From Famine to Fulfillment

Good morning, everyone! Whether you're here with us in the room or joining online—listening live or later—we’re truly glad you're here. You're part of our extended spiritual family, and we're thankful for you.

Hey, if you’ve got kids with you this morning—now’s a great time for them to head to class. We’ve got an amazing team ready to welcome them and help them know Jesus in a way that makes sense to them

For the rest of us, grab your Bible, get comfortable, and get ready for what God has for you today.

This morning we get to continue on with our Joseph series and see what happens after Joseph revealed himself to his brothers. Remember there has been all sorts of stuff going on. Remember Joseph was sold into slavery and left for dead, but God wasn’t finished with him. Then Joseph went through all sorts of stuff that was hard, including being jailed, but God wasn’t finished with him yet. Finally Joseph became the 2nd most important person in Egypt and his brothers had come to him to get food, but they didn’t recognize him. Well, last time we talked about Joseph, we saw that Joseph sent back for Jacob his father to come and live in Egypt with him. Of course, later, as Joseph continues to talk to his brothers, eventually he tells them…”As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose." —(Joseph) . In other words. What man means for evil…God means for good!

Have you guys ever seen an emotional reunion? Maybe you’ve experienced an emotional reunion yourself. I’ve seen all sorts of videos over the last 15-20 years of soldiers coming home. I’ve seen videos of husbands walking in on their wife at work, and the excitement that blows up. I’ve even seen videos of soldier coming home after a long deployment and their dogs just run around so excited as soon as they see them. However, there is one video that just really has stuck in my mind. There’s a video of a school bus that drives up and this young lady walks off the bus. She’s so focused on her phone though that she just keeps on walking. Then her dad says her name, and she turns and drops everything and runs back to him and they just hug and spin around and it’s truly a touching moment.

Really, these reunions that you will see online when families get together after extended times apart really gives us an emotional glimpse into what Jacob’s reunion with Joseph would look like. It’s been 22 years since Jacob began morning Joseph, and now they will be reunited.

Today’s passage starting in Gen. 46 gives us a front-row seat to this reunion which is one of the most significant family reunions in redemptive history. This is a story that not only brings joy, but reveals God’s sovereign purpose for his covenant people. Let’s go ahead and open our Bibles and start to work through todays passage together. Open up to

Genesis 46:28–30 ESV

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. 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. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Wow…this is intense—tears, reunion, and hope fulfilled that’s a long time coming. But this moment is more than just emotional; it’s actually theological. It shows us something crucial about God’s hand in our lives: even the paths we take and the people we’re reunited with are part of His preserving grace.

Here’s the first truth we see:

God Preserves His People (V.28-30)

Listen, even before they arrive in Egypt, God is already actively guiding their steps, their relationships, and the emotional restoration of His covenant people.

How does God do all of this though? How does God work through these circumstances to bring about restoration and joy in this family? Well…you see, God actually works in every aspect of this families life, and he works in every aspect of your life this morning as well. Take a look at how

God Guides the Path to Preservation:

In verse 28 we read that, “He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen…” Judah is the chosen royal line of David and ultimately Jesus. Judah who will be the chosen tribe of kings goes ahead of everyone and shows the way. This isn’t random. God’s preservation includes a leadership structure and specific directions. Directions to not lean on yourself, but to lean on God. We read about this in

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

However, God doesn’t only preserve the destination and path of his people…he preserves the hope of his people. The truth is that

God Restores what was Lost

We know that to be trust through Jesus…but even back here in Genesis God is restoring what was once lost.

“Then Joseph…presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”

Many of you in this place have felt serious loss in your life…serious hurt in your life…Listen, God’s preservation included the emotional restoration that you have been longing for. Many of you here today would say that you are struggling with some pretty intense emotions.

