Genesis 46

Genesis 46 can give us a road map for how to overcome the hard moments in life and embrace hope in God’s goodness.

Outline

First, Celebrate the promise of God’s goodness (46:1-7)
- Celebrate the promise of God’s goodness with our first step
- Celebrate the promise of good news with our next steps
Second, Remember the pattern of God’s goodness (46:8-27)
- Remember the pattern of God’s goodness to the next generation (46:8-18)
- Remember the pattern of God’s goodness through the next generation (46:19-27)
Third, Experience the power of God’s goodness (46:28-34)

The genealogies show us that who Jesus came from reveals who he came for. Jesus comes from broken sinners so he can come for broken sinners. Jesus comes as the ultimate son of Abraham, the greater Isaac, the true Israel. Just as Jacob and his family journey to Egypt to escape the famine in Joseph’s day, Jesus will go to Egypt to escape a murderous king. Just as this genealogy is preparing a way for the pattern of God’s goodness to the next generation in the Exodus, Jesus will come and lead a new Exodus of the people of God out of darkness and into light.
Jesus is Like Judah—forerunner who goes and prepares a place for God’s people. Jesus is Like Jacob—leaves the promised land of heaven to travel to a far country to be reconciled with a child who once was lost but now is found, who once was as good as dead but now is alive. We are like Joseph—we fall into the arms of a loving father and experience the joy and peace we’ve longed for all our lives.

Jacob doesn’t wait to celebrate until he experiences God’s goodness when he is reunited with Joseph, just the promise of God’s goodness drives him to celebrate. The goodness of God should create deep joy in our hearts.
Jacob and Joseph are showing us what it is like to experience those breakthrough moments in our lives. Cancer free, debt paid in full, broken relationship healed. God creates join in the breakthrough moments, he deserves the credit for that work.