Genesis 50

When Jacob died, his death was described as “he yielded up the ghost” literally in Hebrew, “He expired.” I’ve seen medical records where doctors use the same expression, “Patient expired.” They don’t like to use the term “died” I guess. Perhaps because it means that the treatments failed. It’s an odd term to use, I think. Cottage cheese left in the back of the refrigerator expires. Memberships expire. Driver’s Licenses expire. Perhaps it is because our culture has been described as “death deniers” that we avoid the word died or even like to think about planning for it. Jacob died. Now, I am sure you want to know what came next for the deceased. Well, they were embalmed, and the process is described by Greek historian, Herodotus, who visited Egypt. My editor suggested that I not describe the process. I’ll just say that the purpose of embalming was to preserve the body by rapidly drying it out.

The Pharaoh had taken a real, personal interest in Joseph and his family, and it was no different for this funeral. Joseph, his family, many government dignitaries were in the procession back to Jacob’s homeland. Pharaoh even provided a security detail to safeguard their journey (verse 9). This was more than a simple family funeral; it was more like a state funeral like the one for President John Kennedy in November 1963.

Once they all returned to Egypt, the brothers became worried. Now that Jacob was dead, they feared that Joseph would seek revenge for the way treated him. Verse 15, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” This is not an unreasonable fear. Didn’t Esau plan on killing Jacob, AFTER Isaac died? So, they went to Joseph and said that their dad told them to tell Joseph to forgive the brothers. They even offered themselves as slaves to Joseph. But Joseph said, verse 19, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?  Jacob uses the same expression in Gen 30:2 when Rachel couldn’t have any children. She said, “Give me children or I shall die.” Jacob says in return, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

Joseph goes on to say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what his now being done, the saving of many lives.” How many of you anticipated that line soon after you started to read about Joseph?

It isn’t for Joseph to take revenge against his brothers. So often some of the things that happen to us are blessings in disguise. The problem is that many disguised blessings are very well disguised. You probably experienced the same thing. As you look back, you might think, “Thank God for unanswered prayer.” Does the idea that “God intended it for good” bring to mind a passage in Romans? How about Romans 8:28, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The problem is that we don’t always see the possible “good” and maybe the “good” is not in this lifetime. Just look at the difficult lives so many Christians have lived. And how do we define “good” compared to how God defines it? What may not be “good” in our eyes might be “very good” in His.

Joseph goes on to say in verse 21, “So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children. And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”

Then Joseph died at the age of 110, about fifty-four years after Jacob’s death. And like Jacob he wanted his remains taken back home, also.

Here are a few thoughts on Joseph. He never had a direct revelation from God where God spoke to him directly as He did with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He only experienced dreams. Yet, Joseph had faith, because he believed in the Word of God as it was passed down to him. Someone, a parent, or teacher, was doing a good job of passing onto him the Word of God. His story, which highlights the proper attitude toward difficulty and misfortune is mentioned in the New Testament in Stephen’s speech in Acts 7:9-16 and was mentioned in the narrative of Joseph the husband of Mary who received a revelation in a dream, also.

So, we come to the end of Genesis. I imagine there are parts of Genesis that most of us are familiar with, but each time we read it, we learn something new, hopefully. What new insights have you gained through this time through Genesis? What might we keep in mind as we move forward? God created the heavens and the earth. He doesn’t explain to us how or when. If you were an astrophysicist, astronomer, or geologist you might want to know a lot more about creation. Why doesn’t he tell us more? I would suggest that if He did try to explain more to us, even the brightest, best educated scientists wouldn’t be able to understand his explanation. Also, we don’t have a “need to know.” The purpose of the creation narrative is not to give a detailed scientific explanation but to make the point that God created it and since He did, he can do what he wants with it, including giving a small piece of it to a special group of people. And having created man, He is the “boss” and sovereign ruler of the universe. Genesis also explains to us why the world is the mess that it is with earthquakes, viruses, poisonous plants, and diseases. Is this the best He could do as a creator? The Fall of Man explains why the world is as it is, and the book continues to explain the early stages of his plan to redeem the earth and man. He is in the process of healing the world, as the Jews like to say, and we have a small part in that plan. Part of the plan involves an unconditional covenant with a special family and a conditional covenant with a special nation, which we will get into in the next book, Exodus.

The book also reminds us how flawed we all are and how God can still use all of us, in some way or another. Flawed people are all he has to choose from. As we are more aware of our own flaws, it allows us to be more understanding of others and hopefully, more accepting and tolerant. When we get angry when someone drives through a four way stop, we realize that we have done similar careless things, also. Lastly, this study reminded me how important it is to not carry a grudge or being unforgiving. We are admonished to forgive one another, be patient with one another, love one another. We realize that to do so not only benefits the other person, but it also benefits us. Angry, bitter, resentful, critical people are not happy people. What insights did you gain as you read through this Book?