January 11, 2025
How do we see Jesus in the Book of Genesis?
Genesis 46-50
Bethany Cabrera
Big Book Idea
From the beginning, Jesus has always been God's plan A.
Key Verse | Genesis 49:10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
Genesis 46-50
Joseph Brings His Family to Egypt
1 So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. 4 I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes.”
5 Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him, 7 his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.
8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, 9 and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.
16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.
19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.
23 The son 1 46:23 Hebrew sons of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.
26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.
Jacob and Joseph Reunited
28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” 31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen
1 So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” 2 And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” 4 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. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” 5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”
7 Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Then 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 commanded. 12 And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents.
Joseph and the Famine
13 Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And 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. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” 16 And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the herds, and the donkeys. He supplied them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they came to him the following year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent. The herds of livestock are my lord's. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we with our land will be servants to Pharaoh. And give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not be desolate.”
20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for all the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe on them. The land became Pharaoh's. 21 As for the people, he made servants of them 2 47:21 Samaritan, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew he removed them to the cities from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy, for the priests had a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on the allowance that Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their land.
23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.
27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.
29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed. 3 47:31 Hebrew; Septuagint staff
Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
1 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty 4 48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And 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. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance 5 48:7 Or about two hours' distance to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”
8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them.” 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16
the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them grow into a multitude
6
48:16
Or let them be like fish for multitude
in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude 7 48:19 Hebrew fullness of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope 8 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”
Jacob Blesses His Sons
1 Then Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.
2
Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob,
listen to Israel your father.
3
Reuben, you are my firstborn,
my might, and the firstfruits of my strength,
preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power.
4
Unstable 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!
5
Simeon and Levi are brothers;
weapons of violence are their swords.
6
Let my soul come not into their council;
O my glory, be not joined to their company.
For in their anger they killed men,
and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen.
7
Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce,
and their wrath, for it is cruel!
I will divide them in Jacob
and scatter them in Israel.
8
Judah, your brothers shall praise you;
your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father's sons shall bow down before you.
9
Judah is a lion's cub;
from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
9
49:10
By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
11
Binding his foal to the vine
and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,
he has washed his garments in wine
and his vesture in the blood of grapes.
12
His eyes are darker than wine,
and his teeth whiter than milk.
13
Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea;
he shall become a haven for ships,
and his border shall be at Sidon.
14
Issachar is a strong donkey,
crouching between the sheepfolds.
10
49:14
Or between its saddlebags
15
He saw that a resting place was good,
and that the land was pleasant,
so he bowed his shoulder to bear,
and became a servant at forced labor.
16
Dan shall judge his people
as one of the tribes of Israel.
17
Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
a viper by the path,
that bites the horse's heels
so that his rider falls backward.
18
I wait for your salvation, O LORD.
19
Raiders shall raid Gad,
11
49:19
Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid
but he shall raid at their heels.
20
Asher's food shall be rich,
and he shall yield royal delicacies.
21
Naphtali is a doe let loose
that bears beautiful fawns.
12
49:21
Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold
22
Joseph is a fruitful bough,
a fruitful bough by a spring;
his branches run over the wall.
13
49:22
Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall
23
The archers bitterly attacked him,
shot at him, and harassed him severely,
24
yet his bow remained unmoved;
his arms
14
49:24
Hebrew the arms of his hands
were made agile
by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob
(from there is the Shepherd,
15
49:24
Or by the name of the Shepherd
the Stone of Israel),
25
by the God of your father who will help you,
by the Almighty
16
49:25
Hebrew Shaddai
who will bless you
with blessings of heaven above,
blessings of the deep that crouches beneath,
blessings of the breasts and of the womb.
26
The blessings of your father
are mighty beyond the blessings of my parents,
up to the bounties of the everlasting hills.
17
49:26
A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills
May they be on the head of Joseph,
and on the brow of him who was set apart from his brothers.
27
Benjamin is a ravenous wolf,
in the morning devouring the prey
and at evening dividing the spoil.”
Jacob's Death and Burial
28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them as he blessed them, blessing each with the blessing suitable to him. 29 Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— 32 the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” 33 When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.
