Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” (Genesis 45:9-13)

Over twenty years earlier, Jacob’s 10 oldest sons had sold their teenage brother (Joseph) into slavery in Egypt.

So it was not you who sent me here, but God. (Genesis 45:48)

So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, “Jacob, Jacob.” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation. I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.” Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. (Genesis 46:1-5)

Jacob goes forward into Egypt.  He brings his entire family – 70 people in total.

He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while. Israel said to Joseph, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive.” (Genesis 46:28-30)

Jacob and Joseph’s Reunion

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)

“But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)

“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents. (Genesis 47:11-12)

Joseph makes his family a priority, even though they never made him one.

And Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with food, according to the number of their dependents. Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine. (Genesis 47:12-13)

When it comes to family and work, most families have one thing in common: tension.

And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31)

Jesus gives us our priorities when it comes to people:

1. God
2. Others
3. Self

If you’re married, your spouse is #1 on the “Others” list.

Ephesians 5

1 Corinthians 7

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.” (1 Peter 3:1-2)

“Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7)

A more specified version of our priorities for people:

1. GOD
2. ​OTHERS
   1. Spouse     (I Corinthians 7, Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 3)
   2. Children   (Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 127, Proverbs)
   3. Parents     (Exodus 20:12, Ephesians 6:1-2)
   4. Extended Family
   5. Other “Others”
3. ​SELF

Work is important. But it is a problem when your work becomes your God and replaces your family.

“God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.” (Genesis 45:7)

And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.” And Joseph answered, “Give your livestock, and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock, if your money is gone.” (Genesis 47:14-16)

Joseph was excellent at his job. He was shrewd. He was diligent. He thought big picture.

Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years. And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed. (Genesis 47:27-31)

Are you willing to order your priorities according to the wisdom of God’s Word, trusting that God will be faithful?