Genesis 47 "Providence and Protection: From Genesis to Revelation"

Explore the profound narrative of Genesis 47, where Joseph, acting as a divine agent, ensures the survival of his family and the Egyptians during a severe famine. This episode is not just a story of earthly provision but a foretelling of divine protection and selection as seen in Revelation 7:4-8, where 144,000 servants of God from the twelve tribes of Israel are sealed for protection in the end times.
Key Scriptures:
* Ezekiel 47:13-14: This prophecy of land division among the tribes of Israel serves as a precursor to the heavenly sealing described in Revelation, illustrating a divine plan that spans from earthly provision to heavenly salvation.
* Revelation 7:4-8: The sealing of the 144,000 highlights themes of divine selection and protection, paralleling Joseph’s role during the famine.
* Acts 7:11-15 (Stephen's message):"Now there came a famine throughout all the land of Egypt and Kena'an, and great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance. But when Ya'aqob heard that there was grain in Mitsrayim, he sent out our fathers first. And at the second time, Yosef was made known to his brothers, and Yosef's family became known to the Pharaoh. Then Yosef sent and called his father Ya'aqob and all his relatives to him, seventy-five people. So Ya'aqob went down to Mitsrayim, and he died, he and our fathers."

Note on Isaac:
It's noteworthy that within the patriarchal lineage, Isaac stands out as the only forefather who never set foot in Egypt. This contrasts with Abraham, who did go to Egypt during a famine, and Ya'aqob, who also went down to Egypt later under different circumstances. Even the Mashiach, Yahusha, was taken to Egypt as a child to escape Herod’s decree, fulfilling the prophecy, "Out of Egypt I called my Son." Isaac’s non-travel to Egypt remains a unique aspect of his life, potentially symbolizing a different type of covenantal faithfulness or divine protection.