1 Then Joseph fell on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” 6 And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” 7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; 18 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt it is beyond the Jordan. 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. 14 After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
God's Good Purposes
15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” 16 So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: 17 ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people 19 50:20 Or a numerous people should be kept alive, as they are today. 21 So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
The Death of Joseph
22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own. 20 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees 24 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Footnotes
[1] 46:23 Hebrew sons[2] 47:21 Samaritan, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew he removed them to the cities
[3] 47:31 Hebrew; Septuagint staff
[4] 48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai
[5] 48:7 Or about two hours' distance
[6] 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude
[7] 48:19 Hebrew fullness
[8] 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem
[9] 49:10 By a slight revocalization; a slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Targum) until he comes to whom it belongs; Hebrew until Shiloh comes, or until he comes to Shiloh
[10] 49:14 Or between its saddlebags
[11] 49:19 Gad sounds like the Hebrew for raiders and raid
[12] 49:21 Or he gives beautiful words, or that bears fawns of the fold
[13] 49:22 Or Joseph is a wild donkey, a wild donkey beside a spring, his wild colts beside the wall
[14] 49:24 Hebrew the arms of his hands
[15] 49:24 Or by the name of the Shepherd
[16] 49:25 Hebrew Shaddai
[17] 49:26 A slight emendation yields (compare Septuagint) the blessings of the eternal mountains, the bounties of the everlasting hills
[18] 50:11 Abel-mizraim means mourning (or meadow) of Egypt
[19] 50:20 Or a numerous people
[20] 50:23 Hebrew were born on Joseph's knees
Table of Contents
Introduction to Genesis
Timeline
Author, Date, and Recipients
Traditionally, Moses is considered to have been the author of Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch (see Num. 33:2; Deut. 31:24; John 5:46). Of course, Moses lived much later than the events of Genesis. Presumably, stories were passed down about those earlier events, and Moses brought them all together.
The first audience would have been the Israelites Moses led through the wilderness. For readers today, Genesis is an essential introduction to the rest of the Bible. It is rightly called the book of beginnings.
Theme
The theme of Genesis is creation, sin, and re-creation. God made the world very good, but first cursed it and then destroyed it in the flood because of man’s disobedience. The new world after the flood was also spoiled by human sin (ch. 11). God chose Abraham for a special purpose. Through his family, all nations would be blessed (12:1–3). God’s purpose will eventually be fulfilled through Abraham’s descendants (ch. 49).
Key Themes
- The Lord God commissions human beings to be his representatives on earth. They are to take care of the earth and govern the other creatures (1:1–2:25).
- Instead of acting as God’s representatives on earth, the first man and woman—Adam and Eve—listen to the serpent and follow his advice. Their disobedience has devastating results for all mankind and for the entire created world (3:1–24; 6:5–6).
- God graciously announces that Eve’s offspring will free humanity from the serpent’s control (3:15). Genesis then begins tracing the history of one family that will become the people of Israel. This family has a special relationship with God and will become a source of blessing to fallen humanity (12:1–3).
- As a result of Adam’s disobedience, his unique relationship with the ground degenerates, resulting in hard work and later in flood and famine. But the special family descending from Adam also brings relief from the difficulties (3:17–19; 5:29; 50:19–21).
- While Eve’s punishment centers on pain in bearing children (3:16), women play an essential role in continuing the unique family line. With God’s help, even barrenness is overcome (11:30; 21:1–7; 25:21; 38:1–30).
- The corruption of human nature causes families to be torn apart (4:1–16; 13:5–8; 25:22–23; 27:41–45; 37:2–35). Although Genesis shows the reality of family conflicts, individual members of the chosen family can also help resolve those conflicts (13:8–11; 33:1–11; 45:1–28; 50:15–21).
- The wicked are exiled from Eden and scattered throughout the earth (3:22–24; 4:12–16; 11:9), but God is kind to his chosen people and promises them a land of their own (12:1–2, 7; 15:7–21; 28:13–14; 50:24).
- God is prepared to destroy almost the entire human race because of its corruption (6:7, 11–12; 18:17–33), but he still wants his world to be populated by righteous people (1:28; 9:1; 15:1–5; 35:11).
Outline
- Primeval History (1:1–11:26)
- Patriarchal History (11:27–50:26)
- Terah’s descendants (11:27–25:18)
- Isaac’s descendants (25:19–37:1)
- Jacob’s descendants (37:2–50:26)
The Near East at the Time of Genesis
Fact: In the Beginning
In the Hebrew Bible, the title of Genesis is In the Beginning, the book’s first words. The English title is related to the Greek word genesis, which means “beginning.”
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: All things were made through him
All things were made through him. John begins his Gospel in the same way that Genesis begins: with creation (1:1–5; Gen. 1:1). He reveals that Jesus, God’s Son, existed eternally with God the Father, and the whole creation was made through him (Col. 1:15–16; compare 1 Cor. 8:6).
