EGYPT vs. ISRAEL (part 1)

Providence Community Church

An explicit contrast is drawn in Genesis 47 between the inhabitants of Egypt and the sojourning Hebrews in verse 27. This is a surprising detail given the context and draws attention to the distinctions that God will sovereignly maintain and establish between His covenant people and their international counterparts. I submit that this verse provides a hermeneutical clue as Moses sets up contrasts in this passage foreshadowing events transpiring 100's of years later in linear time but soon to follow in the text. (Genesis is winding down to be followed by the sequel – Exodus). Not only would God's people gain possessions, be fruitful, & multiply in stark contrast to the citizens of Egypt languishing in famine, chap 47 also anticipates other differences as the destiny of God's people continues to unfold in covenant history. The nation of Israel's experience, identity, and social order would be distinct from the pagans so as to glorify God and be a light and blessing to the nations. Gen 22:17-18 prophesied that Abraham's lineage would both possess the gates of his enemies and become a blessing to all the nations of the earth. Fulfillment of this text is recorded in this passage and will continue to be documented as God reveals the constitution of national Israel in due time (Deut 4:5-8).