Genesis 50: The End of a Life, The Beginning of Hope
And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel–mizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50, the concluding chapter of this foundational book, brings the story of Jacob and Joseph to a poignant close, while simultaneously foreshadowing the grand narrative of Exodus. It's a chapter filled with mourning, forgiveness, and a confident expectation of God's future promises. Let's delve into its depths and unearth the timeless truths it holds.
Jacob's Death and the Egyptian Mourning (Genesis 50:1-13)
The chapter opens with Joseph's profound grief over the death of his father, Jacob (Genesis 49:33). He openly weeps, embracing and kissing his father's face, a testament to the deep bond they shared (Genesis 50:1). Joseph then commands the Egyptian physicians to embalm Jacob’s body, a process likely involving mummification, reflecting the customs of the time and demonstrating the respect afforded to Jacob due to Joseph's high position.
What follows is an extraordinary display of honor: Egypt observes a 70-day mourning period for Jacob (Genesis 50:3). This remarkable gesture highlights Joseph's influence and the esteem in which he was held by the Egyptians. It's a phenomenal show of respect that proves how dearly beloved Joseph was among the Egyptians.
With the mourning period complete, Joseph seeks Pharaoh's permission to fulfill Jacob's dying wish: to be buried in Canaan (Genesis 49:29-32, 50:4-5). Pharaoh not only grants permission but also sends a massive delegation of servants, dignitaries, horsemen, and chariots to accompany Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 50:7-9). This extravagant funeral procession underscores Jacob's significance and, more importantly, the power and favor Joseph possessed. The sheer size of the caravan was jaw-dropping.
The procession pauses at a field, where they observe a seven-day period of traditional mourning rites (Genesis 50:10). The event is so noteworthy that the local Canaanites rename the field Abel-Mizraim, meaning "meadow of the Egyptians" or sounding much like "mourning of the Egyptians," as well (Genesis 50:11). This renaming is a play on words, highlighting the impact of the event on the local population.
After the elaborate funeral, Joseph and his brothers return to Egypt, having fulfilled their solemn duty (Genesis 50:12-14).
The Brothers' Fear and Joseph's Forgiveness (Genesis 50:14-21)
With Jacob gone, Joseph's brothers are consumed by fear and guilt (Genesis 50:15). They worry that Joseph had only restrained his anger towards them out of respect for their father and that now, with Jacob's death, he would seek revenge for their past betrayal of selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:26-28). They had happily received the gifts and the land from their younger brother, but Jacob’s death proved that they were still uneasy with the entire situation.
Driven by fear, they send a message to Joseph, claiming it was Jacob's dying wish that Joseph forgive them (Genesis 50:16-17). They even humble themselves before Joseph, bowing down and declaring themselves his slaves (Genesis 50:18). They even reverted to the same posture they assumed when they first came to Egypt, bowing down before Joseph and saying, We are your slaves.
Joseph's response is one of the most powerful and pivotal moments in the entire book of Genesis. He weeps, perhaps out of empathy for their unfounded fear or in remembrance of his own past suffering (Genesis 50:19).
He then delivers a profound statement of faith and forgiveness: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph acknowledges the evil intentions of his brothers but emphasizes God's sovereign power to transform their wickedness into a blessing. He recognizes that the detours of his life were part of God’s providential plan.
This verse encapsulates a core theological truth: God can and does work through even the most difficult and painful circumstances to achieve His purposes. As Tony Evans puts it, "They had small-scale evil intentions, but God was overriding their evil for eternal good."
Joseph reassures his brothers that he harbors no ill will towards them and promises to continue providing for them and their families (Genesis 50:21). He comforts them and speaks kindly to them. Joseph had discovered the secret of forgiving your enemies: you need the right view of God.
Joseph's Hope and Final Request (Genesis 50:22-26)
The final verses of Genesis summarize the remainder of Joseph's long and prosperous life. He lives to be 110 years old and sees his descendants to the fourth generation (Genesis 50:22-23).
As he approaches death, Joseph expresses his unwavering faith in God's promise to bring the Israelites back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 50:24). He makes his brothers swear an oath to carry his bones back to Canaan when God fulfills this promise (Genesis 50:25). Joseph ended his days in peace, living among his brothers and watching his family grow.
Joseph's final act is to be embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt (Genesis 50:26). This act serves as a tangible reminder of God's promise and a symbol of hope for the future redemption of Israel. It sets the stage for the Exodus, where Moses will ultimately fulfill Joseph's request (Exodus 13:19).
Significance and Implications
Genesis 50 is a powerful conclusion to the book of Genesis, leaving us with several key takeaways:
- God's Sovereignty: Even in the face of human evil, God is ultimately in control and can use even the most difficult circumstances for His glory and the good of those who love Him.
- The Power of Forgiveness: Joseph's example demonstrates the transformative power of forgiveness and its ability to heal broken relationships and break the cycle of revenge.
- Hope in God's Promises: Joseph's unwavering faith in God's promise of a future homeland serves as an inspiration to trust in God's faithfulness, even when the fulfillment seems distant.
- The Continuity of God's Plan: Genesis 50 seamlessly connects the patriarchal narratives of Genesis to the Exodus story, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan for His people.
