Having received the Lord’s blessing and the assurance that God would be with Jacob and his family as they lived in the land of Egypt, that God would make his descendants into a great nation while in Egypt, and that through Jacob’s family the Messiah Savior would come, Jacob moves everyone to Egypt. Because Judah has emerged as the leader among the brothers, Jacob sends him to determine from Joseph what part of the area of Goshen the family is to settle.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the list of names given today serves an important purpose—having two possible meanings. The first possibility is that these are all the people (besides the wives) who moved down to Egypt. A second possibility is that these names aren’t necessarily a complete listing of children, but a listing of those who were emerging as the main clans among the Israelites. Either way, the important note is that from these individuals would arise the “great nation” which the Lord promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

There may also be a symbolic nature to the number seventy, because the absolute total number of people who came to Egypt wasn’t recorded. Seven and ten are both numbers of completion, so to multiply the two together indicates that God is completing his promise to the Israelites—they are indeed becoming the nation God promised.

When the family of Jacob arrives in Goshen, one of the most heartfelt events in history is recorded in one sentence. By the power of God: “Joseph presented himself to his father.”

During those roughly 22 years when Joseph experienced slavery and imprisonment away from his father, and during those roughly 22 years when Jacob grieved the apparent death of Joseph, strong emotions had been building in both men. Similar to the prodigal son, it’s not hard to imagine father and son running up to each other as fast as they can. No words need to be said in this moment as father and son (long separated) now greet each other face to face.

Behind this reunion is a picture of God the Father’s love for you. He seeks reunion with all the children of His creation, as He seeks to be the Father of all—not wanting any to be lost but that all may be saved from sin, death, and hell. He sent Jesus to save and redeem you!

Jacob teaches us a lesson. He ever remained faithful to the Lord as believing sinners do. He had moments of unbelief, amid his faith. That’s how it is for all of us. As one man said to Jesus, “Lord, I believe! Help my unbelief!” The supposed loss of Joseph changed his life negatively. He carried that burden—that cross—in deep sorrow and pain the entire 22 years he thought Joseph was dead. Part of Jacob died when he heard the news that Joseph was dead.

That’s why when he finally believed the word that Joseph is actually alive, his soul revived within him. And now that he’s been reunited to Joseph, he’s ready to die. Jacob is expressing the peace he knows he has with God. The Lord, who has been gracious, merciful, and faithful to Jacob all his life, reveals His faithfulness to Jacob specifically in reuniting him to Joseph. So, Jacob basically says, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace.” Peace with God, which Jacob possessed, has been once again revealed to him in seeing Joseph face to face. Like Simeon, who held the baby Jesus in his arms, Jacob is ready to die in the peace of God—whenever that may be.

May the Lord grant you and me such confidence that no matter what happens to us in our lives, Jesus so possesses us that trusting in His Word of promise we are always ready to die in His peace, knowing that our sins are forgiven by Jesus and we have a home in His kingdom.

When the family arrives in Goshen, Joseph’s leadership abilities shine forth again. He has paid attention to Egyptian culture during the years he’s lived there. He’s able to anticipate Pharaoh’s way of thinking. So, he navigates a delicate situation carefully. Joseph is the number two man in all Egypt, but that doesn’t guarantee Egyptians will embrace every decision he makes. He knows political winds can shift quickly. Instead of settling his family in Goshen as their place of residence by his own authority, he runs it through Pharoah. He doesn’t want the command to come from a former Hebrew slave, but from Egypt’s king.

Scholars say that the territory of Goshen is picked very intentionally and strategically. God used the famine to get His people down into Egypt so that they won’t be influenced by the wicked, pagan Canaanites. There are advantages to living in Egypt rather than Canaan to keep the family from falling into idolatry. In Egypt, they are foreign shepherds. Because the Egyptians find the career of shepherding to be beneath them, shepherds made up one of the lower Egyptian classes in their caste system. Therefore, Pharaoh and the Egyptians would be happy with the Israelite shepherds living further away from the cities in Goshen. This takes pressure off Pharaoh, as it keeps the lowly shepherds away from most Egyptians.

Joseph also knows the family would be away from most of Egyptian culture and unlikely to practice Egyptian religion or marry into Egyptian families. Thus God’s people would be kept distinct and the true worship of God protected. Goshen is mostly a marshy area in the Nile Valley in the northeastern part of Egypt. God oversees that the family settles in that part of Egypt, rather than further inward, so that the exodus many years later would be less difficult.

When Pharaoh meets with Joseph and then his brothers, he is happy to settle the family in Goshen. Pharoah is even willing to put the brothers in charge of his own flocks. He pledges “the best of the land,” and gives Jacob’s family permission to settle anywhere in Egypt. For the reasons stated above, the family chooses Goshen.

Finally, Jacob meets Pharaoh. It is here that we really perceive the impressiveness of God’s gracious and merciful favor upon Jacob. Did you notice what happens when Jacob appears to Pharaoh? Jacob blesses Pharaoh! Especially in the book of Genesis, the greater individual blesses the lesser individual. Just think of the countless time the Lord Himself blessed Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The mysterious priest named Melchizedek brought out bread and wine and blessed Abraham. In response, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe—something later commanded to be given to God among the Israelites. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (as we will hear in a few weeks) blessed their children. So, the greater—the one in authority—blesses the lesser.

Jacob—the leader of a future nation—blesses Pharaoh king of Egypt twice. There’s real authority to Jacob’s blessing because he’s one of the three patriarchs chosen by God to carry on the promise of the coming Messiah—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have heard that when Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob pronounced blessings in their lives, the blessing happened by God’s power. Some of the blessings happened immediately and some in the future but they happened. It may appear that Pharaoh bears authority, but it’s really Jacob—and not because of anything in Jacob himself, but—because he’s in a special relationship as God’s child and promise bearer. All of God’s baptized, believing children are in a special relationship with Him.

Pharaoh asks Jacob his age—albeit in a weird way to us: “How many are the days of the years of your life?” But Scripturally, it’s an important reminder. Moses writes in Psalm 90: “So teach us to number our days so that we may obtain a heart of wisdom.” As we add onto our days, by God’s Word and Spirit working in our lives, we add wisdom as well.

Jacob—a little bit of a pessimist—describes his 130 years of life as “few and evil.” The man experienced numerous hardships—some of which he caused and some of which came upon him. He deceived his father to snatch the blessing from Esau, who then desired to kill him. He worked for his uncle for twenty years under unfair conditions. His beloved wife died during childbirth. He was told his favorite son got killed, and was led to believe that lie for more than twenty years. These are just a handful of the “evil” days Jacob experienced.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, you also have experienced “evil” days. You will continue to experience them. It’s part of life in a fallen world. Yet, as the Lord was with Jacob, so the Lord has promised to be with you—and He is! He’s guiding you by His Word and Spirit—using your experiences (good and bad) along the way to shape and mold you into the men and women He desires you to be. He’s forming godly character in you, and strengthening your faith and trust in Him, just as He did for Jacob. Along the way, He assures you of Christ’s salvation. Your sins are forgiven through Jesus’ shed blood. You have an inheritance in His heavenly kingdom.

You take up your cross and follow Jesus daily, knowing that He has claimed you as His own, that He loves you, and that you will see Him face to face one day—just as Joseph saw Jacob face to face. Amen.