Why Did Jacob Bless Pharaoh?
The account of Jacob blessing Pharaoh is a brief yet significant moment in the biblical narrative, recorded in Genesis 47:7–10. Though short, this episode reflects profound themes of faith, humility, and the acknowledgment of divine authority. To understand why Jacob blessed Pharaoh, it is important to examine the historical, spiritual, and relational context of the event.
1. Context of Jacob’s Arrival in Egypt
Jacob, also called Israel, had lived a life full of trials, from conflicts with his brother Esau to the loss and presumed death of his son Joseph. His journey to Egypt was prompted by a severe famine in Canaan. Joseph, his son, who had risen to prominence as Pharaoh’s second-in-command, invited Jacob and his family to settle in Egypt, specifically in the land of Goshen (Genesis 47:1–6).
This move was significant: Jacob, the patriarch of the Israelites, was now entering the court of the most powerful ruler in the world. The encounter with Pharaoh was not merely a political formality; it was also a spiritual moment, highlighting the intersection of God’s providence and human authority.
2. The Act of Blessing Pharaoh
When Jacob met Pharaoh, the Bible states:
“And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh” (Genesis 47:10, KJV).
The act of blessing someone was deeply symbolic in the Hebrew tradition. Blessings were not casual greetings; they were expressions of goodwill, invoking God’s favor, protection, and prosperity upon the person being blessed. By blessing Pharaoh, Jacob was recognizing Pharaoh’s position of authority while simultaneously asserting his own faith in God as the ultimate source of power and provision.
3. Acknowledgment of Divine Providence
Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh can be seen as an acknowledgment that the prosperity and security of Egypt—and by extension, the opportunity for Jacob’s family to survive the famine—were under God’s sovereign control. Jacob did not bless Pharaoh as a form of flattery but as an affirmation that all earthly power is ultimately subordinate to God’s plan.
The blessing reflects a spiritual insight: even though Pharaoh was the temporal ruler, Jacob recognized that it was God who had orchestrated the events leading to their meeting. This moment demonstrates a theological principle that runs throughout Genesis: God’s providence works through human institutions and rulers to fulfill His purposes.
4. Expression of Faith and Humility
Jacob was an elderly man by the time he met Pharaoh, and his life had been marked by divine encounters, from his dream at Bethel to the mysterious wrestling match with God. His blessing of Pharaoh demonstrates humility and faith. He approached the king respectfully, without arrogance, yet he carried the authority of his patriarchal role.
In blessing Pharaoh, Jacob exercised both his spiritual authority and his humility. He acknowledged the king’s earthly dominion while placing ultimate trust in God’s higher authority. This act showed that true power and blessing come not from political status but from alignment with God’s will.
5. Symbolic and Future Implications
Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh also had broader implications. It symbolically foreshadowed the future interactions between the Israelites and Egypt. It set a tone of peace and respect that allowed Joseph’s family to prosper in Goshen. Moreover, it reflected the ongoing theme of God working through ordinary circumstances—such as the meeting between a patriarch and a foreign king—to fulfill His promises.
Conclusion
Jacob blessed Pharaoh as an expression of faith, humility, and recognition of divine sovereignty. It was both a personal act of reverence and a theological statement: while Pharaoh held temporal power, ultimate authority and blessing came from God. Through this simple gesture, Jacob demonstrated trust in God’s providence, established goodwill with the Egyptian ruler, and highlighted the spiritual principle that true blessings flow from alignment with God’s will.
Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh reminds believers that every encounter, even with the most powerful earthly authorities, is an opportunity to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and extend goodwill under His guidance.