The Turning Point: When Life Feels Like All is Changing
Imagine you run a small family business. Maybe it’s a bakery, maybe a little café, or a tech company you started with your friends. Things have shifted. Suddenly, there’s a major recession. You don’t have enough customers, and you worry about outgrowing your stable home—or maybe even closing altogether. Your family counts on you. The old way doesn’t work anymore. Can you survive? What if you had to move your business, change your whole plan, and trust someone else just to get through?
That’s exactly what happens in Genesis 47. It’s about Joseph, his father Jacob, their big family, and the people of Egypt and Canaan. The world changes around them, so everyone must face hard choices: let go of the past, trust a new plan, and find a way to thrive somewhere new. This chapter isn’t just a story from long ago. It’s a living guide for how you handle big changes, strong desires, fear, and new decisions—just like any entrepreneur, creator, or dreamer does.
Genesis 47 in Everyday Words
Let’s read a few key moments:
“Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, ‘My father and my brothers… have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.’… Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, ‘The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land…’” (Genesis 47:1, 5-6 WEB)
First, Joseph had to tell Pharaoh that his whole family arrived. This is a big deal: in Egypt, Pharaoh is the boss. Joseph has to advocate for those he loves. Pharaoh then offers the best land for Joseph’s family to live and work.
- Have you ever had to introduce someone you care about to your boss or a powerful person?
- Did you worry about whether your request would be accepted?
This is where life feels like a test. You step out, speak up, and hope for a good outcome. Joseph teaches us how to act in your own life when you want something big for people you care about, and you don’t fully control the outcome.
Symbolic Meaning: Joseph and Pharaoh Inside You
Joseph is not just a brother in a story—he’s the wise, responsible part of you that learns from hard times and sees the bigger picture. Pharaoh is the part of you with the final “say”—the part of your awareness that controls decisions, resources, and the next step.
- “Joseph” inside you is hope, creative awareness, and problem-solving.
- “Pharaoh” inside you is your power to decide, to say “yes” or “no,” and to open up new opportunities.
- Jacob and his sons are your desires and needs—the people, dreams, and feelings depending on your decisions.
So, when you step forward with a request, you’re bringing all your hopes and needs into focus and asking, “Will I let myself have this? Will I give myself a real chance?”
Pause: When was the last time you really asked for what you needed, either from someone else or from yourself? Did you allow yourself to receive it?
Letting Go of Old Ways
“Joseph settled his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt… as Pharaoh had commanded. Joseph nourished his father, his brothers, and all of his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.” (Genesis 47:11-12 WEB)
The family can’t keep living the old way. The famine is so severe, the land of Canaan (where they’re from) can’t support them anymore. They have to move, put down new roots, and trust Joseph’s plan. Egypt is strange, different, maybe even scary. But it’s the only way forward.
This happens in real life when something you relied on suddenly dries up—maybe your industry closes down, your neighborhood changes, or the way you’ve always worked just stops working. You have to let go of your comfort zone and step into a totally new setting.
- Switching careers when your old job disappears.
- Moving your business online because customers stopped coming to your store.
- Changing your entire daily routine because something at home or in your city changed.
The message is simple: You can’t get to a new and better life by holding on to how things used to be. You have to find new “land” for your dreams—and take care of what matters most along the way.
Mystical View: Awareness Expands with Change
Every time you’re forced to leave the old behind, a part of your awareness grows. The “move to Egypt” is when you open up to new ideas, creativity, and resources you never considered before. What feels like loss or risk is really an upgrade to your ability to adapt, create, and thrive—even when things look totally foreign or scary.
Ask yourself: Is there something right now that feels impossible to keep the same? What would change if you saw the “move to Egypt” as an opportunity, not just a loss?
The Cost of Survival: Hard Choices, New Strength
“There was no bread in all the land, for the famine was very severe… Joseph gathered up all the money… and brought it into Pharaoh’s house.” (Genesis 47:13-14 WEB)
In the story, food runs out—not only for Joseph’s family, but for all of Egypt and Canaan. The people come to Joseph, who is in charge, looking for food. First, they spend all their money to buy grain. When the money is gone, they trade their cattle. After that, they even give their land and become workers for Pharaoh. Joseph gives them seed to plant, and tells them they’ll keep most of what they grow, but a portion will go to Pharaoh.
