Can it be God’s plan, if things go wrong later? (Gen 46:1-47:12)

An Old Testament lecturer of mine once suggested that Jacob should have returned to Canaan after the famine and never have settled in Egypt. While I felt that this interpretation was mistaken, it does touch on an important issue. Namely, when things go wrong (e.g. Israel will eventually be enslaved), does it mean we should never have chosen that path? I found myself in such a situation one year when I was a volunteer with a Christian mission reaching out to international students. I was hosted by a family who were less than happy to have me – an awkward situation! The church I joined (where I was meant to raise awareness for international student ministry) proved to be unfriendly and difficult to break into. While some parts of the work with the mission were enjoyable, overall I felt like a square peg in a round hole and struggled to see why. Have I misunderstood God about going? Yet, the way I heard about this opportunity looked to be from God and despite how hard that year seemed at the time, I drew lessons from it that are still relevant for me today.

God’s reassurance to Jacob

For Jacob and his family to be going down to Egypt was a big step. God has promised them the land of Canaan, so leaving it may have seemed counter-intuitive. Abraham is not condemned earlier when he visits Egypt during a famine (Gen 12:10), though Isaac is specifically told to stay in the land when another famine hits (Gen 26:1-5). Jacob, of course, would want to see his son, even if briefly and he sets out to do so (Gen 45:28; 46:1). As he reaches Beersheba, the last settlement in the Promised Land before one hits what is nothing but desert,[1] he offers sacrifices to God (v.1), a sign that he seeks His favour. God’s reassurance to Jacob is significant, as it is the last appearance recorded until Moses and the exodus (Exod 3:4). The Lord promises His presence with Jacob and reiterates the commitment to make him a great nation (Gen 28:14), as well as tells him of his peaceful death with his favourite son at his deathbed (Gen 46:3-4). Most significantly, God makes it clear that the promise of nationhood will be fulfilled in Egypt (‘there’, v.3), which suggests a longer stay.[2]

Genealogy and settling in Goshen

All of the family and their possessions then go down to Egypt (Gen 46:5-7) and the long genealogy further underlines God’s blessing of descendants as well as their complete transfer to this foreign land (both seven and ten are associated with completeness and seven times ten, i.e. seventy, is its ultimate symbol; Gen 46:27; more on this in my next post). Jacob’s and Joseph’s tearful reunion is then described (Gen 46:29-30), although it is almost eclipsed by the detail of settling in Goshen. The latter is unknown from other ancient documents, but it is thought to have been in the eastern Nile delta. The significance of this long and repetitious section is perhaps to highlight Pharaoh’s generosity (they are given the best of the land – Gen 47:6, 11; and some are put in charge of Pharaoh’s livestock, v.6). Moreover, the fact that shepherds are ‘an abomination’ to the Egyptians (NASB ‘loathsome’, Gen 46:34), will ensure a certain amount of separation between the two groups, so that Israel will not assimilate into Egyptian culture. Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh (i.e. calling God’s blessing down on him) echoes God’s promise that He will bless those who bless His people (Gen 47:10; Gen 12:3).[3]

God’s will is no guarantee of a smooth ride

Throughout our reading, the echoes and allusions to God’s promises and continued commitment to His people suggest that the settlement in Egypt was indeed the Lord’s plan. It teaches us that God’s ways may look very different to how we envisage them. Neither do difficulties and obstacles down the line necessarily mean that we misread God’s will. Even if we have, God is gracious in helping us when we cry out to Him, but we need not doubt just because things are not as straightforward as we had hoped. The Lord’s purposes are often so much broader and wider than we can imagine and we must entrust ourselves to His hands.

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[1] The expression ‘from Dan to Beersheba’ (Judg 20:1; 1 Sam 3:20) commonly describes the whole land of Israel later, Beersheba being the southernmost town and Dan the northernmost.

[2] Further, God knew full well about Israel’s coming oppression in Egypt (Gen 15:13-16), but this removal of the chosen people was necessary as the lease on the land for the current occupants was not quite up yet (v.16).

[3] It is always a superior person who blesses the inferior. Although Pharaoh is technically more powerful as ruler of Egypt, Jacob is honoured so highly because of his advanced age.

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