Genesis 50: Wrapping Things Up

Journey through the Book of Genesis with me.  The plan is simple. Read ONE chapter a day. Blog or journal 5* things you learned that you previously didn't know and ask 5* questions about the chapter that you'll ponder all week. Let's go!

** You'll probably learn way more than 5 things and have more than 5 questions about each chapter. That's totally fine. The more the merrier! 

GENESIS 47:1-31

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1: How did the brothers feel about Jacob being mummified? (Is the Egyptian embalming process the same as being mummified?)

QUESTION 1: Why did the Egyptians weep for Joseph’s father, one of the Israelites for whom they would have had little regard, and whom they had no relational connection to?

QUESTION 2: If Joseph was 2ndin command in all of Egypt, why could he not address Pharaoh directly? Why did he have to seek Pharaoh’s permission through “the household of Pharaoh”?

QUESTION 3: Why did the huge mourning entourage pause for 7 days in “the threshing floor of Atad” to lament with “a very great and grievous lamentation”? What was significant about this location?

QUESTION 4: If the Patriarch’s hope was in a “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10), why were they continually insistent that their bones be taken back to the physical location of Canaan?

WHAT I LEARNED

INSIGHT 1: Jacob, a man who grew up with many hardships, who manipulated his was through life, who wrestled with God and ended up with a lifelong limp, who was the last ling with the patriarchs, and who was greatly blessed throughout his life in spite of his many vices, is greatly honored at his death. Verse 7-9, “ All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt— 8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. 9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large company.”

INSIGHT 2: Joseph had every right, and was in the position to carry out just retribution on his brothers, but most who have been experienced God’s grace tend to extend the same grace to others. Joseph understood that God had used what the brothers meant for evil to become the very means through which the brothers would be saved. So, who was he to try and pay them back? On the same token, Joseph did not downplay the evil his brothers committed against him. He did, however, understand that… “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (verse 20).

INSIGHT 3: In Joseph’s story, Romans 8:28 comes to life. For every follower of Jesus Christ, we can rest in the truth that every trial, hardship, and difficulty we face in this life, however unjust, can ultimately be leveraged by God to accomplish great good in our lives and in the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth. In some instances, those trials serve as a road map to God’s destiny for our lives. David Guzik, in his online commentary on Genesis 50 lays it out this way:

• If Joseph’s brothers never sold him to the Midianites, then Joseph never went to Egypt. 
• If Joseph never went to Egypt, he was never sold to Potiphar. 
• If he was never sold to Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife never falsely accused him of rape. 
• If Potiphar’s wife never falsely accused him of rape, then he was never put in prison. 
• If he was never put in prison, he never met the baker and butler of Pharaoh. 
• If he never met the baker and butler of Pharaoh, he never interpreted their dreams. 
• If he never interpreted their dreams, he never got to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. 
• If he never got to interpret Pharaoh’s dream, he never became prime minister. 
• If he never became prime minister, he never wisely administrated for the severe famine coming upon the region. 
• If he never wisely administrated for the severe famine coming upon the region, then his family back in Canaan perished from the famine. 
• If his family back in Canaan perished from the famine, then the Messiah could not come forth from a dead family. 
• If the Messiah could not come forth, then Jesus never came. 
• If Jesus never came, then we are all dead in our sins and without hope in this world. We are grateful for God’s great and wise plan.

INSIGHT 4: Verse 24-26 - On his deathbed and by faith, Joseph envisioned a future in which God would fulfill the promise He had made to his father (Jacob), grandfather (Isaac), and great grandfather (Abraham). He held on by faith to the covenant promise God had made to his forefathers that a nation would be formed from their bloodline who would eventually return to their own land, and that inspite of being blessed in Egypt, their final destination was the Promised Land. The book of Genesis ends on a positive note, a hopeful anticipation that God would lead His people to their true home… “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:10)