Egypt is Good (for Now), But Not the Goal

The story of Joseph raises an interesting question: Through Joseph's many travails, what was God up to? We have journeyed with Joseph from his youth as a young shepherd in Canaan to his rise to the heights of leadership in Egypt. We know from the Book of Exodus that far into the future, Israel would grow to be a great nation, leave Egypt, and eventually settle back in the land of Canaan. But their time in Egypt was a necessary step in God's plan. Likewise, we may find ourselves bewildered as we stumble through hard times in life, but only later see that God had us there for a reason.

The Big Story: God's Plan for His People

1. God's plan started with a promise to Abraham (Gen 12 and 17).
2. God's plan continued with the sanctification of Jacob.
3. God's plan was protected through the suffering of Joseph
4. God's plan culminates in the fulfillment of the promise.

Four Benefits to Their Time in Egypt
#1 They were united as a family (46:28-30).
#2 They were preserved as a nation (46:31-47:10).
#3 They were sheltered from disaster (47:11-12).
#4 They were favored above the world (47:13-26).