At first, this can feel harsh. But think of what it’s like when things in your world get tight:
- You dip into your savings to survive a slow business season.
- You let go of old tools, extra stuff, or even move out of your apartment to keep your dreams alive.
- Maybe you accept a new, more structured way of working just so you can keep going. You adapt. You do what’s needed.
The story shows that progress sometimes means giving up things you thought you’d always need—money, property, or even your sense of “doing it your way.”
But as painful as this can be, it’s never about punishment. It’s about recognizing what you truly need most: life, growth, and the promise of a new beginning. Awareness grows every time you accept new rules, let go of the old, and work within your new reality—with an open mind and a clear heart.
- What am I holding on to, even if it’s no longer working?
- What new structure or choice would allow me to keep going, if I was honest about my needs?
"Thank You For Saving Our Lives"
“They said, ‘You have saved our lives. Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.’… Joseph made it a statute…that [a portion] belongs to Pharaoh. Only the land of the priests didn’t become Pharaoh’s.” (Genesis 47:25-26)
The people don’t resent Joseph for making them give up their money or land. Instead, they thank him. He gives them seed, a promise, and the security of knowing they’ll survive. Joseph’s wisdom—his ability to see the big picture, plan ahead, and act for the good of the whole—is what saves everyone. This teaches that sometimes, the strength and order you want only come after you trust a new way, even if it feels unfamiliar at first.
You might find this surprising, but in real life, people often feel deepest gratitude for those who create systems and structures that save them during crisis. Think of Dave Ramsey—a financial coach whose practical, firm advice has helped countless people climb out of debt and chaos. At first, Dave’s “baby steps” can feel restrictive, but later, people thank him because discipline gives them a path to choose new dreams. Joseph is the same: he helps create order and survival, not just as a boss, but as a trustworthy guide.
- Does discipline ever feel like restriction to you?
- Have you ever looked back and felt grateful for rules, advice, or structure that saved you from crisis?
Jacob’s Blessing—Remembering What Matters Most
“The time came near that Israel [Jacob] must die, and he called his son Joseph… ‘Please don’t bury me in Egypt, but… bury me with my fathers.’” (Genesis 47:29-30, WEB)
Jacob (now called Israel) is old. He’s grateful for rescue, but at the end, he asks Joseph to promise: Don’t bury my body in Egypt. Bury me back home, with my ancestors. This is more than a personal request. It’s about connection to deeper purpose and legacy. No matter how successful you become in a new land, you still honor your beginnings, your faith, and where you truly belong inside.
For anyone building a new life, launching a startup, or chasing dreams far from “home,” this request is a call to stay rooted in what really matters: your core values, the promises you want to keep, and the part of you that remembers where you came from, even as you move forward.
- What is one value or “promise” you want to carry with you, no matter how your life changes?
- How can you stay rooted, even as you grow into new places and opportunities?
The Inner Journey—Awareness’s Real Adventure
Here’s how Genesis 47 maps to your inner world and everyday choices:
- You feel the pinch—something you relied on is running out (like the famine).
- You bring your needs, hopes, and loved ones to the attention of your own “decision-maker”—your awareness. You ask for help and receive a new plan.
- You accept letting go of old comforts. In exchange, you get a new structure, a new promise, and a new chance to thrive.
- You learn the value of discipline, the blessing of surviving crisis, and how gratitude and order are born from choosing a higher perspective—even as it tests your ego and old habits.
- You remember your deep roots and make promises to keep your core values alive, wherever life takes you.
Key Takeaway: What Can You Do Right Now?
1. Look honestly at one thing in your life that is “running out” or doesn’t work anymore. Write it down.
2. Pause. Ask yourself: If I truly believed new opportunity is possible—even if it looks strange or scary—what would I do next?
3. Choose one action that matches your real need, not just your old comfort. It might be letting go, asking for help, or trying a new approach.
4. Think of the one value or promise you want to keep alive. What’s your “ancestral land”? Write it as a short sentence and keep it where you can see it.
What’s Coming Next
Next time, we’ll see Joseph, Jacob, and his sons face questions about legacy and blessing—who will carry which dream forward, and how your choices today leave a mark on the future. Every ending is also a new beginning, and every return to your roots can open up even bigger possibilities. Stay tuned.
