Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.
And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.
Comment: There are three chapters left in the book of Genesis to get the progeny of the Patriarchs settled in Egypt. Up to this point we’ve dealt with Creation, the introduction of sin world wide and for the second half of the book seeing God focusing on the patriarchs of the people who are going to be the Israelites.The Israelites are the tribe of people through whom God is going to fulfill his fantastic promise of blessing made to Abraham. The blessing is to be available to all people. The New Testament record of Jesus Christ springs out of this story as He is the ‘seed’ from Abraham’s loins to be the Greatest Gift of God to humanity and in fact to all Creation!
These final chapters will leave Israel’s (Jacob’s) grandchildren in place to father a nation of slaves persecuted by Egypt and ready to be delivered by God from their slavery into the country of Canaan.
Prayer: Help me to see You in history, and the Master of it!
As I read it! 