Fact: As numerous as the stars
As numerous as the stars. As the book of Exodus begins, some 350 years have passed since the end of Genesis. The 70 Israelites who went to Egypt have grown into a great multitude. This fulfills God’s promise to multiply Abraham’s descendants and to make them a blessing to all the nations of the world (Gen. 12:1–3; 15:5).
Fact: The right hand
The right hand is often a symbol of authority and power. Kings wore their signet rings on their right hand (Jer. 22:24), and a father blessed his oldest son with his right hand (Gen. 48:14, 17). In Psalm 110, the right hand describes a place of honor and distinction. The Bible often refers to God’s right hand in his acts of blessing and deliverance (Ex. 15:6; Ps. 16:11).
Fact: The Land of Goshen
The Land of Goshen probably covered a small area. But it was very fertile and was a good place to raise sheep and cattle (46:28–34).
Fact: “Do not bury me in Egypt.”
“Do not bury me in Egypt.” Once a family burial plot had been established, it was customary for future generations to be buried there as well (47:29‑30). This helped to tie the family closer together and also to secure their property rights.
Fact: God’s providence
God’s providence. When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, the outcome could have been tragic. But God in his providence brought good out of their evil actions (50:20). This was a foreshadowing of God’s bringing the ultimate good—eternal salvation for anyone who will receive it, whatever their ethnic or cultural background—out of the wicked actions of the men who crucified Jesus (Acts 2:22–24).
The Near East at the Time of Genesis
c. 2000 B.C.
The book of Genesis describes events in the ancient Near East from the beginnings of civilization to the relocation of Jacob’s (Israel’s) family in Egypt. The stories of Genesis are set among some of the oldest nations in the world, including Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and Elam.
The Garden of Eden
Genesis describes the location of Eden in relation to the convergence of four rivers. While two of the rivers are unknown (the Pishon and the Gihon), the nearly universal identification of the other two rivers as the Tigris and the Euphrates suggests a possible location for Eden at either their northern or southern extremes.
The Generations of Genesis
| Primeval History (1:1–11:26) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | General heading | Specific heading | Section introduced |
| 2:4 | These are the generations of | the heavens and the earth | 2:4–4:26 |
| 5:1 | These are the generations of | Adam | 5:1–6:8 |
| 6:9 | These are the generations of | Noah | 6:9–9:29 |
| 10:1 | These are the generations of | the sons of Noah | 10:1–11:9 |
| 11:10 | These are the generations of | Shem | 11:10–26 |
| Patriarchal History (11:27–50:26) | |||
| 11:27 | These are the generations of | Terah | 11:27–25:11 |
| 25:12 | These are the generations of | Ishmael | 25:12–18 |
| 25:19 | These are the generations of | Isaac | 25:19–35:29 |
| 36:1, 9 | These are the generations of | Esau | 36:1–37:1 |
| 37:2 | These are the generations of | Jacob | 37:2–50:26 |
Joseph
Joseph was the son of Jacob and his favored wife Rachel. Jacob therefore showed favoritism toward Joseph, which made his brothers despise him. Out of jealousy, they sold him into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he was purchased by a royal official. Joseph was imprisoned on false charges but was released after interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh. Because the dreams had predicted seven years of famine, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing for the famine. During the famine Joseph’s family unknowingly came to him for help, and Joseph forgave his brothers and rescued his family. Through Joseph, God used evil to work out his good purposes, foreshadowing the time when he would bring the supreme good of eternal salvation out of the wicked actions of those who crucified Jesus. (Genesis 50:19–20)
Gen. 46:2–4 Before Jacob leaves for Egypt, God speaks to him in a vision at night (v. 2). Previously, God had forbidden Isaac to go to Egypt during a famine (26:1–5). I will also bring you up again is both a promise of the exodus from Egypt (like 15:13–16) and a reassurance that Jacob himself will be buried in the Promised Land.
Gen. 46:5–7 Jacob took everything he owned and his entire family with him to Egypt.
Gen. 46:8–15 Although Reuben (v. 8) was the first son born to Jacob, his official status as firstborn was transferred to Joseph (see 1 Chron. 5:1–2). his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three. The reference to daughters here is puzzling, since only one daughter, Dinah, is mentioned in the preceding list. These verses actually list 34 people associated with Leah (Gen. 46:15). The total of 33 probably represents some other method of counting.
Gen. 46:20 On Joseph’s wife and sons, see notes on 41:45; 41:50–52.
