Monday: The Historical Background
Daily Lesson for Monday 30th of June 2025
When Jacob’s family arrived in Egypt after experiencing famine in Canaan (Genesis 46:1-34), the Egyptian king was friendly toward the Hebrews because of Joseph and all that he had done for the Egyptians.
“And Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.’ Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, ‘Bow the knee!’ So he set him over all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:41-43, NKJV).
What was the key to Joseph’s amazing success in Egypt after such a rough start? (Read Genesis 37:26-28 and Genesis 39:2,21.)
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The most plausible historical background to the Joseph story is the following: the new ruler, in Exodus 1:8 (ESV), “who did not know Joseph,” is Ahmose (1580–1546 bc). Next came Amenhotep I (1553–1532 bc), the ruler who feared the Israelites and oppressed them. Later Thutmose I (1532–1514 bc) issued the death decree for all the Hebrew male children. His daughter Hatshepsut (1504–1482 bc) was the princess who adopted Moses to be her son. Pharaoh Thutmose III (1504–1450 bc), who was for some time coregent with Hatshepsut, was the pharaoh of the Exodus.
The Exodus occurred, according to the best calculations, in March 1450 bc (see William H. Shea, “Exodus, Date of the,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley et al., vol. 2 [Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1982], Pages 230–238). To understand the time of the Exodus, study the following biblical texts: Genesis 15:13-16; Exodus 12:40-41; Judges 11:26; and 1 Kings 6:1 (see also Acts 7:6; Galatians 3:16-17).
The first chapter of Exodus covers a long period—from the time of Joseph, when his father, Jacob, with the entire family entered Egypt, to Pharaoh’s death decree. Though some debate exists over the exact number of years, what matters is that, even with His people enslaved in a foreign land, the Lord did not forget them.
That is, even though many details about the Hebrews in Egypt at that time remain hidden, at least for now (see 1 Corinthians 13:12), the revelation of God’s character still shines through the pages of this book, as it does all through Scripture. We can know that no matter how bad things seem, God is always there, and we can trust Him in whatever bad situation we find ourselves.
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One of our deepest longings as human beings is to be reunited with loved ones after a long absence. The desire for Israel to go down to Egypt was not only natural part of Jacob has 'died'while being told that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Somehow it was also a fulfillment of his holy plan. God being sovereign over the ways of people has never been surprised by political changes, and His plans to prosper His people have never been challenged by human situations, even though enslavement of his people. God is powerful and can redeem even the worst situation, and will organise things so that His glory is shown to both His people and those around them( Psalm 113:4-8).
It is worth having a look at the secular history of Egypt around the time of Exodus just to give a broad background to the events recorded in the Bible and possibly help us understand them better.
There is no mention of the Israelites per se in the archeology of the time, and the nearest we have to anything like them is the Hyksos. The Hyksos were regarded as invaders who migrated into the Nile delta and settled there establishing a city called Avaris. They were a Semitic people and were thought to have come from the northern Canaan area (The Levant). The migration happened over a period of time until they eventually had control over much of the delta region. The 13th Dynasty ruled the rest of Egypt at the time and is widey regarded to have been in decline. While there was some cooperation, the relationship soured over time and they fought.
Their presence in Egypt was not without its benefits, and the Hyksos are recorded as bringing them the horse and chariot, the composite bow, and some innovative agricultural ideas.
The Hyksos in turn, accepted some of the Egyptian religious practices and deities.
We should remember that Jacob and his family migrated to Egypt during the time of famine, and it is highly likely that his family was not the only one who migrated from Canaan to Egypt at that time. He would have been part of a migratory pattern as a consequence of the famine. So it is not surprising that Egyptian records have not singled out the Israelites.
While the Hyksos episode does not align completely with the Biblical record, it does give us some understanding of the relationship that Egypt has with its surrounding populace during this period.
We can probably better appreciate the importance of the Exodus in providing a period of re-education and rebuilding the Israelites relationship with God.
Praise be to God Almighty who knows the human history before it happens. The going into Egypt and coming out (Exodus) was revealed to Abraham many years before it happened.
“Then the Lord said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. 14 But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. 1(As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) 16 After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction” (Genesis 15:13-6, NLT).
This prophecy shows that nothing takes God by surprise, He has a plan and purpose for every situation. "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning..." (Isaiah 46:9–10). Going to Egypt and coming out of it are not mere random human events. Egypt divinely preserved these few (70) family members and provided them a conducive environment for multiplication in readiness of becoming a nation. The historical account about the Hebrew people is one which demonstrates the supremacy of God. He directs all human happenings towards the fulfilment of His divine plan. This God is absolutely reliable, merciful, caring and loving. God not only knows history before it happens but actively shapes it for the good of His people and the glory of His name.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” - Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
No matter what the situation was in the old biblical history, it was the perfect plan of God to lead them back to him in a mysterious way, which is, working through into their hearts and minds! He still does that for us. People who have been oppressed and mistreated that cling to God through his written promises understand that more clearly.
Success in slavery, success in prison. Success in emptiness, success in weakness. Joseph felt pain but his focus wa never diverted from the God of his father. As Habakkuk 3:17 declares so should we. Times are bad but our focus should be on God.
This phrase summarizes all the Lesson today: "We can know that no matter how bad things seem, God is always there, and we can trust Him in whatever bad situation we find ourselves."
We cannot see all that God is doing and we cannot see all that God will do. But we can be assured that He is God and will do what is right.Knowing this brings us confidence and hope in the midst of a confusing world.
Black people, especially African Americans, often identify with the children of Israel because both experienced slavery, oppression, and a longing for freedom. Just as the Israelites cried out under Egyptian bondage and were delivered by God, enslaved Africans sang spirituals expressing hope for divine rescue. The image of God as a Liberator, the journey from slavery to freedom, and the development of a new identity all resonate deeply. Black leaders have drawn on the prophetic tradition to fight for justice, seeing themselves as part of a people called to righteousness. Like Israel, their story is not only one of suffering but of hope, deliverance, and God’s faithfulness.