our modern age. However, God has still continued to see the family head of the household as accountable and responsible for the family. We have been instructed to provide for our family. The best provision we could ever hope to give, is Jesus. Surely Jacob had provided for his in a material sense, but even that was hopeless in a famine. There was no material provisions available. What he could provide was taking them to a land of prosperity, where they could live rather than die in their present place. This too is our story. If there is a spiritual famine in our family, a place where they will die, should we not take them to a place they can live? Should we not make every effort to bring them all? 

He is Alive

DEVOTION

GENESIS

HE IS ALIVE

Gen 45:16-28

16 When the news reached Pharaoh's palace that Joseph's brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan, 18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.' 19 "You are also directed to tell them, 'Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come. 20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.'" 21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. 23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey. 24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, "Don't quarrel on the way!" 25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 They told him, "Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt." Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, "I'm convinced! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

NIV

The story of deliverance continues but was even a more likeness to Jesus then we could have imagined. Joseph’s situation arrives to the ears of Pharaoh and he is pleased that Joseph’s brothers have come to Egypt for food. He is pleased that Joseph family, his father his still living and commands that Joseph provide the best for them. He commands provisions for their journey to retrieve the rest of the family and bring all of them back into the best land in Egypt. When the brothers arrive back at the family encampment and tell their father that Joseph is alive, at first he does not believe them. However after seeing all the carts Joseph had sent to carry him back, his spirit was revived. He believed he was dead, and now he believes he is alive. This is the same story about Jesus. His disciples believed he was dead, and they were so saddened, afraid, alone and despondent, much like Jacob was over the death of his Joseph. But Jesus rose from the dead, and at first they did not believe, but after seeing him, their spirits were revived. The Pharaoh commanded Joseph provide everything for their journey. The father commanded Jesus to provide everything for our journey. First for our journey from the city of sin and darkness into the city of light and love. Then for our journey from the corruptible to the incorruptible, the perishable to the imperishable, from the grave to heaven. Joseph provided all they needed for their journey to the best Egypt had to offer. Jesus has provided all we need for our journey to the best heaven has to offer, the new city of Jerusalem. Before we knew Jesus, our spirits were as good as dead. Our spirit was not only depressed, it was oppressed by darkness itself. But when Jesus found us, our spirit was revived. He is alive. We might even get to go see him before we die. But even if that is not to be, we will still go see him when we do die. So either way, as Jacob will go see Joseph, we will go see Jesus. He is alive. 

Delivered

DEVOTION

GENESIS

DELIVERED

Gen 45:1-15

45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. 3 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.   8 "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. 9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. 10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me — you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. 11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.' 12 "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly." 14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

NIV

We are at the revelation of Joseph to is brothers, finally. It seems it has taken him some time to come to this point. It appears this was his plan from the very first time he saw his brothers come to buy food, yet he surely was rather deceptive in the beginning. Nevertheless, he no longer could keep his identity a secret from them. He tells them they have nothing to fear, nor should they be sorry for what they had done, in selling him. It was not their choice, but it was God’s hand at work. Here we have the same kind of language we would expect to find Jesus saying to his people. "Come close to me", “God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance” Some of his other words seem as though Jesus should be saying them. “I will provide for you there…..otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute”.

We certainly can see some pictures, some parallels without looking deep into this narrative. It is clearly on the surface for the purpose of being able to see it. God always has had a plan to provide for his chosen people, the family of Abraham. He made a covenant with Abraham, a promise that all the nations would be blessed through him, through his seed, which is Jesus. Jacob and his twelve sons were the descendants of Abraham and through Jacob the nations will be blessed. Therefor Jacob and his sons needed to be preserved, not become destitute, or die off due to the severe famine. He sent Joseph ahead to preserve them. God has sent Jesus to preserve us. Through faith, we have become the family of Abraham.  

Gal 3:6-9

6 Consider Abraham : "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."   7 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham . 8 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham : "All nations will be blessed through you."   9 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham , the man of faith.