Gen. 46:1–27 Jacob brings his family to Egypt. Verses 1–7 describe the journey to Egypt. Verses 8–27 list the people who made the journey.
Gen. 46:26–27 The relationship between the numbers sixty-six and seventy presents a difficulty. The four totals linked to Jacob’s wives in vv. 8–25 add up to 70, which is the figure recorded in v. 27 (compare Deut. 10:22). Yet Gen. 46:26 mentions 66 persons as belonging to Jacob, excluding his sons’ wives. The numbers should be treated with caution. The Septuagint adjusts the number of Joseph’s sons from two to nine and totals the number of Jacob’s descendants in Egypt as 75, not 70 (see Acts 7:14 and note). Perhaps 70 is a round number, expressing the idea that all Israel went down to Egypt.
Gen. 46:31–34 Joseph prepares his brothers for a possible meeting with Pharaoh. To guarantee that they will be given the land of Goshen, he tells them to say they are keepers of livestock (which would include cattle and sheep) and that this is their traditional occupation. every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians (v. 34). The reason for the Egyptians’ dislike of shepherds is unknown.
Fact: The Land of Goshen
The Land of Goshen probably covered a small area. But it was very fertile and was a good place to raise sheep and cattle (46:28–34).
Gen. 47:1–6 Joseph introduces five of his brothers to Pharaoh, mentioning that his family is now in the land of Goshen.
Gen. 47:7–10 Joseph introduces his father Jacob to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh (vv. 7, 10). This could have been simply words of greeting and farewell. But it fits with the pattern of Abraham and his descendants mediating God’s blessing to others (12:3). How many are the days of the years of your life? Pharaoh’s question may have been motivated by the belief that a long life was a sign of divine favor. Few and evil have been . . . the years of my life. Perhaps Jacob is referring to events such as his treatment of Esau or his sons’ deceiving him about Joseph. While Jacob is now 130 years old, Abraham and Isaac lived to be 175 and 180, respectively. The Hebrew term translated sojourning implies that Jacob and his fathers had no permanent home and perhaps anticipated something better to come. Compare Heb. 11:10.
Gen. 47:11–12 Joseph assigns land to his family in the land of Rameses. Previously, the name “land of Goshen” has been used for the territory where they were to live (e.g., 45:10; 46:28). The name “Rameses” is most often associated with the great thirteenth-century-B.C. Egyptian king Rameses II. While it is possible that the actual name “Rameses” goes back to the time of Joseph, this may be an example of a later term being substituted for an earlier name (see note on 14:13–16).
Gen. 47:13–14 The famine is so severe that the Egyptians eventually run out of money to buy grain.
Gen. 47:15–17 When all their money is gone, the Egyptians appeal to Joseph for help. He responds by offering to buy their livestock. This sustains the Egyptians for another year.
Gen. 47:18–25 With no money and no livestock, the Egyptians sell their land and even themselves, as debt-slaves, to Pharaoh. They also ask for seed to grow for the future. Joseph willingly grants these requests. The people’s response (You have saved our lives; v. 25) shows that they have a positive opinion of Joseph. Joseph provides seed on the understanding that they may keep for themselves four fifths of the harvest (v. 24). While Pharaoh’s share of one fifth may seem excessive, this must be viewed in light of the people’s having no other means of sustaining themselves. A less kind ruler might have kept even more for himself.
Fact: “Do not bury me in Egypt.”
“Do not bury me in Egypt.” Once a family burial plot had been established, it was customary for future generations to be buried there as well (47:29‑30). This helped to tie the family closer together and also to secure their property rights.
Gen. 47:27–31 While the Egyptians struggle to survive during the famine, Jacob’s family grows and prospers. The idea of being fruitful and multiplying first appears in 1:22, 28 and is repeated throughout Genesis (see 9:1, 7; 17:20; 28:3; 35:11; 48:4). Jacob asks to be buried in Canaan, for he knows that the family’s future lies there.
Gen. 47:28–31 Jacob’s approaching death, at age 147, dominates the final chapters of Genesis. put your hand under my thigh. See note on 24:9. bowed himself upon the head of his bed. Jacob bows—possibly in worship, or perhaps in gratitude to Joseph (which would fulfill Joseph’s dream; 37:9–11), or because of his frailty. Quoting from the Septuagint, Heb. 11:21 says that Jacob bowed over “the head of his staff.”
