Genesis 45:1-15, Thoughts from Genesis (10)

·       Gen. 45:1: I’m a guy.  But I admit, most times that I come to this part of the story, my eyes begin to get a little moist.  What an amazing moment, so full of emotion.  What a conversation they had (v15).

·       Gen. 45:21-24: This is the problem with the world’s wisdom that is based on honoring men.  Pharoah sent them away with ten donkeys of stuff that would just have to turn around and be brought back to Egypt. J

·       Gen. 46:20: We said earlier this story is about Joseph AND Judah.  So, this is interesting, that the mothers involved are 1) the daughter of an Egyptian priest, an idolatrous priest; and 2) the daughter-in-law of Judah, whom he thought was a road-side prostitute (Gen. 38).  The latter is in the Messianic line and acknowledged in Mt. 1:3. O love of God, how rich and pure!  How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure— The saints’ and angels’ song.

·       Gen. 47:1-6: This is a perfect illustration of praying to our Father in Jesus’ name.

·       Gen. 47:7: Jacob, prophet of God, blessed Pharoah, used by God and kind to Israel, but still an idolator, possibly considering himself to be “god.” 

·       47:13-26: I believe today we might call this, “never let a crisis go to waste.”  When Joseph is finished, the government pretty much owns everything and everyone.  And the tax rate was only 20%.  But, on the other hand. the people were happy.  Notice what Pharoah did with the people he now “owned”: he moved them all into cities.  Rural life was gone.  Easier to control and keep your eye on.  The same is true today.

·       Gen. 48:21: It appears like Jacob expected or assumed they would return in Joseph’s or his son's lifetimes.  However, it is most likely that Jacob knew of the prophecy of 400 years (Gen. 15:13) and that he might have realized this was that event.  I think this because of the way people in that day hung on every word when God revealed Himself and His plan to men. 

·       Gen. 48:22: Jacob is referring to Shechem, which became part of the tribe of Ephraim, and was a major center in the “mountains of Ephraim” as well as the first capitol of the Northern Kingdom of the divided nation.  Jacob, through his sons Simeon and Levi, had judged the city after the rape of Dinah.

·       Gen. 49: Jacob is a prophet of God.  These “last days” predictions raise a few questions, but are quite impactful given the Messianic prophecy (v8-12) and the prophecy concerning Joseph (v22-26). 

·       Gen. 50:15: What does it take to receive forgiveness?  It can be very difficult, even today when we are talking God’s forgiveness through Christ’s work.