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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).
(Genesis 48:8-14 ESV)

“When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?” Joseph told his father they were his sons, whom God provided me here. Israel asked that they be brought to him so that he could bless them. Being old, Israel had trouble seeing. Joseph brought them close and he kissed and embraced them. He told Joseph that he had never expected to see him, and that God had allowed him to see his offspring also. Joseph brought them close Manasseh on his right and Ephraim on his left. Israel laid his left hand on the head of Manasseh and his right on the head of Ephraim. He crossed his hands (Manasseh was the firstborn.)

When you have been away from your family and your father for a long time, and he comes to where you are living would you want him to bless your sons? This was a common practice in the Jewish culture at that time and may still be now.

Heavenly Father, In our time, renew the practice of father blessing their children as they grow and get ready to leave home that their lives will be prosperous and secure and that they will continue to follow You for all of their days. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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 to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”                                                                                                                                                                 (Genesis 48:6-7 ESV)

The children Joseph fathered after Ephraim and Manasseh were to be his. They shall be included in their inheritance. Israel said that when he came from Paddan his wife Rachel died in the land of Canaan to his sorrow. He was still some distance from Ephrath and he buried Rachel there on the way to Ephrath.

It is never easy to lose a loved one to death, but I think it would be especially difficult if the loss happens when you are moving from one place to another. You have left behind the community that supported you and have yet to find support in the new place. In such a time you need to rely on God to be with and comfort you.

Heavenly Father, When we lose a loved one as we are moving from one place to another be with us and comfort us as the support we once had is not available and we have yet to find support where we are going. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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 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.
(Genesis 48:1-5 ESV)

Joseph took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to see Jacob when he heard he was ill. Jacob was advised that Joseph had come to him. Israel summoned his strength and sat up. He told Joseph that God had blessed him at Luz in Canaan, had blessed him and had told him that he would make of him a great nation, and would give this land to his offspring for an everlasting possession. He made Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh his as were Reuben and Simeon.

How would you feel if your father claimed that your sons were his as were his own sons? Would you think that they had been accepted as part of the greater family by its patriarch or would you want them to remain your own?

Heavenly Father, Families are important in keeping order in society.  May we structure our families in such a way that each member is recognized as an important part of the family, and is loved by the elders as well as their own parents. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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.
(Genesis 47:27-31 ESV)

Israel has settled in the land of Egypt and they gained possessions and were fruitful there. Jacob lived for seventeen years in Egypt the years of his life were 147 years. When the time drew near for Israel to die he called Joseph and implored him to deal kindly with him by not burying him in Egypt, but allowing him to lie with his fathers. He asked to be taken to their cemetery. Joseph swore to him that he would do so and he bowed himself on the head of his bed.

Joseph was kind to his father and promised to do as he asked. Will you, in the same way, be kind to your father and do for him what he asks as he nears his death?

Heavenly Father, May we honor our fathers as they near death by doing what they ask and providing for whatever they need. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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.
(Genesis 47:23-26 ESV)

At this time Joseph reminded the people he had bought them and their land for Pharaoh. He gave them seed and told them to sow the land. At harvest time they were to give one-fifth of the harvest to Pharaoh and they were to keep four-fifths of the harvest for themselves to have seed to sow and to feed themselves and their families. Joseph made a statute that remains to this day that Pharaoh would have a fifth with the exception of the land of the priests.

If in your business you were told that one-fifth of all you earned was to be given to the government and you were to use the rest to provide for your self, your family and to continue the business would you consider that to be fair?

Heavenly Father, Joseph made sure that Pharaoh would be provided for all of his days and the days of his successor. In our time may we provide what is necessary for the government to function but no more than is necessary, and let the government not use more than is provided to it to carry out its duties. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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 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.
(Genesis 47:18-22 ESV)

The next year the people of Egypt came to Joseph and, having given him all of their money and livestock, entreated him to sell them food for their service and their land. They also asked for seed to plant so the land would not be desolate. They said they would be servants to Pharaoh with their land that they would live and not die.

