God's Creative Call

Monday, April 03, 2006

Jacob in Egypt: God Preserves His People

Genesis 45:16-47:31

Do you ever wonder how the bits and pieces of your life fit together? Seeing God at work in the Bible can strengthen our faith and hope as we work through difficult situations we cannot understand.

GROUP DISCUSSION. What prayer request are you patiently waiting for God to fulfill?

PERSONAL REFLECTION. Reflect on some promise that sustains you as you wait for God to work in a specific way.

This study shows how the seemingly unrelated and perplexing events of the preceding chapters now serve God's purpose during the famine.
Read Genesis 45:16-46:27.

1. What is Pharaoh's reaction to the news that Joseph's brothers have arrived (45:16-24)?

2. What would this mean to the brothers, with their burden of guilt and fear?

3. Describe Jacob's reaction to the astounding news his sons bring back from Egypt (45:25-28).

4. How does God encourage Jacob in the present and for the future (46:1-4)?

5. When has God allowed you to see how seemingly unrelated events fit into the tapestry of his will for you?

6. How does 46:5-27 underscore God's faithfulness to the promises he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

7. Read Genesis 46:28-47:12. In what ways does Joseph's skill as a planner and administrator continue to be demonstrated as he arranges for his father's family (46:28-34)?

8. Describe the encounter of Joseph's brothers with Pharaoh (47:1-6).

9. What impresses you about Jacob, so recently in despair and ready to die, in his interview with Pharaoh (47:7-10)?

10. Read Genesis 47:13-31. How does Joseph's continuing strategy save the lives of the Egyptians (47:13-26)?

11. In what ways does Jacob's last request of Joseph show his faith in God's promise regarding his descendents and their own land (47:27-31)?

12. How can Joseph's story help you trust God in perplexing areas of your life?

Thank God that he is faithful and always keeps his promises.

Now or Later

What is your attitude right now regarding your particular circumstances? Spend time praying or journaling about this.

7 Comments:

  • Jacob in Egypt: God Preserves His People

    Genesis 45:16-47:31

    Do you ever wonder how the bits and pieces of your life fit together? Seeing God at work in the Bible can strengthen our faith and hope as we work through difficult situations we cannot understand.

    GROUP DISCUSSION. What prayer request are you patiently waiting for God to fulfill?

    I am praying for the salvation of my sister.

    PERSONAL REFLECTION. Reflect on some promise that sustains you as you wait for God to work in a specific way.

    As I prayed for my dad to accept Christ as Savior, I found that sometimes I need to wait longer than expected for the answers to my prayers. Faithfully, he received Christ after about 33 years of prayer (and worry!). God is faithful even then I am not! Praise Him!


    This study shows how the seemingly unrelated and perplexing events of the preceding chapters now serve God's purpose during the famine.
    Read Genesis 45:16-46:27.

    1. What is Pharaoh's reaction to the news that Joseph's brothers have arrived (45:16-24)?

    He wanted Joseph to invite his family to come and live in Canaan. Pharoah offered them the best of the land. They didn't even need their belongings back home; Pharoah would give them all that they would need.


    2. What would this mean to the brothers, with their burden of guilt and fear?

    They will have to confess and tell Jacob the whole truth about what they did to Joseph, why they thought he was dead and how they found out that he was actually alive.

    3. Describe Jacob's reaction to the astounding news his sons bring back from Egypt (45:25-28).

    He couldn't believe it at first. He needed some evidence and facts about it all.

    4. How does God encourage Jacob in the present and for the future (46:1-4)?

    God appeared to Jacob in a dream and told him to not fear going to Egypt. God told him that He would make his decendants into a great nation.

    ***to be continued***

    5. When has God allowed you to see how seemingly unrelated events fit into the tapestry of his will for you?

    6. How does 46:5-27 underscore God's faithfulness to the promises he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

    7. Read Genesis 46:28-47:12. In what ways does Joseph's skill as a planner and administrator continue to be demonstrated as he arranges for his father's family (46:28-34)?

    8. Describe the encounter of Joseph's brothers with Pharaoh (47:1-6).

    9. What impresses you about Jacob, so recently in despair and ready to die, in his interview with Pharaoh (47:7-10)?

    10. Read Genesis 47:13-31. How does Joseph's continuing strategy save the lives of the Egyptians (47:13-26)?

    11. In what ways does Jacob's last request of Joseph show his faith in God's promise regarding his descendents and their own land (47:27-31)?

    12. How can Joseph's story help you trust God in perplexing areas of your life?

    Thank God that he is faithful and always keeps his promises.

    Now or Later

    What is your attitude right now regarding your particular circumstances? Spend time praying or journaling about this.

    By Blogger Christinewjc, at 10:12 PM  

  • 5. When has God allowed you to see how seemingly unrelated events fit into the tapestry of his will for you?

    I remember a time when I was dating a guy from the office. I knew he had recently broken up with his long-term girlfriend and was seeing me. Long story short, I caught him lying about not seeing his ex anymore. When I confronted him, he became angry and physically violent. I knew at that point...she can have him! Soon after, I met my husband and we have been married for 22 years!

    6. How does 46:5-27 underscore God's faithfulness to the promises he made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

    God reassured Jacob by promising him (in the dream) to go with him. Although Jacob would not return to Canaan, his descendants did.

