13. Israel in Egypt

Sabbath afternoon

Prayer Thought

Jacob's sons then made their humiliating confessions to their father, of their wicked treatment of Joseph, and entreated his forgiveness. Jacob did not suspect his sons were guilty of such cruelty. But he saw that God had overruled it all for good, and he forgave and blessed his erring sons. He commenced his journey with gladness of heart, and when he came to Beersheba he offered grateful sacrifices, and entreated God to bless him, and make known to him if he was pleased with their moving into Egypt. Jacob wanted an evidence from God that he would go with them. "And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father. Fear not to go down into Egypt, for I will there make of thee a great nation. I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes." {1SP 152.1}

Memory Text

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Gen. 41:14

This week's SS Lesson will discuss God's reassurance of making Israel (Jacob) a great nation in the heathen land of Egypt. It also includes Jacob's blessings to His children {Gen. 49} after giving blessings to Joseph's son {Gen. 48}. The Book of Genesis ended with the Israelites living in Egypt as strangers, hoping to head toward the Promised Land as Joseph mentions God's visitation to bring them into their own land as promised to Abraham, Isaac, and their father Jacob {Gen. 50:24}

Outline of the Study

Israel in Egypt

Sunday: Jacob Goes to Joseph {Jacob and Joseph meet again} Genesis 46

Monday: Jacob Settles in Egypt {Israel settles in Egypt} Genesis 47

Israel Jacob's Blessings

Tuesday: Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons {Blessings for Joseph} Genesis 48

Wednesday: Jacob Blesses His Sons {Blessings for the 12 tribes} Genesis 49:1-28

Thursday: The Hope of the Promised Land {The hope to come} Genesis 49:29-50:21

Friday: The Further Study and Meditation

Israel in Egypt

Sunday: Jacob Goes to Joseph {Jacob and Joseph meet again} Genesis 46

“So He said, ‘I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there.’” (Genesis 46:3)

Meeting with Affection and Willingness to Die

The meeting of Joseph and his father was very affecting. Joseph left his chariot, and ran to meet his father on foot, and embraced him, and they wept over each other. Jacob then expressed his willingness to die, since he had again seen his son Joseph, for whom he had so long mourned as dead. {1SP 152.2}

Land of Goshen where they settled

Upon reaching Egypt the company proceeded directly to the land of Goshen. Thither came Joseph in his chariot of state, attended by a princely retinue. The splendor of his surroundings and the dignity of his position were alike forgotten; one thought alone filled his mind, one longing thrilled his heart. As he beheld the travelers approaching, the love whose yearnings had for so many long years been repressed, would no longer be controlled. He sprang from his chariot and hastened forward to bid his father welcome. "And he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive." {PP 233.1}

Israel in Egypt a Symbol of the later part of the Christian church

Israel arrived in Egypt in the second year of famine. Gen. 45:10, 11, "And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty." The arrival of Israel in Egypt stands for some symbol in which there must be a lesson. Note that this lesson can not before the early part of the Christian church, for Israel came in the second year of famine. The lesson, then, intended here, is for a later period in the history of the church. If we are to know the truth of the incident, and the lesson intended to be derived from it, reference must here be made to the number of souls which entered into Egypt. "And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten." Gen. 46:27. {SR1: 73.1}

Consider the Following

When Jacob arrived at Beersheba, he sought God’s guidance (Genesis 46:1). God renewed the promises he had made, and assured Jacob that Joseph would close his eyes (Genesis 46:2-4).

Seventy people settled in Egypt (46:27b). The calculation was strange; the daughters-in-law were not counted, but Joseph and his sons were although they were already there, according to Gn. 46:26-27).

This figure may be related to the seventy nations that emerged after the Flood (see Genesis 10).

After all, the blessing is not only for the people of Israel but for all the nations. The plan of salvation covers everyone who accepts the forgiveness and eternal life that the sacrifice of Jesus brings.

