Life Far From Home- Genesis 46 & 47
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1. How does the context inform the meaning of this passage? Please consider: a) the literary context (passages before and after the passage), b) the historical context (circumstances of the audience), and c) the biblical context (citations/allusions or historical connections to other books that the author is making).
LITERARY -
Jospeh’s invitation to move Jacob and his entire family to Egypt.
God’s promise to Jacob in the land of Canaan
Provision for Joseph & Ultimately Israel
God’s provisions for his people outside the land
God speaks to Abraham about these events in and 15
HISTORICAL -
Moses is leading his people out of Egypt and showing them how they were sent to Egypt by God for that season to be a blessing and become a blessing.
There they would not intermarry with the Egyptians b/c the Egyptians placed a high value on genetic purity as well. IT would be a tough 400 years but they would leave prosperous and numerous in the end.
BIBLICAL -
The Biblical theological context is the promise of God to Jacob…the covenantal promise of God that began with Abraham (GOD’S PEOPLE, GOD’S PLACE, “GOD’S RULE & BLESSING”
2. How has the author organized this passage? Please a) show the structure in sections with verse references and b) explain what strategies you used to see this structure.
Scene 1: God appears to Jacob (46:1–4)
Scene 2: Jacob journeys to Egypt (46:5–27)
Scene 3: Joseph meets Jacob (46:28–34)
v. 14-36 - Joseph’s Interpretation
Scene 4: Joseph’s brothers meet Pharaoh (47:1–6)
Scene 5: Jacob meets Pharaoh (47:7–10)
v. 37-57 - Joseph’s Promotion
Scene 6: Joseph cares for his family and Egypt (47:11–26)
Scene 7: Jacob prepares to die (47:27–31)
3. Drawing on your work to this point, state the author’s aim for his audience (in one short sentence).
God has worked to both bless and preserve his people in the land of Epypt. God will take them down and bring them back up again. They will be more prosperous and numerous than ever.
The sovereign God exalts his suffering servant to kingship in order to save the world.
GOAL:
To assure Israel that their God, unlike the local gods, goes with them wherever they go
To encourage God’s people today to entrust themselves to their sovereign God’s good providence
4. What parts of this passage connect to the gospel of Jesus Christ? What part of the gospel is in view?
Redemptive-Historical Progression
As Joseph is exalted in his servitude to save the people of Egypt from famine, so Christ is exalted from the low place of the tomb save the world from their sins.
Since Jacob is “afraid” (46:3) to leave the Promised Land without God’s blessing, God promises him that he will go down to Egypt with him and will bring him up again (cf. Bethel, 28:15). In fulfillment of his promises, God saves Israel from the great famine, makes them into a great nation, and later brings Israel up out of Egypt again. God promises Moses, “I will be with you” (Exod 3:12). Moses, in turn, encourages Israel to capture Canaan: “Have no fear or dread of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you” (Deut 31:6). God also assures Joshua, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you” (Josh 1:5). Still later, when Israel is in exile, the Lord again assures his people of his presence: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isa 43:2; cf. 41:10). Thus in Old Testament times, God keeps alive the people who will give birth to the Messiah. When Jesus is born, Matthew observes fulfillment of the prophecy about Emmanuel, “which means, ‘God is with us’ ” (Matt 1:23; cf. John 14:9–10; Col 2:9). After Jesus rises from the dead, he promises his disciples, “Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). When Jesus ascends to heaven, he pours out the Holy Spirit to dwell in God’s people (Acts 2:33). On the last day, when Jesus comes again, God will dwell with his people; “they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them” (Rev 21:3).
New Testament References
The appendix to the Greek New Testament again has references to Stephen’s speech in Acts 7 (vv. 14, 15, and 17). For Genesis 46:2, “Jacob, Jacob,” it lists Acts 9:4, “Saul, Saul.” For Genesis 46:30, Jacob’s words, “I can die now, having seen for myself that you are still alive,” it lists Luke 2:29, Simeon’s words, “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace …; for my eyes have seen your salvation.” And for Genesis 47:31, “Then Israel bowed himself on the head of his bed,” it lists Hebrews 11:21, Jacob “bowing in worship over the top of his staff” (based on the Septuagint). Only one of these references, Luke 2:29, is linked to Jesus. Accordingly, except for Luke 2:29, these New Testament references are not good bridges from this Old Testament narrative to Jesus.
There are, however, some other New Testament references that link the theme of God’s presence with his people to Jesus. In addition to the passages mentioned earlier, one might consider Matthew 18:20, where Jesus promises, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” And especially Romans 8:35–39, where Paul raises the question, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?” After enumerating many possibilities, he concludes that nothing “in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
5. Drawing on your work to this point, what conclusion will you argue to your audience (in one short sentence)? What applications will you make for your audience?
THEME:
As Joseph was exalted from his slavery and used to save Egypt from famine, so Jesus is exalted through His resurrection to us from our sin.
GOAL: As God promised to go with Israel into Egypt, God also promises to go with his church into the world.”
APPLICATIONS:
We must trust in the presence of God’s Spirit in us.
We must seek the good of our neighbor, including our ideological enemies, not just our own good.
We must be thankful for God’s provisions in our life.
We must understand the the world will grow jealous of our blessing (Christendom)
God provides underserved mercy in order to preserve his plans. [v.24, 28, 32]
God provides healing as we forget the past and look to His grace. [v.51]
God provides fruitfulness as we look to Jesus daily for all we need.[v.52]
6. What is your sermon title and your preaching outline?
Sermon Title - LIfe Far From Home
Joseph’s Exaltation
Sermon Outline -
I. God promises to go with his people Israel to Egypt
A. Exposition of Genesis 46:1–4.
B. State the textual theme: “In accord with his promise, God goes with his people Israel to Egypt.”
II. We see God’s presence in Egypt in:
A. Reuniting Jacob and his son Joseph (46:28–30).
God provides underserved mercy in order to preserve his plans. [v.24, 28, 32]
B. Pharaoh giving Israel access to the best of the land of Egypt (46:31–47:6).
C. Jacob being able to bless Pharaoh (47:7–10).
III. We see God’s presence in Egypt further in:
A. Joseph giving Israel “a holding” in Egypt and sufficient food (47:11–12).
God provides healing as we forget the past and look to His grace. [v.51]
B. Joseph saving the lives of the Egyptians (47:13–26).
C. God prospering Israel and multiplying them exceedingly (47:27).
IV. We see God’s presence with us in Jesus (typological parallels):
A. As Joseph granted Israel “a holding in the land,” so Jesus grants us a holding in the kingdom of God (Matt 25:34).
God provides fruitfulness as we look to Jesus daily for all we need.[v.52]
B. As Joseph provided food for Israel, so Jesus provides us with “the bread of life” (John 6:35).
C. As Joseph saved Israel from starvation, so Jesus saves us from sin and gives us eternal life (John 3:16).
D. In accord with his promise, God goes with his people wherever they go (Matt 28:20).
7. QUOTES: