Why was Jacob about to starve before he went down to Egypt?
Jacob was about to starve because he was in the Negev, a desert region, and a famine had lasted almost seven years. There was no food where he was. Meanwhile, Joseph had risen to the top of Egypt's government and had grain, so Jacob's desperate need set the stage for his journey down to Egypt.
Les explains that this occurs within the 430-year prophecy period, after Israel had become a nation in Egyptian slavery and Joseph had risen to the top of Egypt's government. Jacob was over in the Negev, which is desert, and he was about to starve to death. There was no food, and the famine had been going on for almost seven years. So Jacob came to Beersheba, south of Jerusalem about 70-80 miles, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to him there, and the command he received was almost the total opposite of what he had been told up until then—previously he was told not to leave the land.
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
More Questions
Why did God forbid Isaac from going to Egypt but tell Jacob to go there?
God had told Isaac not to go down into Egypt but to sojourn in the land of promise, yet He now tells Jacob to go down into Egypt, which is a change.
Did God change His command about going down to Egypt between Isaac and Jacob?
There was a change in what God commanded, because God had told Isaac not to go down into Egypt, but He now tells Jacob to go down into Egypt.