Eternal Perspective Genesis 46-47
Eternal Perspective
Do you remember the first time you understood the concept of eternity? Everyone has that moment first moment when it hits you; forever, you think about it, and then you think about it some more, it doesn't work. God doesn't have a beginning or an end, God has always been, God is not in a place God just is. He created everything; So what is God in? Nothing, He just is. Where is God? Everywhere and nowhere, He created space and all that is in it. When did God start? God Is!, it goes round and round, over and over, bigger and bigger: It is at that moment that your head completely explodes. If you can grasp just one fact from all of that it will change your perspective, your choices and your life; we are eternal beings, created to bring glory to God. When I stop looking at my life in the minutia and pull up to see it as eternal, I can refine what I spend my time on, I can let anxiety slip away and see what really matters, I can allow God to define His plan for me. I can let some things go and just be. Time is a created thing, and it will go away, but we will be with Him eternally.
God's plan for Joseph's life began before he was born and went on long after he died. Joseph only saw parts of the bigger picture. His choices however were made with God's pleasure in mind, which is all God asks. He will accomplish the rest.
Tidbits from Genesis 46-47
- In Genesis 46:2-4 God confirms to Jacob that he is to go to Egypt to be with Joseph.
- In verse 8 we see the first time Moses (the author) refers to Abraham's family as the Israelites or (the childen of Israel) as Jacob has now been named by God.
- There are 70 people in all that will inhabit the land of Goshen near Egypt (including Jacob, Joseph, Ephraim and Mannaseh, there will be 5 added on the way which make up the 75 discussed in Acts 7:14)
- Chapter 46 includes a genealogy of the family.
- In Genesis 46:31-34 is Joseph's plan to secure a land for the family. This is crucial as the stigma of being shepherds will keep the Israelite s from intermingling with the Egyptians.
- If we continue reading to Genesis 47:6 we will read that Joseph had been groomed by God for this task at this time.
- Beersheba is mentioned as the route that Jacob took to Goshen, this was a site that was a favorite of Abraham and Isaac for worship
- They Israelites will be in Goshen for 430 years Exodus 12:40
- Judah represents the family in 46:28 instead of Rueben (see verse 44:16)
- In Chapter 47:13 and on we see that all the land ended up belonging to Pharaoh as money ran out to buy food and animals and land were used for currency.
- Joseph promises to bury Jacob in the land of promise (in the family plot or cave)
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