Chapter Nineteen - Jacob Comes to Egypt
Joseph’s brothers went out of the land of Egypt, back to the land of Canaan and returned to their father’s camp. Jacob was overjoyed to see his sons, but why were there wagons and extra asses? Judah spoke excitedly, “Joseph is still alive and he is Governor over all the land of Egypt.”
Jacob was so surprised that he did not believe them; but when they told him all that Joseph and Pharaoh had said, and he saw the wagons which Joseph sent to carry him, his spirit revived. “Now I can believe you. My son Joseph really must be alive and I will go and see him before I die.”
Jacob gave his son’s instructions to pack up the camp, gather the flocks, and herds and prepare for the journey to Egypt. He was excited. 'Joseph is alive, Simeon and Benjamin are safe. Surely God is good to me in my old age.’
Jacob journeyed south to Beersheba. Here he offered animal sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. While they were camped at Beersheba, God spoke to Jacob in his dreams at night.
“Jacob! Jacob!”
“Here I am,” Jacob answered.
God said, “I am God, the same God your father worshiped. Don’t be afraid to go to Egypt. I will give you so many descendants that one day they will become a nation. I will go with you to Egypt, and later I will bring your descendants back here. Your son Joseph will be at your side when you die.”
Jacob was spiritually strengthened for his journey. 'The God of my father has promised to be with me on my journey to Egypt; and He has also promised that Joseph will be at my side when I die.’
Moving Jacob’s family was a large undertaking, with his eleven sons and their families, plus all their household goods. Jacob packed up camp and left Beersheba. They made an impressive sight with the wagons, their livestock and all their goods. The journey by necessity was slow, due to the livestock which needed to be fed and watered. When they came to the border of Egypt, Jacob sent Judah to Joseph, for directions into the land of Goshen.
Joseph was pleased to see Judah. “Judah, it is good to see you my brother. Is Father well? Has his journey been comfortable?”
“Yes Joseph, Father is well. His journey in the wagon has been good. He is looking forward to seeing you.”
Joseph was excited. ’Soon I’ll see Father!’ He gave Judah directions to the land of Goshen.
“Tell father, I will come up to meet him when he arrives in Goshen.”
When news reached Joseph that his father had arrived; he asked Okan to get his chariot ready, and then he went to Goshen. Joseph was longing to see his father. ‘It’s 22 years since I walked out of Father’s camp at Hebron, to check on my brothers and the flocks. God surely moves in mysterious ways.’
Joseph drove his chariot into his father’s camp. He dismounted from his chariot and went to Jacob. He looked at his father’s frail figure, his wrinkled face and grey hair. The years of separation had taken their toll on his father’s health.
Joseph presented himself to Jacob, and fell on his neck and wept a good while. Joseph touchingly put his hand on his father’s eyes for a brief moment. All the hard years in Egypt, wondering whether he would see Father again, were over.
Jacob said to Joseph, “Now that I have seen you and know you are still alive, I am ready to die.”
Then Joseph said to his brothers and to everyone who had come with them, “I must go and tell Pharaoh that you have arrived from Canaan. I will tell him that you are shepherds and that you have brought your sheep, goats, cattle, and everything else you own.”
“Pharaoh will call you in and ask what you do for a living. When he does, be sure to say, ‘We are shepherds. Our families have always raised sheep.’ If you tell him this, he will let you settle in the region of Goshen.”
Joseph wanted them to say this to Pharaoh, because the Egyptians did not like to be around anyone who raised sheep.
Joseph took five of his brothers to Pharaoh. He selected Reuben, Judah, Simeon, Levi and Benjamin to meet Pharaoh, along with their father Jacob. Joseph presented his brothers to Pharaoh at Court. It was an awe inspiring moment for them. The full grandeur and glory of Egypt was vested in this man. The most powerful monarch in the world sat before them.
Joseph spoke, “My lord Pharaoh my brothers are privileged and grateful that you have granted them an audience.”
Pharaoh motioned them forward; they bowed their faces to the ground before him.
Joseph spoke again, “My lord Pharaoh, this is my brother Rueben, my brother Judah, my brother Simeon, my brother Levi and my brother Benjamin.”
Pharaoh asked them, “What do you do for a living?” Joseph interpreted for Pharaoh.
“Lord Pharaoh we are shepherds,” was their answer. “Our families have always raised sheep. But in our country all the pastures are dried up, and our sheep have no grass to eat. So we, your servants, have come here. Please let us live in the region of Goshen.”
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “It’s good that your father and brothers have arrived. I will let them live anywhere they choose in the land of Egypt, but I suggest that they settle in Goshen, the best part of our land. I would also like your finest shepherds to watch after my own sheep and goats.”
Joseph went out and escorted his father Jacob in and presented him to Pharaoh. Pharaoh studied the frail old man before him. He had a commanding presence. Like Joseph, there was a certain quality of spirit and wisdom emanating from him.
Jacob bowed before Pharaoh. He spoke to Jacob, “How old are you?”
Jacob answered, “I have lived only a hundred thirty years, and I have had to move from place to place. My parents and my grandparents also had to move from place to place. But they lived much longer, and their life was not as hard as mine.”
Jacob paused, “My lord Pharaoh, may the God of my father, my God, the possessor of heaven and earth reward you for your kindness to my son Joseph and to me, and my family. God Almighty bless you abundantly and grant you a long and full life.”
Pharaoh was happy; Joseph’s God was pleased with Pharaoh. So Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.
Joseph set up his father and his brothers in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses in Goshen. He gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, as Pharaoh commanded. Joseph provided bread for his father and his brothers according to the numbers in their households.