NIV

We might see Egypt as a type of heaven, the new city of Jerusalem. As Joseph provides a special place for his family, Jesus has provided a special place for his family. If people are not in the family of Abraham, or we could say the family of Jesus, they are both not blessed and will in fact become destitute, or die, or perish because of a great spiritual famine in their lives. Of course Abraham and his physical descendants were marked by physical circumcision. We, on the other hand, are marked by the circumcision of our hearts.

Rom 2:28-29

 28 A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. 29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

NIV

Col 2:9-12

 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

NIV

All this completely fits perfectly together in this picture we see in Joseph being their deliverance from the great famine, through the hand of God. This is our story. This is our deliverance from a great famine by the hand of God, through Jesus. Praise God we are delivered. 

Self-sacrifice

DEVOTION

GENESIS

SELF-SACRIFICE

Gen 44:11-34

11 Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12 Then the steward proceeded to search, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest. And the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 At this, they tore their clothes. Then they all loaded their donkeys and returned to the city. 14 Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him. 15 Joseph said to them, "What is this you have done? Don't you know that a man like me can find things out by divination?" 16 "What can we say to my lord?" Judah replied. "What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants' guilt. We are now my lord's slaves — we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup." 17 But Joseph said, "Far be it from me to do such a thing! Only the man who was found to have the cup will become my slave. The rest of you, go back to your father in peace." 18 Then Judah went up to him and said: "Please, my lord, let your servant speak a word to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, though you are equal to Pharaoh himself. 19 My lord asked his servants, 'Do you have a father or a brother?' 20 And we answered, 'We have an aged father, and there is a young son born to him in his old age. His brother is dead, and he is the only one of his mother's sons left, and his father loves him.' 21 "Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me so I can see him for myself.' 22 And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.' 23 But you told your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' 24 When we went back to your servant my father, we told him what my lord had said. 25 "Then our father said, 'Go back and buy a little more food.' 26 But we said, 'We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.' 27 "Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. 28 One of them went away from me, and I said, "He has surely been torn to pieces." And I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.' 30 "So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, 31 sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. 32 Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' 33 "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. 34 How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father."

NIV

There is just no way to divide this up as it is a lot of repeat of what we have already been told. We see again the conversation between Judah and his father. We see again the recounting of the conversation between Joseph and the ten brothers about not seeing him unless Benjamin is with them. This is all in the form of Judah trying his best to get Joseph to release Benjamin because that is the pledge he made to his father. Although we have seen that it is as we say, and that words are important, and that we should let our yes be yes and no be no, we also see here that if we say something, if we  do pledge, or promise, that needs to be fulfilled at all costs. Judah was willing to give his own life as a ransom for Benjamin. Yet this could also be seen as a self-motivated offering. But that is unlikely as it does appear he is genuinely concerned about the well-being of his father. All of them were filled with grief when the cup was found in the sack of Benjamin. They knew their words, and the fact the steward had said to let it be as your say. It was their own words which was bringing this disastrous situation upon them. Yet it still was happening because of the plot of Joseph. What is there for us to learn here that we have not already learned? Words? Promises? Vows? Pledges? Perhaps it is self-sacrifice. That is the reason for the whole of scripture, the self-sacrifice of God for his own creation’s disobedience. God sacrificed his one and only son so that we could be restored into full fellowship with him as he intended it to be with Adam. Here we see Judah willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of his father. The fathers love for Benjamin was so great, any harm that would befall Benjamin would destroy the father.  So Judah, another son, gives himself a ransom for many. Do we not see Jesus here? It would also be good for us to see how we should live in regards to those whom we love, giving up ourselves for them. Perhaps it would be said better that we should give our "self" for the sake of those we love. That does bring us to the idea that we should love everyone, not just our immediate family. So then do we need to sacrifice ourselves for all others? That might seem be a bit too much, yet that is the truth. We certainly need to do so for those in our close family. Then move on to all others. For the most part we do much of that, yet are there areas we are unwilling to give ourselves up to? Do we hold back any area of our lives, keeping our own desires paramount? The question is: how much are willing to sacrifice? Is it all or just some? If we say we are a follower of Jesus, he gave it all. Should we do any less? Yes, we could expect that from others, to give all for us, but the point is we need to give all for them, as Jesus did for us. Self-sacrifice is our lesson. 