Look at Jacob’s response to Joseph…he is saying he can finally die because he has seen his son again. For 22 years Jacob has grieved and suffered over the loss of Joseph, and now God has provided for an amazing family reunion. Really though…it’s more than just a reunion—this is a resurrection as far as Jacob is concerned.

Psalm 30:11 ESV

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

God restoration is like no other…to go from grieving to dancing because God has preserved this family. This covenant family is not only continuing—it’s being healed and embraced under God’s soereign hand.

This reunion is a picture of God's faithful preservation of His people—but God’s plan doesn't stop at reunion. In the next scene, we see where God strategically places them in Egypt to keep them distinct, protected, and holy.

Let’s keep reading here.

Genesis 46:31–47:6 ESV

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. 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.’ When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 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.” So Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan. They are now in the land of Goshen.” And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” They said to Pharaoh, “We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock.”

Now we move from reunion to relocation. What we’ve just read sounds like a high level state meeting where Joseph has prepared his family for how to speak appropriately and whatever guidance they need to be able to not be offensive. There’s more to it though….You see, behind these strategic steps that Joseph coached his family in is God's hand, securing a place where His people, his covenant people, will not just survive but thrive while remaining distinct in a pagan land.

Of course, That leads us to our second truth:

God Protects His People (v.46:31-47:6)

God uses Egypt as a place of protection and sanctification for His people, distinct from worldly influences. This is a place where they will grow significantly, but it’s more than a location. Really for God, this is a

Strategic Location for Holiness

“…you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock…for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Well what’s the best way to keep Israel separate from outside influences? How about make it where those outside influences are disgusted by you. You see, God uses Egypt’s cultural prejudice to preserve Israels distinctiveness. Later in the story of Exodus God is very clear that the plagues will not go into Goshen where his people have been set apart. Where they are separated for sanctification.

God placed Israel in Goshen, on the fringe of Egyptian society, not to assimilate, but to be preserved and set apart from this deeply corrupt religious culture.

This is not just geographical separation—this is spiritual preservation.

How did all this happen with Joseph and Jacob and the whole family though. I mean how did they go from hungry, to getting the best place? Well, to put it simply…

God is Sovereign over Rulers.

This is what Pharaoh says to Joseph, “…The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land…”

Theres even more than that though. You see, Pharaoh tells Joseph that he is to appoint his brothers over his own royal livestock. That would be a pretty important job as the royal livestock would have been huge herds and would have paid very well. God went ahead of Joseph to prepare Pharaoh’s heart to give this opportunity to Joseph’s brothers.

We read about how God does that in

Proverbs 21:1 ESV

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

God is sovereign even over the people and places that do not worship him. In other words, God is sovereign over everything because he created everything.

We’ve seen God providentially preserve and protect—but next we see His provision through an unlikely source: Pharaoh’s court.

Let’s keep moving along in the story here.

Genesis 47:7–12 ESV

Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents.

Wow…did you catch that? A humble shepherd stands before the king of Egypt and blesses him. Then Joseph, second only to Pharaoh, makes sure every family member is fed. These verses reveal something extraordinary: You see, God uses unexpected ways and unexpected people to provide for His covenant family.

Here’s our final truth from the text this morning:

God Provides for His People. (v.7-12)

Even in a foreign land, God moves rulers and resources to supply for His people. It is just so amazing to think about how God uses his resources for us, isn’t it. I mean, looking back at Jacob and his family we see that God utilized the Egyptian lands to provide and build Israel into a great nation.

It’s not just that God provides for his people, God made a promise to bless other nations through this covenant family…So that’s exactly what what happened.

God Blessed the Nations

When Jacob walks into Pharaoh’s presence, he immediately blesses him. This is a formal introduction to the most powerful man in the world.

Listen, Pharaoh had to be interested in meeting the man who meant so much to Joseph, his right hand. The first thing Jacob did was to bless Pharaoh in the name of his God, then he also blessed Pharaoh at the close of their introduction.