The Symbol of Seventy who settled in Egypt

And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, [were] two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, [were] threescore and ten. Gen. 46:27

Seventh-day Adventists only can fulfill the type, for just at this time they were called by a prophet of God, to organize as a denomination, and to proclaim the glad news: "This gospel in all the world in this generation." Thus the symbol "seventy" met its fulfillment at that time. {SR1: 74.1}

Still another thought on the experience of Israel:--When Joseph's brethren came into Egypt, they went directly to him for corn. "And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth." Gen. 42:6. The sons of Jacob were strangers in the land and knew not their brother who was a governor. They providentially came not to Pharaoh, as the Egyptians did, for corn, but directly to the right person,--Joseph. In contrast to this, the Egyptians who should have known better, being acquainted with the rule of their country, went to Pharaoh for corn, but their king told them to "go to Joseph. What he saith to you, do." The Egyptians must have known Joseph, being their governor for more than eight years by that time. In the seven years of plenty, it was Joseph to whom they sold the food which he preserved for the time of famine. Joseph rode in Pharaoh's chariot over all the land of Egypt, and all the Egyptians bowed down to him, thus it would have been impossible for them to be ignorant of him. This being a symbol, it can only find its fulfillment in the following narrative: {SR1: 74.2}

Monday: Jacob Settles in Egypt {Israel settles in Egypt} Genesis 47

“So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.” (Genesis 47:10)

Providential Design - Joseph's Enslavement to Enthronement

Years later when Joseph's brothers went into Egypt to obtain food during the seven-year famine, Joseph, recognizing Providential design in the strange drama of his life from enslavement to enthronement, said unto his brothers as he "made himself known" unto them: "Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life...and...to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." Gen. 45:1, 5, 7. {ABN2: 6.1}

Thus the Lord providentially exalted Joseph to share the throne of Egypt in order to predispose Pharaoh to grant Israel permission to enter into the land. {ABN2: 6.2}

Next, to draw them there, He brought thereabouts the seven years of plenty, followed by the seven years of famine. Whereupon He sent word to Jacob that Joseph was yet alive. At the overjoying news, there sprang up in the father an irresistible desire to see his son. This and the life-taking hunger upon Joseph's brethren, compelled them to remove into Pharaoh's land of plenty, where they lived like kings. {ABN2: 6.3}

Prophetic Significance of Israel's Settlement in Egypt

Typological Application

The Egyptians (Gentiles) went to Pharaoh (leadership of the apostolic church) for corn. The apostles directed the Gentiles (converts) to Christ as Pharaoh directed the Egyptians to Joseph, saying, "Go to Joseph. What he saith to you, do." If this is the meaning we get from the Egyptians' going to Pharaoh, then the significance of the sons of Jacob going directly to Joseph means that when that church is re-organized, the people would have to go directly to Christ (Joseph). The lesson intended is, that in the beginning of the church in 1845, which had no true leadership (Pharaoh) to go to, they of necessity went directly to Christ (as the sons of Jacob came to Joseph). {SR1: 75.1}

Consider the Following

Joseph introduced his brothers to Pharaoh as shepherds (Genesis 47:2-3). It’s obvious that Joseph didn’t want to expose them to the temptations of the pagan court.

Pharaoh gave them Goshen, the best land for shepherding. He also offered them a job: to take care of Pharaoh’s cattle (Genesis 47:6).

Then Joseph introduced his father to Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh (Gn. 47:7).

A nomadic shepherd blessed the king of the most powerful country. “Now beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the better.” (Hebrews 7:7)

For God, true greatness comes from a strong relationship with Him, and not from social positions.