Joseph bought all the land for Pharaoh because all of the people sold their fields, because the famine was severe. The land became Pharaoh’s and the people became servants of Pharaoh from one end of Egypt to the other. Joseph did not buy the land of the priests because they were given a fixed allowance from Pharaoh and lived on it, so they did not sell their land.

Heavenly Father, In all he did Joseph prospered Pharaoh and provided him with all of the lands in Egypt. When we have a position with a business may we attempt in all we do to prosper the business that it will flourish and provide for all of the people involved with it. I ask this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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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.
(Genesis 47:13-17 ESV)

When there was no food in the land the people came to Joseph and used their money to buy food. When he had collected all the money he brought it into Pharaoh’s house. After all the money was spent the Egyptians came to Joseph and requested food, saying why should we die, for our money is gone. Joseph required them to give him their livestock in exchange for food. The people brought all of their horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for all of their livestock that year.

Joseph was an excellent steward. He made sure that he had control of the stored food. When the famine was terrible he sold the food for all the money the Egyptians had and brought it to Pharaoh. When they had no more money he required them to give him their livestock for food and he gathered all the livestock.

Heavenly Father, If we are running a business may we find the kind of manager who, like Joseph, will make sure that the monies earned by the business will be properly accounted for and placed in the business’s bank account. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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.
(Genesis 47:7-12 ESV)

This is a very simple passage. Having brought his family to Egypt and told them he would settle them there, Joseph had brought five of his brothers before Pharaoh and now he was bringing his father before Pharaoh. Pharaoh asked his age and was told 130 years. Jacob then blessed Pharaoh and left his presence. Joseph then settled his father in and gave them the best of the land in Egypt and provided for the entire household with food.

When you move to a new place would you like to be provided for as Joseph did for his family? Much of the time in this age when we move we are required to provide for ourselves with little to no help from others.

Heavenly Father, It is clear that as Joseph’s family moved to Egypt they were given good land and food to provide for their needs. They were also asked to take care of Pharaoh’s livestock as they were herdsmen and shepherds. May we as we move to a new area find that the means to take care of ourselves and our families are provided that we may have the assurance that we will be able to prosper. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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.”
(Genesis 47:1-6 ESV)

Joseph indicated to Pharaoh that his father and brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they possess, came from Canaan and have settled in Goshen. Joseph took five of his brothers to Pharaoh. They were asked their occupation and they said they were shepherds, as were our fathers. They mentioned to Pharaoh they came to sojourn in the land for the famine was severe in Canaan and there was no pasture for their flocks. They asked to be allowed to dwell in Goshen. Pharaoh gave his permission and asked that if there were able shepherds among his brothers they would be put in charge of his livestock.

Heavenly Father, In our time when we move to another location the only permission we need is that of a landlord to move into an apartment or the permission from a banker to purchase a home. May we be led by Your Spirit to the place it will be best for us to dwell and may we be able to gain permission to stay there. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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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.”
(Genesis 46:28-34 ESV)

Jacob sent Judah ahead to show the way to Goshen, and the family arrived in Goshen. Joseph went in his chariot to Goshen to meet his father Israel. He presented himself to him and spent a good while weeping with him. Israel commented that he could now die because he had seen Joseph and knew he is alive. Joseph told his brothers that he would go to Pharaoh and tell him that they had come to him and that they were shepherds and keepers of livestock who have brought their flocks and herds and all that they have with them. When you are received by Pharaoh you are to tell him that you are keepers of livestock that you may dwell in the land of Goshen. Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Joseph made sure that his family would be received by Pharaoh and would be allowed to settle in Goshen. He also assured that they would be left alone by telling Pharaoh they were herdsmen. In this way, the Egyptians would see them as abominable and leave them to tend their herds. When you move to a new place where you have not been would you want someone to provide the same sort of security for you as Joseph did for his family?

Heavenly Father, Joseph took care of his family and made sure that they were secure in the land that they were settled on in Egypt. As we move to a new place we ask that we to would be able to settle securely in it that we can live full prosperous lives that bring glory to You. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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