God told Jacob, that Joseph his son, would close his eyes and that he would be brought up again to the Promised Land (Genesis 46:1–4). In other words, God said He would allow Joseph to be present at Jacob’s death and then later let him return to Canaan. This tells us that the Lord surely keeps His Word.
His sons did for him just as he had commanded them (Genesis 50:12)
Jacob’s sons had often opposed or disappointed him in life. They were careful to honour him in his death.
For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah (Genesis 50:13)
This was the cave purchased by Abraham (Genesis 23:9), the only part of the land of Canaan that Abraham held the deed to (Genesis 23:17). This was the burial place of Sarah (Genesis 23:19), of Abraham (Genesis 25:9), and of Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah (Genesis 49:31).
16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died, he commanded, saying, 17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. (Genesis 50:16-17)
Men often lie when they are afraid, and Joseph’s brothers may have bent the truth when they claimed that Jacob told Joseph to pardon them (Genesis 50:16).
Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? (Genesis 50:19)
Joseph asked this question when his brothers feared that Joseph would exact revenge. “Am I in the place of God Joseph asked? He meant, “Do I have the power to take your lives out of revenge?”
Joseph chose the way of the spirit. Instead of taking vengeance on his violent brothers, he said only God repays. I will not judge, for I am not in the place of God.
Are you in the place of God? Do you take the way of flesh to handle situations or the way of the spirit? Don’t tackle issues, problems or life’s realities just as everyone else would. Give God His place.
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. (Genesis 50:20)
Every Christian should be able to see the sovereign hand of God in their life, to know that no matter what evil man brings against us, God can use it for good.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” (Genesis 50:25)
You shall carry up my bones from here: This promise was fulfilled some 400 years later when Israel left Egypt (Exodus 13:19). This command showed that Joseph’s heart was in the Promised Land. It also proved him to be a man of great faith, trusting in things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:22).
Joseph was the first of the brothers to die (see Exodus 1:6)
Chapters
- Chapter 1
- Chapter 2
- Chapter 3
- Chapter 4
- Chapter 5
- Chapter 6
- Chapter 7
- Chapter 8
- Chapter 9
- Chapter 10
- Chapter 11
- Chapter 12
- Chapter 13
- Chapter 14
- Chapter 15
- Chapter 16
- Chapter 17
- Chapter 18
- Chapter 19
- Chapter 20
- Chapter 21
- Chapter 22
- Chapter 23
- Chapter 24
- Chapter 25
- Chapter 26
- Chapter 27
- Chapter 28
- Chapter 29
- Chapter 30
- Chapter 31
- Chapter 32
- Chapter 33
- Chapter 34
- Chapter 35
- Chapter 36
- Chapter 37
- Chapter 38
- Chapter 39
- Chapter 40
- Chapter 41
- Chapter 42
- Chapter 43
- Chapter 44
- Chapter 45
- Chapter 46
- Chapter 47
- Chapter 48
- Chapter 49
- Chapter 50