Yosef informs his father that he is now the viceroy of Egypt and invites Yaakov and his family to settle in Goshen and ride out the Great Famine.
However, Yaakov is uncertain if this is the correct approach.
G-d steps in and tells Yaakov to go.
“Do not be afraid to do down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.” (46:3)
The Sforno comments, “Whereas if you remain here your offspring will intermarry with the Canaanites. This will not happen in Egypt because the populace will not even eat with the Hebrews; see 43:32.”
The Netziv gives some background. Yaakov was terrified that if his family went to Egypt, they would be submerged in the Egyptian culture and disappear. Perhaps staying in Canaan would be preferable?
Addressing this concern, G-d tells Yaakov that remaining in Canaan, taking the path of least resistance, is actually going to end in the outcome that Yaakov was most afraid of.
The Egyptian culture will prevent intermarriage. They hate outsiders. But stay here in Canaan and the Jewish people will disappear.
Jews in general are not risk takers. Culturally and historically we are risk averse. We encourage our kids to get into professions that guarantee a good parnossoh, to live in safe areas, and choose lifestyles that limit threats to our families.
And yet Jews always find ourselves in the cross hairs of any hate group or campaign targeting minorities. We may try to avoid risk, but risk seems to seek us out.
G-d is telling Yaakov that his desire to stay put will be to his family’s detriment. The only future for Yaakov’s family is to go to Egypt. That is where Yaakov will become a great nation. But staying in Canaan will mean that there will be no Jewish nation.