Gen. 48:3–7 Jacob refers to the appearance of God at Bethel, recalling God’s promises there (see 28:13–15). He elevates his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh to the status of full sons, on par with Reuben and Simeon (48:5). Later, this will result in Joseph’s descendants being viewed as two separate tribes. When the land in Canaan is assigned (Joshua 13–21), Joseph’s descendants receive one-sixth of the territory. This double portion confirms that Joseph was designated “firstborn” in place of Reuben (see 1 Chron. 5:1–2; and note on Gen. 35:22–23). By naming Ephraim before Manasseh (compare 48:1), Jacob anticipates what will happen in vv. 13–19.
Gen. 48:8–10 With his eyesight failing, Jacob finds it difficult to identify Joseph’s two sons.
Fact: The right hand
The right hand is often a symbol of authority and power. Kings wore their signet rings on their right hand (Jer. 22:24), and a father blessed his oldest son with his right hand (Gen. 48:14, 17). In Psalm 110, the right hand describes a place of honor and distinction. The Bible often refers to God’s right hand in his acts of blessing and deliverance (Ex. 15:6; Ps. 16:11).
Fact: The right hand
The right hand is often a symbol of authority and power. Kings wore their signet rings on their right hand (Jer. 22:24), and a father blessed his oldest son with his right hand (Gen. 48:14, 17). In Psalm 110, the right hand describes a place of honor and distinction. The Bible often refers to God’s right hand in his acts of blessing and deliverance (Ex. 15:6; Ps. 16:11).
Gen. 48:13–20 By placing his right hand on the head of Ephraim (v. 13), Jacob gives him priority over his older brother Manasseh (see 41:51–52). Joseph protests, thinking his father has mistakenly placed his right hand on the wrong head (48:17–18). Jacob insists that Ephraim should be blessed as the firstborn, meaning that the special family line traced throughout Genesis will continue through Ephraim’s descendants. The Ephraimites will become one of the leading tribes, with Joshua guiding the people into the Promised Land. But God will later reject the Ephraimites in favor of Judah (see Ps. 78:67–71).
Gen. 48:21–22 Jacob anticipates that, after his death, his family will return to Canaan. He gives Joseph one mountain slope that he took from the Amorites, possibly referring to 34:25–29 (see 33:18–19; Josh. 24:32).
Gen. 49:1–2 After blessing Joseph and his two sons, Jacob summons all his other sons together to tell them what will happen in the days to come (or “in the latter days”; see note on Isa. 2:2).
Gen. 49:3–4 Reuben’s special standing as the firstborn is taken away because of his shocking behavior with Jacob’s concubine, Bilhah (35:22–23).
Gen. 49:5–7 Jacob’s statement regarding Simeon and Levi centers on their violent behavior (see ch. 34). Their descendants will be scattered throughout the other tribes (49:7). This will prevent them from bringing destruction on the whole nation. Fulfilling this prophecy, the Levites, as the priestly tribe, receive 48 cities distributed throughout the other tribes (Num. 18:23–24; 35:1–8; Josh. 21:1–45) and the Simeonites are assigned land within the territory of Judah (Josh. 19:1–9).
Gen. 49:8–12 As with the other blessings, Jacob sees the descendants of Judah in the light of Judah’s own personal qualities. The nations will bring “tribute” (money or other gifts) and pledge their obedience to one of his descendants. Jacob thus predicts the great empire of David, and the greater kingdom of Jesus Christ, the second David. Abraham’s blessing will come to the Gentiles as Christ includes them in his kingdom. To emphasize Judah’s future royal status, he is compared to a lion, and one of his descendants will hold a scepter and a ruler’s staff. If the phrase until tribute comes to him is taken to mean “until Shiloh comes” (see ESV footnote), then it could refer to the departure of the ark of the covenant from Shiloh, when the tribe of Judah (in the person of David) replaced the tribe of Ephraim as Israel’s leading tribe (see Ps. 78:59–72, which summarizes the events in 1–2 Samuel). The royal line of Judah culminates with Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:1–16).
Gen. 49:13 Zebulun is listed here before Issachar, although Issachar was born before Zebulun (30:17–20). at the shore of the sea. Since Zebulun’s territory did not actually extend to the Mediterranean Sea (see Josh. 19:10–16), Jacob’s remarks are difficult to interpret. haven for ships. Major trading routes from the coast, which lay about 10 miles (16 km) to the west, ran through the region of Zebulun, and Zebulunites were involved in the coastal commerce of exporting and importing. And, if “Sidon” refers to Phoenicia in general, then the statement that his border shall be at Sidon is appropriate.