    7. Read Genesis 46:28-47:12. In what ways does Joseph's skill as a planner and administrator continue to be demonstrated as he arranges for his father's family (46:28-34)?

    He instructed them with directions, only brought 5 brothers to Pharoah and had them share what was proper to say to Pharoah about their occupations. Pharoah then said to put the best in care of his own flocks, too. Joseph honored his father Jacob by bringing him seperately to Pharoah. Joseph distributed the food from Pharoah to his family members.

    8. Describe the encounter of Joseph's brothers with Pharaoh (47:1-6).

    They took Joseph's advice on how to reply to Pharoah. They stated that they will settle there for a while (not forever) because of the famine in Canaan.

    9. What impresses you about Jacob, so recently in despair and ready to die, in his interview with Pharaoh (47:7-10)?

    He admitted that his earthly journey had been difficult, but was humble enough to say that the pilgrimage of his fathers was even more so. Jacob blessed Pharoah before he left his presence.

    10. Read Genesis 47:13-31. How does Joseph's continuing strategy save the lives of the Egyptians (47:13-26)?

    When the money ran out, he arranged to sell livestock for food. He also had Pharoah agree to buy land from the starving Egyptians in exchange for food. They would give Pharoah a fifth of the crop from the seed given to them. Even though the people would be in bondage to Pharoah, at least they will live. They asked for, "favor in the eyes of our lord". Could this mean the Egyptians' god or where they simply referring to Joseph?

    11. In what ways does Jacob's last request of Joseph show his faith in God's promise regarding his descendents and their own land (47:27-31)?

    He wanted to be buried in his own land, not in Egypt. He made Joseph swear that he would take him back to Canaan to bury him and Joseph agreed. Similarly to Abraham, Jacob struggled and was tested during his earthly walk with God, but like Abraham, his faith grew and he had confidence in God's promises.

    12. How can Joseph's story help you trust God in perplexing areas of your life?

    No matter what I go through in life, the Lord is with me through it all. The good, the bad and the ugly experiences can be used by God to make me stronger in my faith and trust Him no matter what.

    Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.



    Thank God that he is faithful and always keeps his promises.

    Now or Later

    What is your attitude right now regarding your particular circumstances? Spend time praying or journaling about this.

    Sometimes I wonder if I am living the life that God really wants me to live and doing the things that God wants me to do. Then I realize that if He wants change in me; He will let me know!! I can rest in His love and assurance and know that I am right where He wants me to be at this time. I used to struggle with this idea of "being the proper Christian wife and mom, or doing the correct ministry work that God wants me to do."

    Even when I was led into ministry-type work where I thought, "No! Not THAT!! I can now see how the Lord has blessed me, personally, through such work. The people I meet and form friendships with, the help I received in my life when I needed it, and the experiences and accomplishments have weaved together a little "life tapestry" that has been fulfilling for me. When I look back over the ministries that I have been involved with in the past, I see that He led me to those ministries for each and every particular time in my life! He's a fabulous Lord!

    By Blogger Christinewjc, at 8:06 AM  

  • "Sometimes I wonder if I am living the life that God really wants me to live and doing the things that God wants me to do."

    Bingo. No matter how many times I pray for salvation, I always wonder: "Where am I going?" Even studying for the ministry, I keep asking myself if I'm truly called or if its just my desire.

    By Blogger highboy, at 11:01 AM  

  • Though many liberties were taken with the Biblical account, The Prince of Egypt has a neat song expressing the same idea regarding how the "bits and pieces" of our lives fit together.

    The entire history of Israel as a sign of what Christ would do is the most powerful example of this.

    By Blogger Amillennialist, at 10:23 PM  

  • Hey, some good questions, which is a great (and under-appreciated) skill in study.

    Well done.

    By Blogger GUNNY, at 6:21 PM  

  • What a great study.. My attitude and prayer is to stand and keep standing to trust God for all. He is faithful!

    By Blogger Tamela's Place, at 5:16 PM  

  • Hi Everyone,

    I apologize for not replying to your comments in a timely manner.

    Highboy - I think that God has many ways to lead and show us whether or not we are going in the correct direction. Following Jesus and his will for our lives enables us to see when, and if, we need to change direction in what we are doing. I think that God gives us signs (meant specifically for each individual) when we need a course correction. Otherwise, when we are doing his will he makes a way for us to continue in it. My opinion, of course. But I think that studying Scripture and prayer provide the answers to our questions.

    Gunny - Yes! This was a great study. When it ended I abandoned this blog - which I shouldn't have done because several people have posted comments on it over the years!

    Jarnco5 - I visited your site and it looks wonderful! I want to add it to my Christian blog blogroll over at my Talk Wisdom blog.

    Amillennialist - I agree about the film "The Prince of Egypt." I especially liked the analogy of the tapestry being weaved by God being perfect from heaven's point of view - while the underside of the tapestry may look in disarry - simply because on earth we can only "see as through a glass darkly." Keeping that in mind helps us to get through the tough times on earth - because we know that God's perfect will is the eternal salvation covering that has been given through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

    Tamela - Very well said! And, as we can see with all of the chaos and turmoil in the world today, the return of our Savior and King - Jesus Christ - is getting closer and closer! Believers have nothing to fear - because we are His own - and nothing can snatch us away from His Mighty Hands!

    By Blogger Christinewjc, at 7:18 AM  

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