Genesis 46 – Study

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Genesis 46:1-7, 26-30

1 So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

2 And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, ‘Jacob! Jacob!’

‘Here I am,’ he replied.

3 ‘I am God, the God of your father,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.’

5 Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. 6 So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan. 7 Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters – all his offspring.

26 All those who went to Egypt with Jacob – those who were his direct descendants, not counting his sons’ wives – numbered sixty-six persons. 27 With the two sons who had been born to Joseph in Egypt, the members of Jacob’s family, which went to Egypt, were seventy in all.

28 Now Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to get directions to Goshen. When they arrived in the region of Goshen, 29 Joseph had his chariot made ready and went to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as Joseph appeared before him, he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time.

30 Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I am ready to die, since I have seen for myself that you are still alive.’

A. Find Out:

1. What did Jacob do on the way to Egypt? v.1
2. How did the Lord come to Jacob? v.2
3. What 3 things did He promise Jacob? v.3,4
4. How complete was their move? v.5-7
5. How did Joseph feel about the reunion? v.29
6. What did Jacob feel about it? v.30

B. Think:

1. What do you think Jacob must have felt leaving his home to go to Egypt?
2. Why do you think the Lord revealed Himself to Jacob at this time?
3. What was the heart of His message to Jacob?

C. Comment:

Many years have passed. Much has happened to Joseph. A famine has spread around the whole of that part of the world, but God has got His man, Joseph, in a key place to save His chosen family, Jacob’s. Finally the aged Jacob is having to go to Egypt where Joseph is now in charge and as he goes it seems he makes a parting sacrifice to the Lord. Will the Lord go with Him? What will happen in Egypt? What about the Lord’s promises? Perhaps these are some of the things on his mind as he goes with his entire household. It must surely have been a real wrench for Jacob to leave this land that has been promised to him, but it is the Lord who is leading him out of it!

It is at this point that the Lord comes close to Jacob again and says that He WILL go with Jacob to Egypt and He WILL still make him a great nation. At the time when Jacob needs it most, the Lord brings him reassurance. What a loving and caring God! Eventually when Jacob reaches Egypt he is met by his long lost son and a joyful reunion takes place. Jacob wants nothing more from life now that his greatest desire has been achieved, to see his lost son again.

D. Application?

1. Do you KNOW that wherever you go, the Lord WILL be with you?
2. Thank the Lord for His loving presence with you, wherever you are.