Gen. 49:14–15 Although Jacob’s blessing of Issachar emphasizes the strength of his descendants, it also indicates that like a donkey they will be forced to work for others.
Gen. 49:16–18 Jacob sees in Dan and his descendants both positive and negative qualities. Their snakelike behavior is later seen in their assault on the unsuspecting inhabitants of Laish (Judges 18). Dan shall judge. The name “Dan” is a play on the Hebrew word “judge” (see Gen. 30:6). I wait for your salvation, O LORD. Jacob’s pronouncements are interrupted here by a brief prayer that shows his concern for his descendants. Without divine help they will not survive.
Gen. 49:19 The descendants of Gad will become skillful warriors to defend their land, in the region of Gilead east of the Jordan River.
Gen. 49:20 Asher’s descendants will enjoy success. Their territory along the coastal plain of Acco will provide fertile land and harbors for trade.
Gen. 49:21 Compared to a graceful doe, the tribe of Naphtali will flourish amid the rich natural resources of upper Galilee.
Gen. 49:22–26 Jacob reserves his longest blessing for Joseph, confirming his special standing. The references to God (using a variety of divine titles), along with the emphasis on blessing, give this pronouncement an added dimension. Joseph has survived, sustained by the Mighty One of Jacob. Jacob prays that Joseph’s descendants will experience blessings that exceed those given to Abraham and Isaac.
Gen. 49:27 Using the image of a wolf, Jacob reveals that the descendants of Benjamin will be aggressive warriors (e.g., 1 Chron. 8:40; 12:2).
Gen. 48:1–49:28 When Jacob is very old and close to death, he pronounces a variety of blessings on his sons. He first blesses Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (ch. 48), and then all his own sons (49:1–28).
Gen. 49:29–33 In his final instruction to his sons, Jacob asks to be buried with his fathers in the cave Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite (see ch. 23). The burials of Abraham and Isaac are recounted in 25:8–10 and 35:27–29. While Jacob says that Rebekah and Leah were also buried at Machpelah (49:30), this information is not recorded elsewhere in Genesis. was gathered to his people. This phrase, commonly used in connection with dying, seems to reflect a belief in being reunited with others in the afterlife.
Gen. 50:1–3 Jacob’s body was embalmed so that it could be transported to Hebron. The seventy days of mourning reflects Egyptian royal practice. Jacob is being shown great honor.
Gen. 50:7–9 Probably because Joseph was highly respected, the funeral procession includes a large number of prominent Egyptian officials and public figures.
Gen. 50:10–11 Coming to the threshing floor of Atad, the funeral procession halts to mourn for seven days. The expression beyond the Jordan could place Atad in either Canaan or Transjordan.
Gen. 49:29–50:14 Jacob’s desire to be buried in Hebron shows his belief that, as God has promised, the future for his descendants will be in Canaan rather than in Egypt.
Gen. 50:12–14 These verses confirm that Jacob’s request (49:29–32) was carried out.
Gen. 50:15–17 Afraid to address Joseph face-to-face, the brothers send a message confessing their guilt and seeking his forgiveness.
Fact: God’s providence
God’s providence. When Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, the outcome could have been tragic. But God in his providence brought good out of their evil actions (50:20). This was a foreshadowing of God’s bringing the ultimate good—eternal salvation for anyone who will receive it, whatever their ethnic or cultural background—out of the wicked actions of the men who crucified Jesus (Acts 2:22–24).
Joseph
Joseph was the son of Jacob and his favored wife Rachel. Jacob therefore showed favoritism toward Joseph, which made his brothers despise him. Out of jealousy, they sold him into slavery. Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he was purchased by a royal official. Joseph was imprisoned on false charges but was released after interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh. Because the dreams had predicted seven years of famine, Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of preparing for the famine. During the famine Joseph’s family unknowingly came to him for help, and Joseph forgave his brothers and rescued his family. Through Joseph, God used evil to work out his good purposes, foreshadowing the time when he would bring the supreme good of eternal salvation out of the wicked actions of those who crucified Jesus. (Genesis 50:19–20)
Gen. 50:18–21 Probably encouraged by news of Joseph’s kind response to their message, the brothers came and fell down before him. Once again, their bowing and their words, Behold, we are your servants, fulfill Joseph’s dreams (37:5–10). Echoing what he had already said (see 45:5–9), Joseph stresses that God transformed their evil into good. Many people have been kept alive as a result. The principle that God ultimately overrules human sin for his glory and the good of mankind is important in Scripture (Acts 3:13–26; Rom. 8:28). Joseph’s gracious, forgiving attitude unites the family.
