The Study of Genesis: Post Twenty-One
***Note – We have completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 21st devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 33 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next couple of weeks.
Focus: Genesis 47
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 47 – “Even Here, God Provides ”
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. – Genesis 47:27
Genesis Chapter 47
“Even Here, God Provides ”
(Read Genesis Chapter 47 First)
When Joseph returns after getting his family settled in Goshen, he takes five of his brothers with him to go before Pharaoh and present them. Joseph already knew Pharaoh would ask about their occupation, so he prepared his brothers ahead of time with what to say. They explained that they were shepherds, just as their fathers had been, and that they had no pasture left for their cattle because the famine had destroyed the land in Canaan. Then they asked if they could stay in Goshen.
Pharaoh was gracious to them because of Joseph. He told Joseph to give them the best land to live in, and even said that if any of the men were especially capable, they could be put in charge of his livestock. It’s a reminder that Joseph’s integrity didn’t just impact his own life, but it created favor that extended to his family, even in a situation where they might have normally been overlooked. The way we live actually affects more than just us.
It also stood out to me that when Joseph brought his father in to meet Pharaoh, that Jacob actually blessed Pharaoh. Jacob, being an older shepherd, who had lived a hard life, spoke a blessing over one of the most powerful men in the world. It’s such a reminder of the importance of humility. Wisdom and spiritual authority don’t always come from positions of power, and we have to be willing to stay humble and teachable enough to receive from those God places in front of us.
Then Pharaoh asked Jacob his age, and Jacob’s response is so honest. He says he is 130 years old, and that his days have been few and full of hardship. Can anyone relate? When you think about his life, it makes sense. He had to flee from his brother Esau after deceiving him. He was mistreated and deceived by his uncle Laban. He dealt with constant family conflict, and for years believed his son Joseph was dead. He also experienced deep grief, fear, uncertainty, famine, and the loss of his wife Rachel.
So what Jacob said was not an exaggeration. He’s simply being real about the life he’s lived, especially when he compares it to his fathers before him.
And I think a lot of us can relate to that in our own way. Maybe we wouldn’t use the same words, but we’ve all had seasons that felt heavy or times filled with stress, loss, disappointment, or just things not going the way we thought they would. There are moments in life that shape us, stretch us, and sometimes leave us wondering why things had to be so hard.
But what I love about this chapter is that Jacob’s story doesn’t end in those hard places. Even after everything he had been through, God was still providing for him and his family. In the middle of a famine, when the rest of the world was struggling just to survive, Jacob’s family had food, land, and stability. Joseph was able to provide bread for the entire household, and they were given one of the best places to live.
Meanwhile, the famine continued to grow worse for everyone else. The people of Egypt ran out of money and began trading their livestock for food. Eventually, they had nothing left but their land and themselves, so they sold it all to Pharaoh in exchange for food and seed. Joseph then organized everything so the people could continue to live and work the land, giving a fifth of their increase to Pharaoh. And even in that, the people were grateful because their lives had been saved.
Jacob went on to live 17 more years in Egypt. And when the time came near for him to pass, he called Joseph and asked him to promise that he would not be buried in Egypt, but with his fathers. After Joseph made him that promise.
This chapter was a reminder that even when life feels hard or looks different than we expected, God is still working. Our struggles don’t cancel out His provision. If anything, they make it even more evident. Just like Jacob, we may look back and remember the hard seasons, but we can also see how God carried us through them, provided for us, and never left us along the way.
Journaling & Reflection:
• When you look back over your life, what are some “hard seasons” that have shaped you?
• Have you ever had a moment where, like Jacob, you felt your life had been filled with struggle? What was that season like?
• Even in those hard times, can you see ways that God was still providing for you?
• Is there an area in your life right now where you are struggling to trust that God will provide?
• What would it look like for you to shift your focus from the hardship to God’s faithfulness?
• Jacob still chose to bless Pharaoh in the middle of his story. Is there someone in your life you can speak encouragement or blessing over, even in your own hard season?
• Looking at your current season, where do you see God working…even if it’s small?
The Georgia Nest 