The beginning of this denomination was typified by Israel's entrance into Egypt as previously explained. We shall now consider the truth of the land of Goshen. Joseph brought Israel into Egypt and gave them the part of the land to dwell in which was the best land in the country of Egypt, and there Joseph nourished them, their flocks, herds and cattle, and all they had. See Gen. 45:10. {SR1: 76.1}

The land of Goshen stands as a symbol of the United States of America in which the church came into existence. While our country is productive like the land of Goshen, the richest in the world, and a Protestant nation, it is the best for missionary work, for it is made up of all nations, and therefore like the land of Goshen, the most productive in Egypt (the world). {SR1: 76.2}

Israel Jacob's Blessings

Tuesday: Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons {Blessings for Joseph} Genesis 48

“The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; let my name be named upon them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.” (Genesis 48:16)

Joseph Double Portion in Israel

Said Jacob, "Thy two sons, Ephraim, and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine." They were to be adopted as his own, and to become the heads of separate tribes. Thus one of the birthright privileges, which Reuben had forfeited, was to fall to Joseph--a double portion in Israel. {PP 234.3}

The blessing ended, Jacob gave his son the assurance--leaving for the generations to come, through long years of bondage and sorrow, this testimony to his faith--"Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers." {PP 235.1}

Consider the Following

Jacob adopted Joseph’s sons as their own, therefore giving Joseph a double portion (i.e. the primogeniture rights) (Genesis 48:5).

In this private event, Jacob referenced some crucial events in his life and some future ones:

Wednesday: Jacob Blesses His Sons {Blessings for the 12 tribes} Genesis 49:1-28

“And Jacob called his sons and said, ‘Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days” (Genesis 49:1)

Honored and Privileged above all Nations

God surrounded Israel with every facility, gave them every privilege, that would make them an honor to His name and a blessing to surrounding nations. If they would walk in the ways of obedience, He promised to make them "high above all nations which He hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honor." "All people of the earth," He said, "shall hear that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee." The nations which shall hear all these statutes shall say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:10; Deuteronomy 4:6. {Ed 40.2}

"John did not fully understand the nature of the Messiah's kingdom. He looked for Israel to be delivered from her national foes; but the coming of the King in righteousness, and the establishment of Israel as a holy nation, was the great object of his hope." -- "The Desire of Ages," p. 103. {SR2: 242.1}

"And Pharaoh said unto his brethren [Joseph's], What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. Gen. 47:3. Israel were shepherds which is a symbol of missionaries such as feed the lambs of God. In the early part of the church, the by-word was, "Every Seventh-day Adventist a missionary, and every missionary a preacher." It ought to be so now. "The great struggle has not been between religion and no religion; it is between God's religion and man's religion."--Review and Heralds, Jan. 23, 1930. {SR1: 77.1}

Future of the twelve tribes had been Foretold

At the last all the sons of Jacob were gathered about his dying bed. And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, "Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father," "that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days." Often and anxiously he had thought of their future, and had endeavored to picture to himself the history of the different tribes. Now as his children waited to receive his last blessing the Spirit of Inspiration rested upon him, and before him in prophetic vision the future of his descendants was unfolded. One after another the names of his sons were mentioned, the character of each was described, and the future history of the tribes was briefly foretold.

"Reuben, thou art my first-born, ... "Unstable as water, Thou shalt not excel." {PP 235.3} ... never rose to any eminence in Israel.

Simeon - the smallest tribe made no reference to blessing.

Levi - The priesthood was apportioned ... received no inheritance except forty-eight cities scattered in different parts of the land.

Next in age to Reuben were Simeon and Levi. They had been united in their cruelty toward the Shechemites, and they had also been the most guilty in the selling of Joseph. Concerning them it was declared-- "I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel." {PP 235.5}

The crowning blessings of the birthright were transferred to Judah. The significance of the name--which denotes praise,--is unfolded in the prophetic history of this tribe: The lion, king of the forest, is a fitting symbol of this tribe, from which came David, and the Son of David, Shiloh, the true "Lion of the tribe of Judah," to whom all powers shall finally bow and all nations render homage. {PP 236.2}

For most of his children Jacob foretold a prosperous future. At last the name of Joseph was reached, and the father's heart overflowed as he invoked blessings upon "the head of him that was separate from his brethren": the double portion of the inheritance given to Joseph through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh. It was not so numerous as Judah, Joseph, or Dan, and was among the first that were carried into captivity. {PP 235.4}

Consider the Following

Jacob predicted the future of each tribe (Genesis 49).