Gen. 50:22–23 Joseph lives long enough to see the grandchildren or great-grandchildren of Ephraim. The precise meaning of third generation is unclear.
Gen. 11:27–50:26 Patriarchal History. The story now moves from the general survey of humanity to the specific family from which Israel comes.
Gen. 37:2–50:26 Jacob’s Descendants. The last main section of Genesis further develops the theme of a royal line descended from Abraham. As governor of Egypt, Joseph brings divine blessing to many people. Genesis, however, looks forward to a time when the leadership of Israel will pass from the tribe of Joseph’s son Ephraim to the tribe of Judah (see Ps. 78:67–68). This story would have shown its first readers how they came to be in Egypt, namely, through God’s mysterious use of both evil and noble deeds to bring about his purpose (see Gen. 50:20).
Gen. 50:24–26 With death near, Joseph makes arrangements for his bones to be taken to Canaan. Later, Moses fulfills this instruction (Ex. 13:19), and Joseph’s remains are eventually buried at Shechem (Josh. 24:32).
The Generations of Genesis
| Primeval History (1:1–11:26) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | General heading | Specific heading | Section introduced |
| 2:4 | These are the generations of | the heavens and the earth | 2:4–4:26 |
| 5:1 | These are the generations of | Adam | 5:1–6:8 |
| 6:9 | These are the generations of | Noah | 6:9–9:29 |
| 10:1 | These are the generations of | the sons of Noah | 10:1–11:9 |
| 11:10 | These are the generations of | Shem | 11:10–26 |
| Patriarchal History (11:27–50:26) | |||
| 11:27 | These are the generations of | Terah | 11:27–25:11 |
| 25:12 | These are the generations of | Ishmael | 25:12–18 |
| 25:19 | These are the generations of | Isaac | 25:19–35:29 |
| 36:1, 9 | These are the generations of | Esau | 36:1–37:1 |
| 37:2 | These are the generations of | Jacob | 37:2–50:26 |
The Near East at the Time of Genesis
c. 2000 B.C.
The book of Genesis describes events in the ancient Near East from the beginnings of civilization to the relocation of Jacob’s (Israel’s) family in Egypt. The stories of Genesis are set among some of the oldest nations in the world, including Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, and Elam.
The Garden of Eden
Genesis describes the location of Eden in relation to the convergence of four rivers. While two of the rivers are unknown (the Pishon and the Gihon), the nearly universal identification of the other two rivers as the Tigris and the Euphrates suggests a possible location for Eden at either their northern or southern extremes.
Introduction to Genesis
Timeline
Author, Date, and Recipients
Traditionally, Moses is considered to have been the author of Genesis and the rest of the Pentateuch (see Num. 33:2; Deut. 31:24; John 5:46). Of course, Moses lived much later than the events of Genesis. Presumably, stories were passed down about those earlier events, and Moses brought them all together.
The first audience would have been the Israelites Moses led through the wilderness. For readers today, Genesis is an essential introduction to the rest of the Bible. It is rightly called the book of beginnings.
Theme
The theme of Genesis is creation, sin, and re-creation. God made the world very good, but first cursed it and then destroyed it in the flood because of man’s disobedience. The new world after the flood was also spoiled by human sin (ch. 11). God chose Abraham for a special purpose. Through his family, all nations would be blessed (12:1–3). God’s purpose will eventually be fulfilled through Abraham’s descendants (ch. 49).
Key Themes
- The Lord God commissions human beings to be his representatives on earth. They are to take care of the earth and govern the other creatures (1:1–2:25).
- Instead of acting as God’s representatives on earth, the first man and woman—Adam and Eve—listen to the serpent and follow his advice. Their disobedience has devastating results for all mankind and for the entire created world (3:1–24; 6:5–6).
- God graciously announces that Eve’s offspring will free humanity from the serpent’s control (3:15). Genesis then begins tracing the history of one family that will become the people of Israel. This family has a special relationship with God and will become a source of blessing to fallen humanity (12:1–3).
- As a result of Adam’s disobedience, his unique relationship with the ground degenerates, resulting in hard work and later in flood and famine. But the special family descending from Adam also brings relief from the difficulties (3:17–19; 5:29; 50:19–21).
- While Eve’s punishment centers on pain in bearing children (3:16), women play an essential role in continuing the unique family line. With God’s help, even barrenness is overcome (11:30; 21:1–7; 25:21; 38:1–30).