Yes or No or As you say

DEVOTION

GENESIS

YES OR NO

or

AS YOU SAY

Gen 44: 1-10

44:1 Now Joseph gave these instructions to the steward of his house: "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each man's silver in the mouth of his sack. 2 Then put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one's sack, along with the silver for his grain." And he did as Joseph said. 3 As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4 They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, "Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil? 5 Isn't this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.'" 6 When he caught up with them, he repeated these words to them. 7 But they said to him, "Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do anything like that! 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master's house? 9 If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord's slaves." 10 "Very well, then," he said, "let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame."

NIV

Joseph knew full well what trickery he was doing to his brothers and it surely appears this is a full-throat ed payback. But we know that is not the case, as Joseph has his whole family brought into Egypt so they can survive the great famine. But this plot does smack of trickery, deception, untruthfulness. But our lesson in not in this plot of Joseph today. Our lesson is in the words of the steward's  response to what the brother’s said in defense of their innocence. They were so convinced of their innocence they voiced a vow that whoever had that cup would die and the rest would become slaves. First, that was a very foolish thing to say, as they had already experienced their silver in their sacks the last time they came to Egypt and dealt with this lord of the land. Did they not think he was doing the same thing to them? Did they think this time would be different because they thought they had become friendly with him, having dined in his home? Nevertheless they proclaimed death on the one with the cup. There was no wisdom, no thinking through the situation, just the blurting out of words in an effort to prove their innocence. The steward's response, “Very well then, let it be as you say”. Words are important. It is not wise to vow anything, to swear about anything.

Matt 5:33-37

33 "Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

NIV

They would have been far better off just saying we did not do that, and leave it at that. But no, they had to vow this was not true and make a promise to prove they were right. We should not make any vow to do something in order to prove anything. It is far better to simply say, “yes” or “no”.  However when we say yes, that means yes, we will do that which we have been asked to do. It is far better to respond yes, or no when asked if we have done something or not. To make excuses, to make such claims as these brothers did just deepens our trouble. Yet, it seems so easy to want to prove our innocence or make some case, or reason for our behavior, whether good or bad. It would be wise to watch our words, for they have meaning. It is far better not to promise, but just say yes or no. If yes, do it, if no, don’t do it. If asked if we did or did not do something, say yes, or say no, and leave it at that. 

Detestable

DEVOTION

GENESIS

DETESTABLE

Gen 43:26-34

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground. 27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, "How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?" 28 They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to pay him honor. 29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son, he asked, "Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?" And he said, "God be gracious to you, my son." 30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there. 31 After he had washed his face, he came out and, controlling himself, said, "Serve the food." 32 They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians. 33 The men had been seated before him in the order of their ages, from the firstborn to the youngest; and they looked at each other in astonishment. 34 When portions were served to them from Joseph's table, Benjamin's portion was five times as much as anyone else's. So they feasted and drank freely with him.

