1. So, we see here that Israel and the people with him went to Egypt to the land of
Goshen, Goshen was also called the land of Rameses, and is located in the
Northeastern Nile Delta region of Egypt.
2. It is also noteworthy that Abraham and Sarai would have had to Travel through
This same region to get to Egypt as well, Look at Genesis 12:10-20. I wanted to
Read this because I found it interesting that in this same place during the time
Of Abram and Sarai, a lie took place. Abram told Sarai hat she was beautiful
And he was worried that the Egyptians would kill him and take her from him.
3. So, Abram has Sarai tell the Egyptians that she is Abram’s sister. So, Pharaoh
Thinking Sarai to be Abram’s sister took her to be with his household, and
Pharaoh treated Abram very well giving him flocks and herds, male and female
Donkey’s, and male and female servants. This is where it is believed that Hagar
Came from.
4. Look at Genesis 12:1, Abram was to go to a land that Yahweh would show
Them, and that land was Canaan not Egypt, and Abram and Sarai got there and
Was a famine in the land so, Abram went down to Egypt instead of stay in the
Land of Canaan.
5. Now, I know that it would be very difficult to look at the fact, it is a fact that
There is a famine going on, and say Yahweh told us to go to Canaan and this is
Where we are staying. But then you have to ask the question did Yahweh know
That there was a famine in Canaan when He told them to go to Canaan? And
The other question would be since Yahweh knows everything what was He
Going to do through Abram if He had stayed in Egypt? Did Abram miss a
A blessing by not staying in Egypt?
6. Now we can see that if Abram had stayed in Canaan Sarai would not have
Hagar, so Ismael would not have been born and we would not be going through
Some of the struggles that we are going through today in this world, the other
Thing is that Abram exposed, not only himself, but Sarai and Egypt to sin. This
Also had to do with the Covenant as well the promised child would come
Through Abram and Sarai, and I believe that is why Pharaoh household
Received the plagues was to put a stop to what was about to happen. What if
Abram had prayed about what to do when he got to Canaan?
7. See I think that we tend to do the same things as Abram, we think we have it all
Figured out so we make plans based on what we can do instead of what
Yahweh can do and what happens is we sometimes missing blessings that we
Could have had and bring curse into our lives that we didn’t to suffer through.
8. Back to Genesis 47:27-31, it says that in my version they acquired property this
May be a little different than we have thought about in the past, look at Genesis
41:34-37, Joseph had Pharaoh appoint overseers of all of the land and the
People paid to Pharaoh 1/5 of their crops to stay on the land in the years of
Abundance, then in Genesis 47:20-26, Joseph bought all of the land for Pharaoh
He moved all of the people to the city, the only ones to own land was the
Priests.
9. Then, Joseph gave seed to the people and told them to plant it and when it came
Time to harvest it Pharaoh would take 1/5 and they would get a 4/5’s of the
Harvest for themselves, and to seed the fields for the next harvest and to have
And to food for themselves. Now in the case of Israel it appears that they
Bought the land in Goshen in Genesis 47:27 the word acquired in my version
And possession in the KJV to possess and means owner, plus any capable men
Men went to work overseeing Pharaoh’s flocks.
10. Now, let me mention one more thing right now, this time Yahweh did weigh in
On the matter on going to Egypt, look at Genesis 46:1-3, Yahweh tells Israel
Not to be afraid of going that He will make him a great nation there, the same
Language as that of the Covenant Genesis 12:1-3, Genesis 15:1-16, so when
Abram went to Egypt he may have been thinking about this and didn’t inquire
About the timing, where as Jacob sacrificed and worshipped before Yahweh
And then was told to go.
11. Back to Genesis 47:28-31, Today if we were to swear an oath it would
Probably involve the right hand and a Bible, or at least raising the right hand
Such as swearing into military service, or as a Police officer, President of the
United States, this is a modern, day custom for us here in the USA, and it has
Become the normal way to do this sort of thing, we don’t find it in the Bible.
12. The idea of putting our hand under someone’s thigh is pretty foreign to us in
The USA today, but it was a custom back in the ancient Hebrew days, we may
Read about this happening in the Bible but there doesn’t seem to be anywhere
In the Bible to explain it and what it means.
13. We find this a couple of times in Scripture, once here in Genesis 47:29 and
Genesis 24:9, it is interesting that in both of these cases it is about a patriarch
That is nearing death and with family matters, the custom goes something
Like this, according the sages, that when you take this kind of oath it needs to
Based on something holy and the holiest thing that Abraham had in those
Days was the sign of the Covenant, or the circumcision. So, to place one’s
hand under the thigh was a symbol of the pelvis or the area of Circumcision.
So, they were basing this oath of the Covenant. Israel knew that they needed to
At some point return back to the promised land.
14. Now as we go into Genesis 48 we are going to be looking at some words and
The meaning of those words and also how Yahweh has put all of this together
Gives us a little more information about what all of this means and how
Yahweh is using us and making us into a nation that will be what He wants us
To be, the more we are able to understand this maybe we can better work with
Yahweh and what He is doing around us.
15. So, in Genesis 48:1-22 we find that Joseph told that his father was becoming
And starting to die, so, Joseph got his sons and headed for Goshen to be with
Israel. When they arrived, Israel is told that they are there, and Israel tells them
Come in and he sets up in bed.
16. Israel starts off by telling Joseph about a vision that he was given at Luz, this
Account of the vision comes from Genesis 28:13-19, and it says that Israel
Gave this place the name Bethel which means the House of El, but the
Place was named Luz prior to that. The luz means to turn away or to depart
And carries with it the understanding of devious or crafty. Look at Joshua 18:
11-13.
17. Now, look at Genesis 28:14, it says that your offspring will be as the dust of
Earth and your offspring will spread out to the west, east, north and south
And all of the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you and your off-
Spring.
18. Now back to Genesis 48:4, here Israel gives Joseph the prophecy given to him
By Yahweh, and Israel goes on to say that both of Joseph’s sons are his and
Are now by prophecy are part of this whole revelation that Israel had been
Given. This is exciting because Israel has this prophetic perspective about
Had is taking place and he is seeing this being brought about right before his
Eyes.
19. You may think I am a nut that just walked to far down pier, but let’s keep
Keep going, look at Genesis 48:6, these 2 are important, because any
Children Joseph has after these two will have an inheritance but they will
Be recorded under their brothers.
20. Israel talks about the death Rachel and says that he buried her at Bethlehem
Then he sees Joseph’s son and asks who they are, so Joseph makes an
Introduction and puts them in order od blessings Manasseh on the right
Because Manasseh is the oldest and would receive the firstborn blessing,
And Ephraim on the left because he is the younger.
21. So, when Israel reached out he put his right hand on Ephraim’s head and his
Left hand on Manasseh’s head, Joseph thinks his dad made a mistake because
Of his failing eye sight but Israel tells him that he is doing things right. Israel
Tells Joseph that the younger is to receive the greater blessing. Israel says that
Manasseh would be one of the tribes of the nation of Israel but the younger
Ephraim will have the greater blessing.4
22. Now, you may like most of us be asking why that would be? And the answer
To that can be found in the name of these 2 boys. The name of Manasseh
Means “causing to forget”. And the name of Ephraim means “Double Fruit”
There it is.
23. But look at the call on their lives, Manasseh will be a tribe of Israel it will be
Ephraim and his offspring will become a KJV multitude of nations, the word
For nations here in the Hebrew is gogee and is translated foreign nations, so it
Is the Ephraim that all the foreign nations will be brought in.