Lesson 12
Read Genesis 47:13-31; 48:1-5, 15-16, 21; 49:29-32 - https://www.bible.com/bible/59/gen.47.esv
- Fairness – treating people equally or in a way that is right or reasonable
- Thriftiness – economy and good management; thriving; prosperous
- Contentment – being happy and satisfied
- Gratitude – thanks and appreciation

Eventually, as the seven-year famine continued, there was no food to be found anywhere in Egypt or Canaan. Joseph had collected all the money in these two countries to pay for the food the people purchased, storing the money safely in Pharaoh’s palace. The Egyptians came to Joseph, begging for food. “Are you going to just watch us die? There is no more money!” they cried.

God again gave Joseph wisdom in how to be thrifty and still treat the desperate Egyptians with fairness. Joseph instructed them to bring their animals, and he’d trade their livestock for food. Joseph got them through that year by exchanging all their flocks and herds for food.

The next year, they came back to Joseph. “You know we have no money and no more animals. We’ve nothing left to give you except ourselves and our land. But what use will our bodies be to you if we’ve starved to death? Trade us food for our bodies and farms. We’ll be slaves and give up our land – we’re just asking for seed to survive.”

So Joseph purchased all the farms in Egypt for Pharaoh in exchange for food and seed for the Egyptians. Pharaoh then owned all the land, and all the Egyptians ended up being slaves.

Joseph announced, “I’ve purchased you and your land for Pharaoh, in exchange for seed to plant the ground. At harvest-time, you are to give a fifth to Pharaoh and keep four-fifths as seed for the next spring and to feed your children.” The people responded with gratitude, glad to be slaves of Pharaoh to save their own lives and the lives of their families.

Jacob and his family acquired property in Goshen, flourished there, and became a large family during the seventeen years Jacob lived in the land of Egypt. Jacob lived to be 147 years old.

Jacob called Joseph when he knew his time on earth was about over, and asked him to promise not to bury him in Egypt, but to carry his body back to Canaan and bury him with his fathers. Joseph promised to do what he asked, and Jacob, lying in bed, bowed his head gratefully.

Sometime later, Joseph received word his father was ill. He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to Jacob. Jacob told Joseph he was adopting his two sons who had been born in Egypt, giving them equal status with his own twelve sons.

Jacob kissed and hugged Joseph’s sons, and said gratefully to Joseph, “I never expected to see you again, and God has allowed me to see you and your two children!” He sighed with contentment, then he blessed them both. In his blessing, Jacob acknowledged God had been his shepherd his whole life long. Jacob then blessed his son Joseph, “God be with you and give you safe passage back to the land of your fathers.”

Apply God’s Word to your life:
*Who was already buried in the cave where Jacob wanted to be buried?
*How did Jacob’s instructions show He believed God’s promise to him in Genesis 28:4, 13-15?
*Was Jacob afraid to die?
*How does this passage help you not be afraid of death?