And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Genesis 48:1

Joseph brought his two sons to be blessed by Jacob before he passed away. Remember this was a practice back when Abraham blessed Isaac and Isaac blessed Jacob. Now its time for Jacob to put his blessing on the family and continue the fulfilment of Gods covenant to them

What is about to happen will be reminiscent of what happened between Jacob and Esau, as the younger son will receive the higher blessing.

And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. Genesis 48:3-4

Jacob is referring to when the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him and blessed him. (Genesis 32) And the promise , the covenant , that God made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he is revealing to Joseph. That their family is going to be a great nation (Israel)

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. Genesis 48:14

Now tradition would be that the oldest son would receive the double portion, the greater blessing. However as we have seen in the past with Ishmael and Isaac, and Jacob and Esau, God blesses who he wants to bless

Here we see again where Jacob is giving the “right hand” blessing to the younger son Ephraim instead of Manasseh

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head. Genesis 48:17

Joseph was not happy about this and tried to change the blessing, however Jacob continued giving the greater blessing to Ephraim. Now the question is “Why did Jacob cross his arms during the blessing”? We can speculate but the bottom line is “God will have mercy on whoever he wants and compassion on whoever He wants (Romans 9:15)

This is like a foreshadow of the New Covenant, God doesn’t show favor because of our birth right. He shows favor based on whoever he wants! The Gentiles and the Jews are both now Gods children based on the works of Jesus Christ! Amen!

Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. Genesis 47:1

So now Joseph moved his entire family to Egypt, including Jacob, because of the great famine going on in the land. Joseph presented them before Pharaoh and he showed great favor towards them because of Joseph. He told them “settle in the best part of the land”  All this favor because of God!

Think about that, here is a whole family of foreigners receiving the best part of the land because of Gods favor not their own. Not only that, Pharaoh put them in charge of all of his livestock.  This might not seem great by todays standard, but livestock back then was a very valuable commodity

And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. Genesis 47:10

Because of Pharaohs great compassion towards Israel, Jacob blessed him. Remember a blessing is a great fulfilment. We all strive to be blessed by God through Christ, for a man of God like Jacob to bless a man like Pharaoh was significant

And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. Genesis 47:16

When Josephs family arrived in Egypt, many probably thought here comes a bunch of dumb shepherds. However since Egypt was in a great famine (recession) money became obsolete. So the next best thing was livestock. People began selling their livestock to get food for their families. This obviously made Josephs family very important because they took care of all the livestock

Notice how God can take what seems to be a dead end and bless and multiply it for our good

And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. Genesis 47:20

Eventually the famine got so bad, they nobody had anything left but their land. So Joseph began buying everyone’s land for Pharaoh. And Joseph made a deal, all the crops that everyone grew, they would give Pharaoh 1/5^th and they could keep the rest for their families.

Some may say this was a bad deal for them, however they were all grateful and said “Joseph saved their lives”! (Genesis 47:25)

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: Genesis 47:29

So then 17 years went by and the time was coming to the end of Jacobs life. He wanted Joseph to promise him to not bury him in Egypt but bury him in his homeland.  Joseph promised Jacob and this is how the chapter ends

And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: Genesis 46:2-3

One night while Jacob was worshipping God, he spoke to him. He told him not to fear going to Egypt for God promised to make his family a great nation. Remember this is the same covenant God made with his grandfather Abraham and Father Isaac. God promised them he would make their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky

Now remember Joseph finally revealed his identity to his brothers and has invited his entire family to live in Egypt during the great famine so they can prosper. God was confirming to Jacob that this was a good move for his entire family and the nation of Israel

And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. Genesis 46:5

So Jacob and his entire family packed up everything and moved to Egypt to meet Joseph. Jacob brought everyone including his sons, daughters, in laws, grand children, everyone and everything moved with Jacob to Egypt , this was a huge event. The Bible says the number of people in Jacobs family that went to Egypt was 70

Imagine telling your entire family, not just your immediate family but everyone , they are moving to a new country. But God promised to take care of Jacob and his family, we must trust in God

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. Genesis 46:29

The time has finally come, for Joseph and his Father to be reunited. Remember how long Jacob thought Joseph was dead and wept for him. Reminds you of the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) we were dead in our sin and then alive with Christ and came back to the Father

Jacob was so happy to see Joseph he said “Hes ready to die” (Genesis 46:30) No longer does he have to grieve over the loss of his beloved Son.

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. Genesis 45:1-2

Joseph couldn’t wait any longer, he finally revealed himself to his brothers. He was so overtaken with emotion that be broke down crying so loudly that everyone heard him. Imagine the rush of emotions going through everyones minds. Everyone thought Joseph was dead and now hes standing before them the ruler over Egypt

Do you see the shadows of Christ here? Jesus who many thought was a blasphemer and false prophet, eventually Risen and stood before them as the Messiah, the Son of God. Imagine the shock for the hundreds who saw Jesus after the resurrection

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. Genesis 45:3

Notice it says they were troubled by the presence of Joseph. Why? Because here is there brother, they sold into slavery, they told their father he was killed, they figured he was probably dead by now also. Now they have to confront their sins as Joseph stands right before them. Not only that, they are now bowing to Joseph as ruler over them, just as he prophesied as a young boy

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5

Notice Josephs response to his brothers, he told his brothers not to grieve over what they did to him because God saved them through this tragedy. Do you see the foreshadows of Christ and the cross? Even while Jesus was dying on the cross he said “Father Forgive them for they know not what they do”(Luke 23:34)

The sins that put Christ on the cross actually saved us from our sins!

And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. Genesis 45:18

Because of what Joseph did for his brothers and he found favor in the eyes of the Pharaoh, Israel will now be giving the best land. Compare that to what Jesus did for us, because Christ redeemed us and was exalted at the right hand of God, we can inherit the New Heavens and Earth!

And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. Genesis 45:26

When Jacob was told that Joseph is alive, he originally didn’t believe them. Compare that to when the disciples told everyone that “Jesus Is Risen”, still many don’t believe even today! And they also noted that Joseph is ruler over all of Egypt, compared to Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. Genesis 44:2

Chapter 44 continues with the interaction between Joseph and his brothers, they all have just shared in a big feast and now they are ready to be heading home. At this point, they still don’t realize that the ruler of Egypt is their own brother Joseph. So before he sends them away Joseph is going to test them another time. He puts a valuable silver cup in the youngest brothers (Benjamin) belongings

And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Genesis 44:10

Joseph confronts them about stealing the silver cup, but at this point the brothers have no idea what he is talking about. Joseph told them whoever has the cup will be his slave, this is obviously another test for their youngest brother Benjamin

And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die. Genesis 44:22

Judah tries to plead with Joseph , that if he takes Benjamin as a slave his father will die. Remember Judah promised his father that he would bring Benjamin back safely. Little does Judah realize that Joseph is testing his brothers

And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: Genesis 44:28

Jacob is still mourning the loss of Joseph, he still doesn’t realize that Joseph never died. This I believe is what Joseph was trying to find out, if his father and family missed him after all this time. Judah is pleading with Joseph to release Benjamin so it doesn’t destroy his father, well see in the next Chapter what happens!