Genesis 46:1-7

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Jacob and His Family Join Joseph in Egypt

Why didn’t Joseph take revenge on his brothers?
Why did Jacob hesitate going down to Egypt?
What changed Jacob’s mind?
Did God confirm Jacob’s decision to go to Egypt?
What does it mean to Israel that God superintends the decisions of His finite children?

He was willing to forgive and forget the past.
There were several reasons. He was 130 years old; God had brought him back to Canaan; his grandfather Abraham had gone down to Egypt years before in a time of famine, against God’s will (Genesis 12); and Isaac had been warned not to go down to Egypt (Genesis 26).
Jacob wanted to be sure that he was in God’s will. He did the right thing by going to the Lord, stopping at Beersheba and offering sacrifices.
God promises to guide His obedient children. When Jacob sought God’s will, God confirmed Jacob’s decision. See Genesis 46:3.
God had promised to make Israel a great nation. This was the promise of the exodus, that Jacob’s descendants would return under God’s guidance.

Joseph did not take revenge or hold a grudge against his brothers. The Lord is willing to forgive us and reconcile us to Himself. Are you willing to forgive others, even though you have been hated and betrayed?
God spoke to Jacob at night. See Genesis 46:2-3; 28:11-16; 31:10-13; and 32:22-31. Has God ever spoken in the quietness of the night? What has He told you?
God revealed to Jacob that he was to go to Egypt; He confirmed Jacob’s decision. Has God confirmed some of your decisions? How?

Refer to the practical application. Do you know someone who is going through deep waters now? Do you believe that the Lord cares for us in death as well as in life? Read Hebrews 13:5.

“Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, ‘Jacob, Jacob!” Genesis 46:2
“I will go down with you...and I will also surely bring you up again.” Genesis 46:4