Lesson 94: Reuniting Dad and Son

Joseph Meets Jacob in the Land of Goshen

English Standard Version (Chapter 46)

28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

This account notates what we have already pointed out to you: Judah has assumed the major leadership role over the family. It has been explained that the oldest, Reuben, even though his sons have important high class names, Judah is the one bringing and even riding on ahead of Jacob. Actually, this is his third trip to Egypt. He knows the way he must take. Twice for supplies and grain and now this time with Dad in tow. The family is heading to Goshen and Joseph is living and residing a bit further south because he has to “go up” to meet his father.- v.29 This reunion of 15 years of separation is going to be a two hankie encounter. Lots of tears and hugs will be the order of events.

Let us also consider that this is a divine encounter. It is a God moment. God had visited Jacob in the night, starting with chapter 46:1. It is there God assures him it is the thing to do and to not be afraid to go to Egypt. The promise to Abraham and his father Isaac was confirmed at this juncture to prove that “the great nation thing” is more than just the 70 people who are going to make the trip to live with Joseph. God said He would go down with them, and he would bring them back to Beersheba. This is pretty big stuff. The return 440 years later is an entirely different book of the Bible and the story is much more complicated. But the Lord has time and He knows the way through the wilderness. It’s the kind of thing we would all like to experience once in our lives as we make our journey taking laps around the sun.

Joseph presented himself to his dad. He is expecting his dad to make judgment of how he is doing based on the perception of sight. What you see is what you get! I’m sure he dresses in his most magnificent Egyptian finery. It’s not just about the clothes, he had to show dad what chariot he was driving. After all, don’t most guys equate life with what car/chariot they were driving when such and such occured. Joseph even hitched up his own-“prepared” chariot. It was time for the foam attachment on the power sprayer and suds that baby up! I’m sure the chariot has a touch of gold here and there. After all Joseph is second only to Pharaoh.

Dad and son are going to take a long look into the last time they saw each other and then “look at you now.” It says Joseph fell on his dad’s neck, which just means skin to skin, face to shoulder, and arms embraced. Here Joseph cries a good while. This is a convulsing cry of the highest emotion. I’m sure you have seen someone heaving as they cry and sob. That’s the scene. It is such a magnificent moment that Jacob captures the drama with the statement, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”- vs. 30

Of course, as satisfying as the moment is is, I’m sure Jacob wanted to hang around a little while longer and see the sights of his new home and not die on the spot. He hasn’t gotten the 50 cent tour of Joseph’s palace yet, shaken hands with Pharaoh, been introduced to the little lady, hugged grand kids, or seen the Egyptian cats that the family has. That last topic cannot be supported by Scripture that Joseph and his family had cats. But cats were worshipped in Egypt so I imagine everyone had at least one. Yes, Joseph is alive and this is one time that it’s a story of “this really is too good to be true!”

This land of Goshen is the “land of Rameses, an area of the Pharaoh’s possession. It is located in the eastern delta region of the Nile River. It was apparently a great place to live, and gives us insight into the complaints of the Israelites who complained of the harsh conditions of the wilderness journey. Jacob and his family were not the only national people to flee here, nor would they be the last. This seems to be the area where the Egyptians had one on one contact with the nations. Foreigners were frequent visitors to this part of Egypt.

Let’s Get you Guys Settled In. 46:31- 34

English Standard Version (Chapter 46)

31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’

33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Let’s start out this section with the last thing said. Joseph wanted him to garnish the truth with a half truth. Joseph wants them to say they are keepers of livestock because shepherds are an abomination to the Egyptians. Asking Jacob to tell a lie in front of the Pharaoh seems like the thing to do. As we read on in the next chapter, we find that Jacob seems to have gotten tired of lying. Some might call this diplomacy to not tell your host that you are the kind of people that he would love to hate. They are also a group with live stock meaning the need the pasture land of Goshen and that this is a group with potential. They have means. They are gainfully employed in the keeping of their own flocks and herds and will not be a burden to the Egyptian people.

Interesting to see how well they were received in a country that did not allow the Jacob family to eat from the same table as the Egyptians. You could even make a case for a miraculous reception, though not quite the immaculate reception. Egypt is the place of safety that no other place could offer in the known spheres of influence of Joseph’s kin. If this was miraculous, then wait for four hundred years or so. They haven’t seen nothing yet. God will do the impossible to get them out of that country and back into their original dwelling places. The miraculous will be the order of the day as the family leaves someday. Compared to what they are going encounter, they had been enjoy this because suffering is arriving as soon as a Pharaoh shows up who does not know Joseph or Joseph’s family. It takes a while for that to happen. If they had known that slavery, suffering and persecution were around the corner, they may not have been so quick to move to Egypt.

All of the things in God’s prophetic forecast, and with His permission to move to the south, Jacob and family quickly settle in as the cattlemen/ shepherds they are. God has a plan and the Egyptians and the new family are going to ride out this confounded drought on the victory side because of the wisdom of Joseph and his God. The God moment continues and the miraculous stays before us as time marches on.

I think you remember when we studied the Exodus that Joseph’s remains were carried out of Egypt and back into his old stomping grounds at his request. Moses had a praise ready and waiting as he sang these words to the Lord:

I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation;

this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. (Exodus 15:1, 2)

This is prophetic on Moses’ part as he leads in worship of the Savior, who is his salvation. Glorious isn’t it?

As we pause here at the end of the chapter, this is just the beginning of a new life in Egypt. We can plainly see the mighty God of our salvation and theirs also. We see Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God. He is the God who delivers His children to the safety of Egypt, but also He is the God who can rescue right back out of there. Deliverance is best delivered by the gospel. Here is where we praise Him, and we praise Him as the God of our salvation. Hang in there brothers, our God will bring us through all of this.