Reuben was taken the primogeniture away, which was given to Joseph.

Judah was given the leadership, the “scepter.” The Messiah, Shiloh, would come from Judah.

Thursday: The Hope of the Promised Land {The hope to come} Genesis 49:29-50:21

“Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’” (Genesis 50:25)

Death of Jacob Brings Gloom and Distress to Joseph's Brethren

After the death of Jacob, Joseph's brethren were filled with gloom and distress. They thought that Joseph had concealed his resentment, out of respect for their father; and now that he was dead, he would be revenged for the ill treatment he had suffered at their hands. They dared not appear before him, but sent a messenger, "Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil; and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father." This message affected Joseph to tears, and, encouraged by this, his brethren came and fell down before him, with the words, "Behold, we be thy servants." He met them with the comforting and assuring reply, Fear not; for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not; I will nourish you, and your little ones. Joseph loved his brethren, and he could not bear the thought that they regarded him as harboring a spirit of revenge toward them. {ST, February 5, 1880 par. 11}

Saving Providences of Unbearable Hardship - Mindset them to Leave Egypt One Day

Not purposing, however, to leave them there forever, the Lord did not let their living continue as pleasant as at the first, lest they refuse to take heed to Moses when he should come with the word that the time had arrived for them to go back home. But He brought about another saving providence, this time permitting unbearable hardship to befall them, so that when called they would respond gladly. So slaves they had to become: and still worse, they had to be bereaved of their male children, then mercilessly driven with cruel lashes upon their backs to produce ever more bricks. {ABN2: 6.4}

Thus the power of the Spirit combined with horrible suffering from their hard Egyptian servitude, was an over-powering force compelling them to forsake the heathen land and to return to their own. {ABN2: 7.1}

Consider the Following

Jacob was embalmed and buried at Canaan. A large entourage—including Israelites and Egyptians—accompanied his body (Genesis 50:7-10).

Joseph’s brothers were worried that he would take revenge (Genesis 50:15). Joseph reminded them that God had turned their terrible acts in blessings, so they could live safely (Genesis 50:19-21).

Finally, Joseph thought about his death and looked at the future. He believed that God would visit Israel and take them out of Egypt. Therefore, he requested his coffin to be carried when that happened (Genesis 50:25).

The same hope is valid for us today. Jesus will soon carry us to Canaan, to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem will be our homeland bound leaving this world of sin and heading toward the kingdom God has promised where His children will be gathered. Please visit this site for more information on this prophecy. Click or copy-paste on a browser.

Friday: The Further Study and Meditation

John did not fully understand the nature of the Messiah's kingdom. He looked for Israel to be delivered from her national foes; but the coming of a King in righteousness, and the establishment of Israel as a holy nation, was the great object of his hope. Thus he believed would be accomplished the prophecy given at his birth,--

"To remember His holy covenant; . . . That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies ... Might serve Him without fear, ... In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life." {DA 103.4}

Questions to Ponder

Why does God allows Jacob to leave Canaan (the promised land) heading toward Egypt (a heathen land)? What significance does it portray in their experience?
What's the significance of mentioning 70 people who settled in Egypt? See Sunday Lesson!
How can God fulfill his promise to Israel when they are amidst the heathen nation Egypt (world)? What principles can we learn in settling in a worldly environment?
Why does Jacob first bless Joseph's sons first and consider them as his sons, not as grandsons?
Does Jacob shows favoritism when he blesses Joseph's sons rather than his own sons? What significance could we see in this account?
Why did Jacob receive inspiration about the future of the 12 tribes? Is it important?
Based on the passage above (DA 103.4), in what way does God shows His providential interventions on His people dwelling in a heathen nation? What does it show about God's character?

From the Pen of Inspiration

“Let God plan for you. As a little child, trust to the guidance of Him who will ‘keep the feet of His saints.’ 1 Samuel 2:9. God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.” E. G. W. (The Ministry of Healing, cp. 40, p. 479)

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