- The corruption of human nature causes families to be torn apart (4:1–16; 13:5–8; 25:22–23; 27:41–45; 37:2–35). Although Genesis shows the reality of family conflicts, individual members of the chosen family can also help resolve those conflicts (13:8–11; 33:1–11; 45:1–28; 50:15–21).
- The wicked are exiled from Eden and scattered throughout the earth (3:22–24; 4:12–16; 11:9), but God is kind to his chosen people and promises them a land of their own (12:1–2, 7; 15:7–21; 28:13–14; 50:24).
- God is prepared to destroy almost the entire human race because of its corruption (6:7, 11–12; 18:17–33), but he still wants his world to be populated by righteous people (1:28; 9:1; 15:1–5; 35:11).
Outline
- Primeval History (1:1–11:26)
- Patriarchal History (11:27–50:26)
- Terah’s descendants (11:27–25:18)
- Isaac’s descendants (25:19–37:1)
- Jacob’s descendants (37:2–50:26)
The Near East at the Time of Genesis
Fact: In the Beginning
In the Hebrew Bible, the title of Genesis is In the Beginning, the book’s first words. The English title is related to the Greek word genesis, which means “beginning.”
Fact: Genesis through Deuteronomy
Genesis through Deuteronomy are the foundation of the Bible. They introduce the key promises that show God’s purposes in history and prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
Fact: The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a small but powerful group of Jewish leaders who did not believe in the resurrection (12:18). This may have been because of their emphasis on the Pentateuch (Genesis–Deuteronomy), which does not seem to explicitly mention the resurrection. But Jesus showed them that the idea of resurrection can, in fact, be found in the Pentateuch (Mark 12:26–27).
Fact: All things were made through him
All things were made through him. John begins his Gospel in the same way that Genesis begins: with creation (1:1–5; Gen. 1:1). He reveals that Jesus, God’s Son, existed eternally with God the Father, and the whole creation was made through him (Col. 1:15–16; compare 1 Cor. 8:6).
Listen to the Podcast
Listen NowDive Deeper | Genesis 46-50
Reflecting on growing up in the Christian faith, I remember many Bible stories, especially from Genesis, which is filled with well-known narratives like the Creation, Noah's Ark, Abraham and Sarah's journey, and Joseph's trials. As I raise my own children in the church, I hear them recount these stories in incredible detail, often viewing these figures as perfect heroes to emulate.
However, as I began asking deeper questions about my faith, I started seeing the flaws in these biblical characters. Take Judah, for example, despite being part of the lineage that led to Jesus, his story is far from spotless. In Genesis 37, he suggests selling his brother Joseph into slavery instead of killing him. In Genesis 38, Judah fails to fulfill his promise to his daughter-in-law Tamar, and later, unknowingly sleeps with her, mistaking her for a prostitute. This is the lineage that brought Jesus?
Despite their flaws, these stories also highlight powerful themes of reconciliation and redemption, particularly with Judah and Joseph. Joseph, generally seen as righteous, also had his faults. Yet, when reunited with his brothers, he chose mercy, going beyond forgiveness to fully embrace and provide for his family. After their father Jacob's death, Joseph reassures his fearful brothers, saying, "[Y]ou meant evil against me, but God meant it for good . . . ." (Genesis 50:20)
Joseph's life, filled with betrayal and suffering, mirrors Christ's story on earth. The brothers' actions, driven by animosity, were ultimately used by God to save lives, including those of the Israelites and Egyptians during the famine.
Though there is closure for Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers, God's promises are not yet fully realized as the Israelites still face seasons of hardship. Each patriarch's life in Genesis is part of a larger narrative of redemption, a story that finds its perfect fulfillment in Jesus. Even what humanity intends for evil, God uses to demonstrate Christ's ultimate victory and perfect reunion with our Father.
This month's memory verse
"The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.'"
– Exodus 34:6
Discussion Questions
1. Imperfect Heroes: How do the flaws and failures of biblical characters like Judah and Joseph impact your view of God's plan? How do their stories of redemption resonate with your own life?
2. Mercy and Forgiveness: What can we learn from Joseph's response to his brothers when he chose mercy and reconciliation? How can we apply this kind of forgiveness in our own relationships?
3. Trusting God's Promises: The Israelites faced hardship even after God's promises. How do you maintain faith and trust in God's promises during difficult or uncertain seasons in your life?
4. Redemption and Jesus: How does understanding Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of the redemption themes in Genesis deepen your appreciation of His work and influence your faith journey?