Genesis 47:1-12

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Pharaoh Meets Joseph's Family

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God moves the hearts of people for divine purposes.

  2. God measures the status of people by divine standards.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s have a pilgrim mind-set.

  2. Are you ashamed of your family?

QUESTIONS

  1. Why did Joseph bring five of his brothers before Pharaoh as soon as they were in the land of Egypt?

  2. What was Pharaoh’s response to Joseph’s brothers?

  3. What was the Abrahamic Covenant?

  4. God moves the hearts of people for divine purposes. How did God move in hearts in this story?

  5. God measures the status of people by divine standards. How does this principle apply to this portion of scripture?

  6. Why do we believe that Jacob had a pilgrim mind-set?

ANSWERS

  1. To make a formal request for them to reside temporarily in Egypt.

  2. Pharaoh confirmed that they could stay in Goshen, the best of the land in Egypt.

  3. God told Abraham that He would make of him a great nation, that He would make him a blessing, that He would make his name great and that He would bless those who blessed him and would curse those who cursed him. See Genesis 12:2-3.

  4. God’s divine purpose was to bring Jacob and his family to Egypt. In Egypt, they would be safe from the idolatry and immorality of Canaan and they would not intermarry with the pagan Egyptians. In Egypt, God would forge this small group of seventy Hebrews into a nation that would become great and would outlive all other nations. God moved the heart of Pharaoh with kindness toward Jacob and his family.

  5. From God’s perspective, Jacob was greater than Pharaoh.

  6. He considered his life a pilgrimage. His home was not in Egypt, nor in Canaan. He looked forward to his eternal home in heaven with God. See Hebrews 11:13, 16.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Can God move the hearts of people today? Can God move in your life? See Proverbs 21:1.

  2. The world measures the status of people today by their money, power and prestige. How can you avoid falling into this trap? God’s standard is Christ. How do people treat His beloved Son?

CHALLENGE

  1. Do you have a pilgrim mind-set? If so, a biblical lifestyle will follow. Where do you consider home?

KEY VERSES

  • “Pharaoh said, ‘The land of Egypt is before you...dwell in the best of the land. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.” Genesis 47:6

  • “Jacob said, ‘The days of my pilgrimage....’“ Genesis 47:9

  • “Jacob blessed Pharaoh....” Genesis 47:10

Genesis, Old Testament, TalksRon ReidGENESIS 47:1-12