QT 1/8/2026 Gen 46:8-27, God is looking for people who will be his witness on earth

Genesis 46:8–27 (ESV) —

8 Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, 9 and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi. 10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. 11 The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron. 14 The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

16 The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli. 17 The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob—sixteen persons.

19 The sons of Rachel, Jacob’s wife: Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob—fourteen persons in all.

23 The son of Dan: Hushim. 24 The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob—seven persons in all.

26 All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob’s sons’ wives, were sixty-six persons in all. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

 

NOTE: Commentators have a lot of difficulty with the last two verses (26-27). When I add verses 8-25, I get 70. The writer then says that 66 traveled to Egypt. Joseph was already in Egypt as were his two sons, and Jacob may not have included himself, since 66 is the number "belonging" to Jacob. In any case, the most significant aspect of the number 70 is that it is the number of nations that were scattered at the tower of Babel in Genesis 10.

 

Why is that significant? Because this 70 people represents a new beginning for God's creation. The previous 70 nations did not pursue God, so God chooses one nation, a very insignificant group of people. They were not the largest, and they were not the smartest. Their technology was always weak. But God blesses them and protects them. For now, they will be an entire nation of slaves until they number nearly 700,000 men.

 

There were also 70 disciples (some versions translate 72) of Jesus who went out two-by-two and shared the gospel. They also represent another new beginning in history. This third group of 70 is the last group that God will start until he comes again to restore all things. This last group represents Grace. This is the nation we want to be a part of. It actually isn't a nation but rather the body of Christ. All other groups ultimately fail, but this last group will continue until the rapture.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I a part of the body of Christ?
2. Or am I just a religious person or worse, just a spiritual person? Christ is the only way to God!

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that I know you and have seen my life transformed by the Holy Spirit. I want to continue to walk in this new life. Help me to be a good witness, and do all within my power to advance the kingdom.