26. Jacob’s ‘Go Down To Egypt’ Night Vision Dream

The Dream Setting/Backstory

* * *

This dream occurs nine years after Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s two dreams.   Jacob’s household are now in their second year of the crippling famine Pharaoh’s dream had predicted and Jacob sends ten of his sons to Egypt to buy grain. He keeps Benjamin at home.  

In Egypt, Joseph recognised his brothers and initiated a series of ploys that resulted in Benjamin being brought to Egypt and Joseph revealing himself to his brothers.  

Then the literal part of Joseph’s first dream was fulfilled when his eleven brothers bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.  

By now Joseph had gained a deeper understanding of God’s greater plans and purpose for his life and his nation.  He said, 

I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold
into Egypt!   And now, do not be
distressed and do not be angry with
yourselves for selling me here, because it
was to save lives that God sent me ahead
of you. For two years now there has
been famine in the land, and for the next
five years there will be no ploughing and
reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you
to preserve for you a remnant on earth
and to save your lives by a great
deliverance. [1]  

God had now placed Joseph into a position where he could provide refuge and food for Jacob’s household in Goshen in Egypt.  Jacob’s sons returned to Hebron with twenty additional donkeys laden with supplies and various transport wagons to carry Jacob’s household down to Egypt.  

The Dream Scripture

Genesis 46:1-7

* * *

So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.”

Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel’s sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him.  So Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt, taking with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan.  Jacob brought with him to Egypt his sons and grandsons and his daughters and granddaughters—all his offspring.

The Problem

* * *

Jacob had struggled to believe Joseph was alive and was the governor of all Egypt.  How could he trust the words of his conniving sons who’d deceived him so badly?   But as he listened to their story and saw the provisions and the carts Joseph had sent to carry them to Egypt he said, I’m convinced!  My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.  Afterwards Jacob travelled twenty-five miles to Beersheba and offered sacrifices to God in an effort to seek confirmation and guidance. 

The Dreamers Metron

* * *

Jacob has inherited Abraham’s enormous metron to bless all nations until the end of time.  Jacob was also the father of twelve sons who’d lead the twelve tribes of Israel.  After Jacob wrestled with God his name was changed to Israel and this became both the name of the people and the land of God’s Chosen People.  

God told Jacob, 

I am the Lord, the God of your father
Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will
give you and your descendants the land
on which you are lying. Your
descendants will be like the dust of the
earth, and you will spread out to the west
and to the east, to the north and to the
south. All peoples on earth will be
blessed through you and your offspring. 
I am with you and will watch over you
wherever you go, and I will bring you
back to this land. I will not leave you
until I have done what I have promised
you. [2]  

Jacob’s metron also included his call to bring the children of Israel down to Egypt as promised to Abraham. This is what is being worked on in this dream. 

The Message

* * *

The message is plain enough.  God identifies himself as the God of Jacob’s father Isaac.  God then calms Jacob’s concerns.  He said, Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.  I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph’s own hand will close your eyes.  

This reads very much like a précised version of the message God already gave Jacob in Jacob’s Covenant Dream at Bethel.  God again assures Jacob He will go with him and will bring him back again to the Promised Land. He also comforts Jacob by revealing Joseph, whom Jacob thought dead,  would be with him at his own death.

God’s Purpose

* * *

God is moving His plans and purposes for the Messiah forward.  To this end he reassures Jacob he’s doing the right thing in going to Egypt.  He also comforts Jacob with the revelation Joseph’s own hand will close his eyes.

He further comforts Jacob by promising to be with him in Egypt and also to bring his body back to the Promised Land. 

Satan’s Purpose

* * *

Satan who had been behind all the scheming and jealousy of Joseph’s brothers is still trying to stop Jacob from moving in God’s will through fear and unbelief.

Dreamer’s Eyes Enlightened

* * *

This was the eight interaction of God with Jacob in Scripture.  Jacob recognised God’s voice and his eyes were opened to realise it was God’s will for him to go down to Egypt. 

Dreamer’s Response and Application

* * *

Jacob continued on his way to Egypt with the comfort of knowing he had God’s approval and blessing on his journey and God would accompany him. 

Know God Better

* * *

God is again seen working all things together for good.  He is a promise keeper who can sympathise with our weaknesses and help us overcome all circumstances through His sufficient grace. [3] He can weave all our sin and weakness into a beautiful tapestry bringing beauty from ashes. [4] 

The Dream Process

* * *

We’re not told whether Jacob saw God or not. If he did see Him then it would have been Jesus. But I suspect it’s just a case of Jacob hearing God’s voice. 

This dream came after Jacob responded positively to Joseph’s invitation. On his way he offered sacrifice to God who then encouraged Jacob in his choice.  God spoke directly to the issue on Jacob’s heart and created faith for the journey.

This is a literal dream similar to the earlier Genesis dreams in which God gives instructions to the dreamer. There is no interpretation required, only obedience.  The dream is of personal, national and international importance. It’s primary objective was to move God’s chosen people to the next stage of their journey as foretold in Abraham’s Covenant Dream.

The Usual Suspects

* * *

God is speaking in this dream calming Jacob’s fears and giving him direction and comforting words.  Satan is the one who caused Jacob’s fears.  God’s promise of being with Jacob reminds us of Jesus’ words to his disciples, And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. [5] Jesus was also in the chosen people’s seed line. 

Takeaways

* * *

In the first Genesis dream God spoke to childless Abraham about his descendants going down to a land where they would be slaves for four hundred years. 

In this last Genesis dream God specifically directed Abraham’s descendants through Jacob to go to that land.  

I wonder did Jacob have any inkling Egypt would be the land of those four hundred years of captivity?  I wonder did Jacob ever learn of Abraham’s Covenant Dream. I also wonder did Jacob ever share his dreams and Abraham’s dream with Joseph?  

Surely there’s a warning here that we should share our dreams and revelation with our children so they might better know who they are and for what purpose they were placed upon this earth. 

Then they might gain some understanding of how God is working out His plans and purposes within our family lines for His greater Glory.

1 Genesis 45:4-7

2 Genesis 28:13-15

3 2 Corinthians 12:9

4 Isaiah 61:3

5 Matthew 28:20