The Life of Jacob (29): Jacob's Two Significant Meetings (Genesis 46:28-47:12) by Rev. Angus Stewart
I. With Joseph
II. With Pharaoh
Homer C. Hoeksema on Genesis 47:7, 10: “The scriptures speak of the fact that Jacob blessed Pharaoh both when he met him and when he departed from him. Some, who are always searching the Bible for support of their pet theory of common grace, find a weighty proof here in the fact that Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Here is a man of God, one of the patriarchs, blessing a man of the world, a reprobate. Of course, the position and tenability of any theory becomes rather wobbly and precarious if it must depend on such proofs for its support. Even granted that the word employed here means that Jacob tried to bestow a blessing on the king, the question still would be whether he did not make a mistake, or whether the king of Egypt actually was a reprobate. But this is not the meaning. The patriarchs certainly did not have the power to bestow blessing on anyone other than those whom they were prophetically given to see. Besides, it is strange that Jacob would bestow a blessing upon Pharoah both as he enters and as he leaves. Rather, the word that is used here may simply mean, and does mean at times in scripture, ‘to greet,’ which is exactly what took place at this occasion. Jacob in effect said to Pharaoh, ‘How do you do?’ and, ‘Good-bye,’ or ‘Long live the king!’ This is obviously also the natural sense of the text” (Unfolding Covenant History, vol. 3, p. 183).
George Lawson: “As soon as Joseph heard that his father was approaching, he made ready his chariot to go down and meet him. He was impatient to see a father who loved him so dearly, and whom he so dearly loved. Love laments the absence of the beloved object, and seizes the first opportunity that offers to enjoy what is so greatly longed to possess. How strange is it if any man shall call himself a lover of Christ, who feels no ardent desires to see His beauty and to enjoy the pleasure of His presence!” (The History of Joseph, p. 333).