NIV

Once again his brothers bow before him to the ground. Joseph sees his brother Benjamin for the first time in many years and he is so moved he must leave the room so he can weep tears of joy. The rest of this portion of the story is filled with the customs of Egypt. The arrangement of guests, the larger portion for the guest of honor, the Egyptians not even using the same knives as the Hebrews, even sitting at  a different table, however his brothers feasted and drank freely in the presence and with Joseph. It was an overall good time with all twelve of the brothers together, although Joseph was the only one at this point who knew they were the twelve brothers. We are not privy to the conversation during this feast, but we can only imagine the brothers were beginning to feel more confident in their relationship with this lord of the land. Yet Joseph had one more act of trickery up his sleeve before he reveals to them his true identity. But for now all is well, Joseph is enjoying being surrounded by his brothers. He honors Benjamin the brother of his own mother. What lesson can we learn from this reunion of the twelve, from this feast and freely drinking? It is curious that Joseph’s servants ate separate from him as well because he was a Hebrew. They knew he was a Hebrew although he was the second in command of all Egypt. So to them, using any knife he used was still detestable. That is strange. They are his servants yet they still remain true to their custom and belief. This could be a lesson. Although, we like Joseph ,are foreigners in the land. We may not be in as powerful as a position as he was, yet like the Egyptians, the world holds fast to it's customs, seeing our ways somewhat detestable. They are friendly, we can feast and freely drink with them,  but they still hold us and our way, detestable.   But conversely, maybe we should identify with the Egyptians in this case and freely feast and drink with the unbelievers but hold to our customs finding their ways detestable. That is to say we should be friendly with them, inviting them to dine with us, yet not using the same utensils, not accepting their ideologies and  holding their beliefs, but not them, as detestable. We should love them, but not their ways. The Egyptians dined with the Hebrews, showing them kindness and honoring them, but they would not accept their ways, as they were not Egyptian. It is true that unbelievers can become believers and then we can not only dine with them, we can have fellowship, joining together in the same belief. But until then, their ways must remain detestable to us. 

No Fear

DEVOTION

GENESIS

NO FEAR

Gen 43:15-25

15 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare dinner; they are to eat with me at noon." 17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph's house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, "We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys." 19 So they went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20 "Please, sir," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food. 21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver — the exact weight — in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us. 22 We have also brought additional silver with us to buy food. We don't know who put our silver in our sacks." 23 "It's all right," he said. "Don't be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver." Then he brought Simeon out to them. 24 The steward took the men into Joseph's house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys. 25 They prepared their gifts for Joseph's arrival at noon, because they had heard that they were to eat there.

NIV

Several issues are before us here. It would seem the brothers feared the worst, when what was happening to them was for their best. Well at least in the short haul, as ultimately the whole nation will be enslaved years later. But for now their famine is over, for Joseph was second in command of all Egypt, because God was with him. Yet these brothers were members of their fathers household, who knew the Lord God. They were men who the Lord God was with as well, yet they were filled with fear. How can this be? If they trust in the Lord God, then fear should not be an option, other than in order to have wisdom it is appropriate to fear or revere the Lord God. But to fear men when they knew God, shows they really did not trust him. It is interesting Joseph’s steward, who must have been an Egyptian, reminds them not to be afraid, to have no fear, their God, the God of their father was the one who gave them the treasure in their sacks. He actually received their silver. The steward received their payment the first time they came to buy grain. Unknown to him, Joseph had silver put in there sacks. However, it is also interesting that the steward knew about the God of their father. He was Joseph’s steward, an Egyptian serving as steward to a Hebrew. It would surely make sense that Joseph took opportunity to talk to his steward about the God of his father. Whether the steward accepted God as the Lord God, maker of heaven and earth we do not know, but we might say, an unbeliever reminded supposed believers about the provisions of their God. We are going to see next how the Egyptians would not eat at the same table with Hebrews as it was considered detestable to the Egyptians to do so, yet a Hebrew was second in command of all Egypt. How did they justify that? Perhaps Joseph was considered more than a Hebrew, although we also see he ate alone. Yet our lesson is in the fact these men needed a foreigner to remind not to be afraid, because their God was looking out for them. That would be a sad commentary if we acted in such an unbelieving way, filled with fear, which an unbeliever would need to remind us our God will take care of us. What can men do to us? At worse these men could have been killed. Death has no sting for a believer. What do we have to fear? Do we fear famine? Do we fear authority of an unbelieving government? This was the fear these men had. They feared the authority of Joseph, although they did not know he was their brother. We might think we have cause to fear government with all its actions against Christianity, or conservation values. It seems strange there would be believers who have liberal or progresive values, that would agree with this unbelieving government authority.  Yet still we have nothing to fear, for our God will always provide for us. Our country might well be in the greatest spiritual famine it has ever seen. Forces are at work to destroy any resemblance of God from the public square. Forces are at work to give equal homage to all gods of all people, making these false gods greater than the almighty God. If people know we are believers, and they most certainly should, then we should be living openly as a believer, showing no fear of mankind or their false gods. The brothers did not bring their silver back and gifts out of kindness or what was the right thing to do, but out of fear. Our actions, our behavior in this world should not be because of fear, but due to love. 

A plan

DEVOTION

GENESIS

A PLAN

Gen 43:1-14

43:1 Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Go back and buy us a little more food." 3 But Judah said to him, "The man warned us solemnly, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.' 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.'" 6 Israel asked, "Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?" 7 They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. 'Is your father still living?' he asked us. 'Do you have another brother?' We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?" 8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice." 11 Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift — a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved."

NIV

Jacob has a change of heart and as such at least in this portion of the whole story he is referred to as Israel instead of Jacob. Is that because he now is more concerned about the lives of all his family instead of just himself? The last statement of this dialog between him and his sons is: “As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.” There seems to be a little oddness in this portion of the narrative however. It would seem they are once again with no food to eat. Almost to the point of death if they do not get more grain from Egypt because the famine is severe in the whole land. What are their flocks and herds eating, have they all died? Doubtful. Why don’t they slaughter one of the sheep or goats, or even a camel to have meat to eat? Why must they have grain? To make bread? Then Israel tells his sons to take balm, honey and some spices and myrrh alone with pistachio nuts and almonds as a gift for the Lord over the land of Egypt. Why are they not eating those nuts with honey? Why do they have them if there is a severe famine in the land? Did they have a large storage of them before the famine hit? We just do not know the answer to these questions, but it still is odd they had all that around them and they needed the grain, which is considered by our scholars to be corn rather than wheat or rice. The argument Judah makes about be able to take Benjamin makes perfect sense and that would seem why Israel relented. If they do not go back to Egypt with Benjamin, then Benjamin will die anyway from starvation. So maybe it is not because of a changed heart that Jacob is referred to as Israel here. Maybe it is just a case of self-preservation of both himself as well as the rest of the family. But what about the promise from God? When Jacob had that vision of the ladder or stairs with angels ascending and descending and the Lord God told him he would give him all this land and his descendants would be as many as the dust of the earth, uncountable in other words. Had Jacob forgotten what God had promised because he was out of grain?  Looking far ahead we know ultimately he and all his family ends up in Egypt in the region of Goshen, a plush area. But we also know as they grew in numbers they were enslaved for hundreds of years enduring hard labor. Was that the fulfillment of Gods plan or the result of not trusting in God? Were their actions a forerunner to the famous English quote:  “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” which means when the situation becomes difficult, the strong will work harder to meet the challenge? This is humanism at its finest. Where is their trust in God? Oh right Jacob does ask that God almighty grant them mercy before the man. They worked out their plan of action, then asked God to bless their plan. Perhaps Israel is simply Jacob after all. Yes they survive because of this plan, but again they survive only for their descendants to be enslaved for many years until they cry out to God. This whole story, in fact throughout all of scripture it is about trusting God. Trusting him not only for our salvation, but trusting him for every aspect of our lives. This includes his provisions for our sustenance. Yes, we have jobs, we need to work, just as he told Adam that he would have to toil the ground all the days of his life. We are supposed to work all the days of our lives. But we also are supposed to trust him to supply with the work. He told us to go forth into all the world to preach the gospel. Some might consider that to mean the physical world and thus give that command over to those we support to go. But we have not gone anywhere, we have not fulfilled that command. Yet if we see it as going into the world of construction, the world of medicine, the world of business, the world of engineering, the world of education, the world of politics and on and on the list goes, then we can be that missionary in our part of the world. We can trust God to direct our paths, instead of making our own plans for life and then asking God to bless our plan. How would this whole story have turned out if Israel said to his sons; "Let it be what it will be, God will provide a way, remember what he promised me about how many descendants I  would have. He will not let us perish, he will not only provide but he will multiply us beyond count." Although our lives are lived out according to a plan, the question is whose, ours or his?