Moved for a Reason

Moved for a Reason

Genesis 47: ¹⁸ When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. ¹⁹ Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.”

 

²⁰ Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. ²¹ And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. ²² Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.

 

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Another year passed and the famine was still in full effect. The people had given Egypt all of their money and now they were willing to give up their land. Joseph bought their land in exchange for some bread.

 

My Observations:

• GOD used the famine to move people around who would otherwise never move.
• GOD had a long-term reason for moving the Egyptians to specific locations.
• GOD seemed to be guiding people with the famine to do things they would not have ordinarily have done,

 

Giving up the land that their ancestors lived for centuries was huge. The Egyptians may have had people who fully believed in the polytheistic ways and some did not. There may have been people who simply wanted to live life quietly while tending their land.

 

BUT GOD made a famine so severe that people had to give up their lifestyles and move to places built for them. Joseph must have created a massive building plan to move people into the cities of Egypt. GOD put the Israelites and the Egyptians in close proximity to each other for HIS incredible plan.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about the request of the people of Egypt?
• Have you ever wondered why GOD has taken options away from you?
• Can you praise GOD for moving you to where HE wants you, so you can witness HIS deliverance firsthand?

Bilhah’s Seven

Bilhah’s Seven

Genesis 46: ²³ The son of Dan was Hushim. ²⁴ The sons of Naphtali were Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These were the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and she bore these to Jacob: seven persons in all.

 

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The last account of the tribes of Israel was Bilhah’s children. Dan and Naphtali. Bilhah was Rachel’s handmaid given to her by Laban.

 

My Observations:

• Bilhah may have believed she was the property of Rachel and also believed in household gods.
• Bilhah worked for Laban, possibly to pay off a debt that her family made.
• Bilhah had Dan and Naphtali which would become smaller tribes.

 

The tribe of Dan was eventually removed from genealogies. Naphtali’s genealogy was short. Both sons came from Bilhah through Jacob. Rachel insisted he sleep with her handmaid because she saw how many children Leah had and was jealous.

 

This plot to have children seemed to make matters worse. The Bible does not say what Jacob’s relationship with Dan was, but Dan ended up as a tribe who committed idolatry. GOD was still with all of Jacob’s children, but Bilhah produced the fewest descendants.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Bilhah’s children?
• Has GOD ever put you in a situation where you were a substitute?
• Can you accept GOD’s grace that HE has on you?

Excited to be Reunited

Excited to be Reunited

Genesis 45: ⁹ “Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry. ¹⁰ You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near to me, you and your children, your children’s children, your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ There I will provide for you, lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty; for there are still five years of famine.” ’

 

¹² “And behold, your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here.”

 

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After Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, he told them to “hurry up” and get his father.

 

My Observations:

• Joseph had not seen his father in decades and was filled with excitement!
• Joseph gave his brothers words that should fill Israel up with excitement.
• Joseph made sure to mention to Israel that GOD would make the famine last another five years, so that he would not refuse.

 

GOD was moving the twelve tribes of Israel to the promised land and no one knew what HE was doing. HE made the famine and HE raised Joseph to a position of power to enable the movement of his brothers to Egypt which was near the promised land. Israel and his sons would not have moved otherwise.

 

Joseph was so excited that he could hardly wait! He was put in a position where he had plenty to provide for his entire family and their families. This reunion was ordained by GOD.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Joseph’s commends to his brothers?
• Have you ever wondered if you will see GOD’s deliverance?
• What famine are you in and how is GOD using it to deliver you and HIS people?