Jacob had wanted to die for years. Now, however, he has a reason for living. “And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.” (Genesis 45:28) After he saw Joseph his response was, “Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.” (Genesis 46:30) When talking to Pharaoh Israel said, “few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.” (Genesis 47:9) Troubles and heartaches had caused him to despair on life. The move to Egypt must have been difficult for Jacob. He was 130 years old at this time. “And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years...” (Genesis 47:9) In Egypt the language and culture was different and even his occupation as a, “shepherd was an abomination unto the Egyptians.” (Genesis 46:34) At Beersheba Jacob offered a sacrifice to God. At Beersheba Isaac had been visited by God and the covenant made with Abraham was reiterated. (Genesis 26:23-25) There God assured Jacob that it was His will for him to depart from Canaan to dwell in Egypt. “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) God promised that He would bring Jacob back to Canaan, the Land of Promise. Jacob lived 17 more years after he moved to Egypt. “And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.” (Genesis 47:28) In the genealogy the leaders of the families are listed. It was not Moses’ purpose to name every single person who went down or who lived in Goshen. It was a happy reunion when Joseph and Israel met for the first time after more than 20 years. “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) Joseph was a great leader so he was very careful to see that everything was done properly when his family reached Egypt and went to meet with Pharoah.

Jacob started the journey to Egypt -- Genesis 46:1-4: Israel was 130 years old, but he packed up everything he owned and left to go to Egypt. As he made his way to Egypt he stopped at Beersheba and offered sacrifices to the God. "From Dan to Beersheba" was a familiar saying in the Old Testament. Dan was the northernmost city; Beersheba was the southernmost city in Canaan. Beersheba was the place where Hagar went after she was sent away from Abraham because of family conflicts with Abraham's wife Sarah. Hagar was Abraham's concubine who had a son named Ishmael by Abraham. (Genesis 21) Jacob was in the area of Beersheba when he had the vision of the ladder from heaven. (Genesis 28) The prophet Elijah sought refuge at Beersheba after wicked Jezebel ordered him to be killed. (1 Kings 19:3) Samuel's two evil sons served as judges at Beersheba and their wickedness caused the Israelites to demand their first earthly king. (1 Samuel 8-9) At Beersheba God reminded Jacob of his promises and gave some addition promises. “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: I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.” (Genesis 46:2-4) He told him not to be afraid to go to Egypt. He again promised him many descendants. God would make a great nation of Israel. He promised him that Joseph would close his eyes when he died. Jacob would be brought back from Egypt for burial in the grave of his fathers. (Genesis 50:5-13) His descendants came from Egypt to possess the Promised Land after dwelling there for over 400 years.

Jacob’s whole family went to Egypt -- Genesis 46:5-7: Jacob and his entire family left Beersheba and headed for Egypt. Their hearts must have been filled with both excitement and apprehension. “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) Making this journey with Israel to Egypt were his sons, his grandsons, his daughters, and his granddaughters. They took along their animals and other things that they owned. “And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him.” (Genesis 46:6) This was a national migration. Though the nation was very small they were all going to Egypt. Israel was frail in body because of old age, but renewed in spirit because of his worship at Beersheba.

A genealogy of family leaders in Israel’s family -- Genesis 46:8-27: Stephen was a New Testament disciple who was full of faith and power. He was a powerful preacher of God’s word. He gave this brief summary of the events that we are now studying. “And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him, And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh. Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls. So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers.” (Acts 7:9-15) In Genesis 46:27 we read, “And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.” (Genesis 46:27) It is not clear how this number is obtained, but the sum give is a total of 70. The answer to the difference in numbers is likely found in two expressions, “the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob.” “And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.” (Exodus 1:5) The second expression is “besides Jacob's sons' wives.” “All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six.” (Genesis 46:26) God brought all of Israel’s family to Egypt and from them he built a great nation.

Israel was reunited with Joseph in Egypt -- Genesis 46:28-34: After about 22 years Israel was reunited with his son Joseph. Israel must have also seen in Judah something wise so he sent him to let Joseph know they had arrived in Egypt and to ask the way to Goshen. Joseph went quickly to meet his father. “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) Israel’s response to the meeting was most touching. He said, “Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.” (Genesis 46:30) Israel said he was ready to die now that he had seen Joseph. He would, however, live 17 more years. Joseph told his family, “I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.” (Genesis 46:31-34) Joseph knew this conversation with Pharaoh would be very important as far as Israel being able to live in Goshen and continue their work as shepherds. God used the land of Goshen and their occupation as shepherds to keep this family segregated from the Egyptians and allowed time for them to grow into a great nation.

          God preserved and blessed Jacob and his family in the best part of Egypt. He was at work building the nation through whom Jesus would be born. Our spiritual life is through and because of Jesus, the Christ. To be saved from sin hear the gospel (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (Mark 16:16), repent of sins (Luke 13:5), confess Jesus as Lord (Matthew 10:32), and be baptized into Christ. (Romans 6:3-4) After baptism, live in Christ and have Christ in you (Galatians 4:19)