Genesis 47:7-12

Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?”

Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.

Joseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Joseph nourished his father, his brothers, and all of his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

One thing that stands out to me in this passage is what Jacob had to say about his life. We have had the privilege of reading about what happened during Jacob’s life. We know that Jacob deceived his own father and his brother, ended up running to a greedy uncle. After escaping from him, he endured the abuse of one of his daughters, the death of his wives, the loss of his favorite son, and finally a severe famine. In the process, however, Jacob slowly became acquainted with the God of his fathers. Here we learn that he realized that his life was short because of the evil in his days, and that his father’s life was better. Jacob became a man who blessed others. He used to be a man who tried to get the best deal. What a difference a relationship with God had on his life.

Another thing that stands out to me is the nice situation that the Hebrews found themselves in. They were given the best land during a time of trouble. They had nothing to worry about in what was probably the most prosperous place in the world. Unfortunately, we know that this story doesn’t end well. After a few years, we will find out that the Egyptians begin to force the Hebrews into slave labor. How could this happen? The reason that I find this so interesting is because I find myself in a land that is probably the most prosperous in the world. I am a Christian which means that I am a foreigner. What is it that causes God’s people to be come enslaved after enjoying such comfort? Perhaps God will make that clear to us as we read on.