Jacob Goes to Joseph
Read Genesis 46. What is the significance of Jacob’s departure from
Canaan?
When Jacob leaves his place in Canaan, he is full of hope. The assur-
ance that he will no longer be hungry and the good news that Joseph is
alive must have given him the momentum that he needed to leave the
Promised Land.
Jacob’s departure echoes the experience of Abraham, though in
Abraham’s case he was heading to the Promised Land. Jacob hears the
same promise Abraham heard from God, namely that He will make him
“a great nation” (Gen. 46:3; compare with Gen. 12:2). God’s call here
also is reminiscent of God’s covenant with Abraham; in both occasions
God uses the same reassuring words “ ‘do not fear’ ” (Gen. 46:3, NKJV;
compare with Gen. 15:1), which carry the promise of a glorious future.
The comprehensive listing of the names of the children of Israel
who went to Egypt, including his daughters (Gen. 46:7), recalls God’s
promise of fruitfulness to Abraham even when he was still childless.
The number “seventy” (including Jacob, Joseph, and his two sons)
expresses the idea of totality. It is “all Israel” that goes to Egypt. It also
is significant that the number 70 corresponds to the number of nations
(Genesis 10), suggesting that the destiny of all the nations also is at
stake in Jacob’s journey.
This truth will become more evident only many years later, after
the Cross and the fuller revelation of the plan of salvation, which, of
course, was for all humanity, everywhere, and not just for the children
of Abraham.
In other words, however interesting the stories are regarding this
family, the seed of Abraham, and whatever spiritual lessons we can take
from them—these accounts are in the Word of God because they are
part of salvation history; they are part of God’s plan to bring redemp-
tion to as many as possible on this fallen planet.
“For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same
Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls
on the name of the L ord shall be saved’ ” (Rom. 10:12, 13, NKJV).
What does Paul say here that shows the universality of the gos-
pel? More important, what do these words say to us regarding
what we as a church should be doing to help spread the gospel?
