{And take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land.’ “Now you are ordered, ‘Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come. ‘Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” Genesis 45:18-20}
When Pharaoh heard that Joseph’s brothers had come, he was very glad.
He told Joseph to tell them to return for their father and their wives and children and bring them all to Egypt where there was plenty to eat.
“Take some of my wagons for your wives and little ones to ride in,” he said. “Don’t bother to bring any of your furniture and other things, for I will give you everything you need.”
‘Then Joseph gave new clothes to each of them, giving Benjamin more than any of the others! And he sent his father twenty donkey-loads of food and other good things. Then at last he let his brothers start home again to get his father and their families.
When they finally arrived home, what joy there was!
“Joseph is alive, “they shouted. “He is the governor over all the land of Egypt!”
It seemed too wonderful to be true, and Jacob did not believe them at first: but when he saw Pharaoh’s wagons that he had sent, he finally realized that his sons were telling the truth.
“It is proof enough, “he said at last.
“Joseph is Alive! I will go and see him now before I die.”
So Jacob and his children and their families all left their homes in Canaan and started off to the land of Egypt. They stopped briefly at Beer-Sheba, where grandfather Isaac had built and altar many years before and had sacrificed to God.
That night God spoke to Jacob and said, “Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for while you are there, I will make your family grow into millions of people.”
God told Jacob that He would take care of him in Egypt, and that when the time came for him to die, Joseph would be by his side.
So, Jacob and his sons and their families left Beer-Sheba and went on to Egypt. They took their cattle with them and all of their belongings.
Jacob sent Judah ahead to tell Joseph that his father was on the way.
When Joseph heard this, he jumped into his chariot and raced out to meet his father. He and his father wept for joy when they finally saw each other again after all those years apart.
Israel, that was Jacobs brother another name, Remember? Said to Joseph. “Now I can die in peace, for I have seen you again. To think, that you are still alive!” He could scarcely believe it.
“Then Joseph invited some of his brothers to come with him to meet Pharaoh and to tell him that they had arrived with their flocks and herds. When Pharaoh asked them what kind of work they did, they told him they were cattlemen just as their grandfathers had been. Joseph told them to say this because it was the truth, and also because Joseph wanted Pharaoh to send them to live in Goshen, which was the best part of the land of Egypt for raising cattle. So, Pharaoh gave them permission to go there.
Then Joseph took his father to meet Pharaoh and to bless him.
Questions:
How did Pharaoh show his friendship for Joseph and his family?
Describe the reunion of Joseph and Jacob.
What kind of work did Joseph’s brothers do?
What was the name of the part of Egypt where Jacob and his sons lived?
"Only Life Changes" 