God's Good Purposes, The Death of Joseph

Story: God’s Good Purposes, the Death of Joseph

Passage: Genesis 50:15-26

Characters:  Joseph, Joseph’s brothers

Summary:  Joseph’s brothers were afraid Joseph would kill them now that his father dead.  They told him that Jacob told them to ask for forgiveness.  They begged for forgiveness and offered to be his servants.  He told them he had forgiven them and God had used their evil for good.  He let them know he would provide for them and their families.  Joseph died, but he lived long enough to see his great grandchildren. 

Notes: The brothers were right to be afraid.  They knew they had no reason to ask for mercy so they made it sound like their father had asked for their mercy.  They seem to have truly been humble and repentant.  Joseph wept when they spoke to him.  He was overwhelmed with love for his brothers and was probably frustrated that they didn’t trust him.  He was well aware that he was not God and it was not his job to exact justice.  That is God’s job.  He recognized that God had worked through the bad situation his brothers had put him in.  He comforted them and spoke kindly to them. They certainly did not deserve this treatment from him, but Joseph showed his humility and focus on God and on the bigger picture.  Joseph lived long enough to see his great grandchildrem.  When he died, he asked to be buried in the Promised Land.  Joseph also understood that Egypt was only a temporary home.  He was also embalmed by the Egyptians.  He wanted to make sure his family understood that Egypt was not their home.  With this, The story of the Patriarchs dies.  When we rejoin the story, many years will have passed and God will begin another redemptive work.    

Questions:  Is Joseph’s body still preserved as a mummy somewhere in Israel?  When did Jacob make the connection that Joseph had been sold by his brothers to Egypt?  It was never mentioned what his reaction was.  Did he forgive them as quickly as Joseph did?  Why exactly did Joseph weep when his brothers asked for forgiveness?

Lessons:  Forgiveness is modeled here almost perfectly.  Joseph did not need to provide for his brothers.  He had been wronged and the just thing to do was punish them.  Instead he forgave them.  And that doesn’t mean he only ignored their offense, but instead he basically rewarded them.  He provided for them.  Forgiveness is not simply forgetting the wrong, but it involves a total reversal of attitude towards the forgiven. 

Jacob's Death and Burial

Story: Jacob’s Death and Burial

Passage: Genesis 49:28-50:14

Characters:  Jacob, Joseph

Summary:  Jacob requested to be buried in the same field as Abraham.  He then died.  Joseph had him embalmed and Egypt mourned for him.  Pharaoh let Joseph and his family take Jacob to Canaan to bury him.  The family returned to Egypt.

Notes: Jacob knew he was a foreigner in Egypt.  He wanted to be buried in Canaan.  When he died, Joseph fell on him weeping.  It is obvious that the bond between Joseph and his father was something special.  Joseph was greatly grieved when his father died.  Jacob was obviously well respected in Egypt.  The entire nation mourned his death.  It is interesting that Joseph had the Egyptians embalm Jacob.  Basically, he was mummified.  Pharaoh allowed the entire family to bury Jacob in Canaan.  It is interesting to me that they came back.  I am under the impression that the famine is over at this point, but maybe it isn’t.  If it is, I wonder why they didn’t just stay in Canaan.  Maybe it was because of Joseph’s role of leadership there.  I find it interesting that Jacob chose to be buried in an obscure cave.  With the respect he had, he could have been buried in one of Egypt’s tombs.  Egypt is obviously known for their magnificent tombs.  This burial is very magnificent.  It is probably the largest burial mentioned in the Bible.  The Canaanites even renamed the place as a result of the grieving of the family.  This was a big deal.  A family who had had such obvious leaders had lost their leader.  Now the leadership was fairly evenly spread throughout the family. 

Questions:  Who took charge of the family?  If Jacob was mummified, is his body still out there today?  What made the burial so unusual that the Canaanites took notice? 

Lessons:  Jacob knew Egypt was not his home.  Throughout his life and even in his death, he showed that he knew he was from a different land: the Promised Land.  We are the same.  Our citizenship is in heaven.  Do we live and die like we believe that?