Genesis 46:28–34 (ESV)
Jacob and Joseph Reunited
28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel
his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. 30 Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.”
31 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, ‘My brothers and my father’s household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to
me. 32 And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says,
‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen,
for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Jacob leaves Canaan for Egypt only when he knows it is the Lord’s will. The Lord
is not limited by geography. He will fulfill His promise to make Abraham’s Seed a great nation in Egypt. Israel’s children are called by name as they journey to Egypt. Like Jacob, we should seek the Lord’s guidance and blessing for our plans.
He has revealed His will for our deeds and our salvation in His Word. Where He has not spoken, He gives us freedom to make reasonable choices. The tearful reunion of Jacob and Joseph is a pattern of the reunion that God seeks with His children. The Lord knows
our name, and in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, His name has been given to us.
I
pray: Lord God, give us courage to follow You each new day, especially when You call us to paths unknown; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Engelbrecht, E.
A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 87). St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House.