From Genesis 46-47
Overview
Gen 46.1-7; Story; God tells Jacob to go to Joseph
in Egypt
Gen 46.8-27; Genealogy; The list of all Jacobs
family
Gen 46.28-34; Story; Jacob and Joseph reunited
Gen 47.1-12; Story; Jacob meets and blessed Pharaoh
Gen 47.13-27; Story; Pharaoh amasses a great amount
of wealth and power
Gen 47.28-31; Story; Joseph promises not to bury
Jacob in Egypt, but with his fathers
Passage and comments
This little passage below caught my attention.
[7] Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and stood him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. [8] And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” [9] And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 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 sojourning.” [10] And Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. [11] Then Joseph settled 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. [12] And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with food, according to the number of their dependents. (Genesis 47:7-12)
Two comments. Firstly, it would seem unusual that
Pharaoh questions Jacob on his age. This would seem to have a direct connection
with the ages to which the first few generations lived. Clearly Jacob is aware
of their longer life spans. He describes his own of 130 years as 'few and
evil'. Jacob the young gun whippersnapper. Today people begin to think they are
old at 25, sometimes earlier. When God’s people are resurrected on Jesus'
return we won't age physically.
Secondly, observe how Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh
had an immediate result on Pharaoh's prosperity. Ooo watch out prosperity
gospel! Better say something against that. Maybe not, sometimes God blesses
some with prosperity, sometimes he doesn't. What is important here to note is
the implicit power behind the blessings of Jacob. More so the blessings of God
to those who believe his promises.
Story of Jesus
When Jesus returns and gives his people
resurrection bodies like his own Jacobs 130 years will seem few by comparison.
For those who have yet to really believe Jesus is real, he died for sins, was
buried and on the third day rose again. And that he is God’s chosen king and
will come again. Being a Christian isn't simply about going to heaven when you
die. It’s about eternal life with God now and forever after you die. And this
is true immortality and prosperity.