–C.S. Lewis
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

Genesis 46:1-4
So Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. 2 Then God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” And he said, “Here I am.” 3 So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there. 4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

The wisest thing to do is to take God with you even when you don’t know where God is taking you.

Genesis 46:5-7
5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob, their little ones, and their wives, in the carts which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 So they took their livestock and their goods, which they had acquired in the land of Canaan, and went to Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. 7 His sons and his sons’ sons, his daughters and his sons’ daughters, and all his descendants he brought with him to Egypt.

The great work that God is doing in you and through you is much greater than you.

Genesis 46:28
28 Then he sent Judah before him to Joseph, to point out before him the way to Goshen. And they came to the land of Goshen.

It is in the habit of praise that God inhabits His people.

Genesis 46:29
29 So Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; and he presented himself to him, and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.

Genesis 46:30
30 And Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face, because you are still alive.”

Only those who know Christ is alive are ready to die.

Genesis 46:31-34
31 Then Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘My brothers and those of my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for their occupation has been to feed livestock; and they have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.’ 33 So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Those who resent the ideas of God will hate those who represent the image of God.

Discussion Questions

1. Discuss this quote by C.S. Lewis: “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
   

2. According to Genesis 46:1-4, what is the significance of Beersheba? Why is this location important to the family? (See Genesis 22:19, Genesis 26:23)
   

3. Using verse 28, why did Jacob send Judah ahead of him to meet Joseph? How does this one verse set a precedence for the tribe of Judah (Judges 1:2 and 20:18; 2 Chronicles 20:22)? And how does it correlate with the Christian’s praise? (See Psalm 22:3)
   

4. Compare the difference between Genesis 37:35 and Genesis 46:30. What is the spiritual reality of the Christian in light of death? (See 1 Corinthians 15:55-58; Philippians 1:21)
   

5. What was God doing when He orchestrated Jacob and his family to dwell in Goshen (Genesis 46:31:34)? Why would this separation be a blessing?
   

6. How does the entire narrative of Joseph paint a picture of the Christian’s journey to salvation and sanctification?