Genesis 47:27-28 – In God’s incubation time

Despite the severe and prolonged famine, Pharaoh’s prosperity was unequalled. It was all because of Joseph’s God-given insight and administrative skills. Meanwhile, tugged in Goshen in Egypt, Israel was also prospered by God. Not only did they become rich but they also grew in numbers considerably. Verse 27 tells us so. It says, “Now Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in Goshen, and they acquired property in it and were fruitful and became very numerous.” When Jacob came to Egypt he was 130 years old. That was what he told the Pharaoh. Notice how quickly time had passed. In seventeen years they gained possession, were fruitful and had multiplied greatly in the Land of Goshen. Jacob was now 147 years in age and frail, but his family had accumulated much wealth. Imagine all these happened while the world was suffering famine.

Amazingly and unconsciously, Jacob had already spent 17 years with Joseph in Egypt. This was exactly the number of years he also spent with this beloved son in Canaan before his brothers treacherously sold him to Egypt. Though nothing much was said about what transpired in the 17 years, we surmise that there were deep bonding between the father and son. There were plenty to catch up. Joseph, meanwhile must have thought much about the God-given dreams for his life, and had further insight into his role in God’s plan. Know it or not what he went through were engineered by the Almighty. Israel, as God’s Chosen people, was going through a period of incubation in Egypt. They would be in incubation for 400 years. Soon, as God’s vessel, that nation which began with 66 in Egypt would become a great nation. This is just the promise of God to Abraham. In Genesis 15:13-14 God said to Abraham while the patriarch had fallen asleep, saying, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions.”

It is good to know that as God blessed Israel and his family, we His people today are also candidates for His blessing. And like what He did to Israel and his family, God often brings us through a time of incubation to prepare us for His blessing. The ultimate prosperity God wants to give to us will not always be presented in a silver platter. Many a times, they will come through rigorous and often rough and tough circumstances of life. God takes all the pleasant as well as the unpleasant experiences of our life and through them mould and prepare us to handle His ultimate blessings for our life. Let’s not abort what God wants to accomplish in our lives. So hold on regardless, God is not through with us yet.

Here’s a little insight from Psalm 105. Talking about the tough time Joseph went through, the Psalmist said this in verses 16-19:

And He called for a famine upon the land;
He broke the whole staff of bread.
He sent a man before them,
Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
They afflicted his feet with fetters,

He himself was laid in irons;
Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.

Yes, we all know until the time comes for the promise of God to us to come into fruition, the words of His promise will test and try us. In the tough and rough time of life, we must be steadfast and immovable. Why? God will never renege on His Word. The promise will come to pass. Be sure of it.