It’s amazing the example we see in Jacob’s actions almost 4,000 years later. Jacob was a good example of how a true believer is to relate to those who are outside the family of God.

Jacob brought God’s blessings to Egypt a place that was far outside of the promised land…a culture that worshiped other gods in vile ways. Jacob’s act is a picture of the Abrahamic blessing flowing to the nations.

Besides the blessing in this section, we see

Daily Provision from God’s Hand

Genesis 47:12 ESV

And Joseph provided his father, his brothers…with food, according to the number of their dependents.

What a beautiful reflection of God’s covenantal care for Jacob and his large family.

As Jacob described his life to Pharaoh he talked about the days of his pilgrimage. While he said he was young, I’m certain Pharaoh would not have agreed with him. However, his father and grandfather were significantly older. Even at the age of 135 years, Jacob has followed God who has supplied his daily needs. He is able to share that with Pharaoh briefly, and very potentially there were additional opportunities to share about this in the next 17 years until Jacob died.

We know Israel as a nation who lived in largely the same region. However, they have not permanently settled in that place.

It’s kind of interesting to think of the Israelites in a foreign land, a country with a different culture, where the patriarch wished God’s blessing on the ruler…but that is where we are in their story.

Psalm 37:25 ESV

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

From famine to fullness, from separation to satisfaction—this morning we have seen how God’s providence meets His promise…and never fails.

We’ve seen something amazing this morning—not just a family reunion, but a sovereignly orchestrated moment in redemptive history. That was a couple of big words there, but what I want you to realize is that, behind every tear, every conversation, and every piece of land granted, the unseen hand of God is preserving, protecting, and providing for His covenant people.

God preserved Jacob and his sons through careful, placement (vv. 28–30).

God protected them in a pagan land by setting them apart in Goshen (vv. 31–47:6). and…

God provided through the most unlikely source: a pagan Pharaoh and a faithful son (vv. 7–12).

But folks, this wasn’t just their story. This is our story. The same God who shepherded Jacob’s family into Egypt is still shepherding His people today. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who will guide and provide everything you need.

There are three things I want you to remember this morning though so go ahead and write these down.

1. Trust God to provide, even in transitions.

Like Jacob and his sons, you may be stepping into unfamiliar territory. A new job, a health crisis, a family fracture. God doesn't waste detours. He places His people exactly where they need to be.

2. Live protected by Holiness—especially in a godless culture.

Like Israel in Goshen, God hasn’t called us to isolation, but to distinction. Holiness is not about retreating into irrelevance—it’s about standing firm in truth, set apart for God’s purposes. In a culture that tempts us to compromise, holiness is God’s shield around His people.

3. Recognize God’s Provision—even when it comes through unexpected means.

Pharaoh was a pagan king, yet God used him to feed the covenant family. Everyday God uses secular leaders, unbelieving coworkers, or even hardship to meet your needs.

But real quick, let me show you the most beautiful part of this passage: it points us to Jesus. You see, Joseph preserved his family from famine. But Jesus preserves us from eternal death. Joseph was sent ahead into suffering to bring life to others. While Jesus was sent to the cross to bring life to us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph, who was rejected by His own and exalted to the right hand of the King—not of Egypt, but of heaven. An now…He provides not just physical food, but living bread that satisfies forever

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Listen, if you are not yet part of God’s covenant family—if you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior—then today, like Jacob, you are being invited into a new land. A better land. A better family. Jesus has gone before you. The chariot is ready. He’s offering you life, not just in this famine-filled world, but eternal life in His kingdom.

Will you answer the call by repenting of your sin and trusting in Jesus Christ alone.

Only He can preserve you. Only He can protect you. and…Only He can provide all you need—for this life and the next.

Church family—let’s leave here with confidence. God’s providence is never aimless. Every step He orchestrates, every person He places, every provision He gives—it all moves us toward His promise. He is preserving you, protecting you, and providing for you—all the way home.

Let’s pray: