Scripture: Then he commanded them and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites.” When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.
Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.'” And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.” So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”‘ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 49:29-50:26 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Jacob blesses his twelve sons based on their character and past actions. Starting with the oldest and continuing in descending order, Jacob prophecies that Reuben shall not gain preeminence (even though he is the oldest son) because he slept with Jacob’s concubine. Jacob then curses Simeon and Levi (who exacted murderous revenge on the Hivites), declaring that they will be divided and scattered in the Promised Land. For the rest of his sons, Jacob pronounces positive outcomes. In particular, though, he declares that Judah is a lion’s cub of whom the ruler’s staff shall not depart until tribute comes to him and the people obey him.
Today’s passage concludes the epic story of Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers with death and new life on the horizon. Moses chronicles Jacob and Joseph’s passings—both die in peace, long in years. And both petition their surviving family to bury their bones in the Promised Land. After Jacob dies, Joseph seeks permission from Pharaoh to intern his father in Canaan and fulfills his vow. Four hundred years later, Moses does the same for Joseph (Exodus 13:19).
Meanwhile, with Joseph’s and his entourage’s return to Goshen, fear grips his brothers regarding their past sins against Joseph. So they send a fabricated message to their brother that purports that Jacob requested that Joseph forgive his brothers’ transgressions against him and add a personal note directly asking for his forgiveness (50:17). Then they come and fall at Joseph’s knees and declare their servitude to Joseph, which invokes Joseph’s heartfelt assurance that they have no reason to fear him and that he will continue to care for their families.
Takeaway: Joseph does not excuse his brothers’ past behavior. He explicitly calls their actions “evil,” but assures them that “God meant it for good” (50:20) to save many lives. Sound familiar? It is a beautiful ending to a rollercoaster story that foreshadows the heart of our Gospel: the God-man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom to save his brothers and sisters (Mark 10:45). And from his cross, Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). From dreamer to the redeemer, God directed Joseph to restore a family that would become God’s chosen nation, and it all began with forgiveness.
Our takeaway? The battle between good and evil continues to mar our lives and our land. So let those of us in privileged positions like Joseph’s, who have benefitted from God’s blessings, extend forgiveness to those who have sought our harm and even find ways to calm their fears and care for their families. Indeed, this is the heart of our upside-down Gospel. And so we are to do likewise.
Our part? As mentioned periodically in these devotions, we must humbly ask the Lord to reveal his perspective on those who have offended us and expose any misguided motives for revenge we may harbor. Then, prayerfully follow the Holy Spirit’s lead to align with God’s will, which will most likely start with extending unilateral forgiveness. Lastly, we must continue to pray for those who persecute us, asking the Lord to strengthen us to love them in tangible ways that care for their needs, even though they have acted like our enemies (Matthew 5:44).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son who extended forgiveness to us at the extravagant expense of his life and continues to care for us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Still, we find it hard to even think of forgiving those who have hurt us or our loved ones. So please help us follow your Holy Spirit’s lead to gain your perspective of our sinful nature and your love for us (revealed in the sacrifice of your Son when we were yet your enemies; Romans 5:8) to motivate us to extend forgiveness and care to those who have sinned against us so that we might be your vessels of redemption, overcoming evil with good. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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