When all the land of Egypt became hungry and the people cried to Pharaoh for food, Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians: “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” 56 When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the cities that had grain and rationed it to the Egyptians, since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt. 57 Indeed, the whole world came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, for famine had gripped the whole world. Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob (renamed Israel, Gen. 32:29) and the firstborn of Rachel (Gen. 30:22-24), was deeply loved by his father. His brothers, consumed by jealousy, sold him into slavery in Egypt (Gen. 37:28), where he was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Though Joseph faithfully served in Potiphar’s house, he was falsely accused and imprisoned (Gen. 39:11-20). Yet even in suffering, God remained with him, granting him the gift of interpreting dreams. In the preceding verses (Gen. 41:25-54), Joseph interprets Phara...
Struggling in Prayer: Jacob Wrestles for a Blessing, Christ Surrenders for Redemption (Genesis 32:23-32)
That night, however, Jacob arose, took his two wives, with the two maidservants and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 24 After he got them and brought them across the wadi and brought over what belonged to him, 25 Jacob was left there alone. Then a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. 26 When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that Jacob’s socket was dislocated as he wrestled with him. 27 The man then said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” 28 “What is your name?” the man asked. He answered, “Jacob.” 29 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be named Jacob, but Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed.” 30 Jacob then asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He answered, “Why do you ask for my name?” With that, he blessed him. 31 Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I have seen God face to face,” he sa...