Thursday 19 November 2020
- Bible Book:
- Genesis
Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. He presented himself to him, fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. (v. 29)
Background
Yesterday we read how Joseph and his brothers were reunited. Now the story moves on. Pharaoh having heard the news gave instruction that Joseph's father Jacob and family were to be welcomed and cared for in Egypt. Now in chapter 46 we read how Israel (or Jacob) sets out on his journey taking with him everything that he had, stopping at Beersheba to make sacrifices to the God he had known through his own father Isaac. He received the confidence to proceed with the journey and the assurance that God would be with him as he travelled. The whole extended family, including the wives and children of all the brothers made the journey, helped by the transport that Pharaoh had provided for them. As they approached the end of the journey, Judah (one of Jacob's sons) was sent on ahead to prepare the way and Joseph came to meet the entourage, meeting his father for the first time since he was sold into slavery so many years before, much to his father’s joy and delight. Would this be the end of the story? We need to wait and see.
To Ponder:
- I wonder how much courage it took for Jacob, who at the time was quite elderly, to set out on what could be a perilous journey. Could we take such an epic journey on trust, I wonder?
- Would we have the courage to leave everything behind to seek life in a country we know little about, even at a time of famine? Does it bring to mind the plight of refugees that we read about daily in the news?