Genesis 50 is more than just the end of a story; it's a testament to God's unwavering love, His sovereign power, and His enduring promises. It reminds us that even in the midst of loss and uncertainty, we can find hope in the God who works all things together for good. As we reflect on Joseph's life and legacy, may we be inspired to forgive others, trust in God's plan, and live with a confident expectation of His future blessings. God’s destiny for us will always bring blessing and benefit to others.
And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel–mizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Genesis 50, the concluding chapter of this foundational book, brings the story of Jacob and Joseph to a poignant close, while simultaneously foreshadowing the grand narrative of Exodus. It's a chapter filled with mourning, forgiveness, and a confident expectation of God's future promises. Let's delve into its depths and unearth the timeless truths it holds.
Jacob's Death and the Egyptian Mourning (Genesis 50:1-13)
The chapter opens with Joseph's profound grief over the death of his father, Jacob (Genesis 49:33). He openly weeps, embracing and kissing his father's face, a testament to the deep bond they shared (Genesis 50:1). Joseph then commands the Egyptian physicians to embalm Jacob’s body, a process likely involving mummification, reflecting the customs of the time and demonstrating the respect afforded to Jacob due to Joseph's high position.
What follows is an extraordinary display of honor: Egypt observes a 70-day mourning period for Jacob (Genesis 50:3). This remarkable gesture highlights Joseph's influence and the esteem in which he was held by the Egyptians. It's a phenomenal show of respect that proves how dearly beloved Joseph was among the Egyptians.
With the mourning period complete, Joseph seeks Pharaoh's permission to fulfill Jacob's dying wish: to be buried in Canaan (Genesis 49:29-32, 50:4-5). Pharaoh not only grants permission but also sends a massive delegation of servants, dignitaries, horsemen, and chariots to accompany Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 50:7-9). This extravagant funeral procession underscores Jacob's significance and, more importantly, the power and favor Joseph possessed. The sheer size of the caravan was jaw-dropping.
The procession pauses at a field, where they observe a seven-day period of traditional mourning rites (Genesis 50:10). The event is so noteworthy that the local Canaanites rename the field Abel-Mizraim, meaning "meadow of the Egyptians" or sounding much like "mourning of the Egyptians," as well (Genesis 50:11). This renaming is a play on words, highlighting the impact of the event on the local population.
After the elaborate funeral, Joseph and his brothers return to Egypt, having fulfilled their solemn duty (Genesis 50:12-14).
The Brothers' Fear and Joseph's Forgiveness (Genesis 50:14-21)
With Jacob gone, Joseph's brothers are consumed by fear and guilt (Genesis 50:15). They worry that Joseph had only restrained his anger towards them out of respect for their father and that now, with Jacob's death, he would seek revenge for their past betrayal of selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:26-28). They had happily received the gifts and the land from their younger brother, but Jacob’s death proved that they were still uneasy with the entire situation.
Driven by fear, they send a message to Joseph, claiming it was Jacob's dying wish that Joseph forgive them (Genesis 50:16-17). They even humble themselves before Joseph, bowing down and declaring themselves his slaves (Genesis 50:18). They even reverted to the same posture they assumed when they first came to Egypt, bowing down before Joseph and saying, We are your slaves.
Joseph's response is one of the most powerful and pivotal moments in the entire book of Genesis. He weeps, perhaps out of empathy for their unfounded fear or in remembrance of his own past suffering (Genesis 50:19).
He then delivers a profound statement of faith and forgiveness: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20). Joseph acknowledges the evil intentions of his brothers but emphasizes God's sovereign power to transform their wickedness into a blessing. He recognizes that the detours of his life were part of God’s providential plan.
This verse encapsulates a core theological truth: God can and does work through even the most difficult and painful circumstances to achieve His purposes. As Tony Evans puts it, "They had small-scale evil intentions, but God was overriding their evil for eternal good."
Joseph reassures his brothers that he harbors no ill will towards them and promises to continue providing for them and their families (Genesis 50:21). He comforts them and speaks kindly to them. Joseph had discovered the secret of forgiving your enemies: you need the right view of God.
Joseph's Hope and Final Request (Genesis 50:22-26)
The final verses of Genesis summarize the remainder of Joseph's long and prosperous life. He lives to be 110 years old and sees his descendants to the fourth generation (Genesis 50:22-23).
As he approaches death, Joseph expresses his unwavering faith in God's promise to bring the Israelites back to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 50:24). He makes his brothers swear an oath to carry his bones back to Canaan when God fulfills this promise (Genesis 50:25). Joseph ended his days in peace, living among his brothers and watching his family grow.
Joseph's final act is to be embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt (Genesis 50:26). This act serves as a tangible reminder of God's promise and a symbol of hope for the future redemption of Israel. It sets the stage for the Exodus, where Moses will ultimately fulfill Joseph's request (Exodus 13:19).
Significance and Implications
Genesis 50 is a powerful conclusion to the book of Genesis, leaving us with several key takeaways:
- God's Sovereignty: Even in the face of human evil, God is ultimately in control and can use even the most difficult circumstances for His glory and the good of those who love Him.
- The Power of Forgiveness: Joseph's example demonstrates the transformative power of forgiveness and its ability to heal broken relationships and break the cycle of revenge.
- Hope in God's Promises: Joseph's unwavering faith in God's promise of a future homeland serves as an inspiration to trust in God's faithfulness, even when the fulfillment seems distant.
- The Continuity of God's Plan: Genesis 50 seamlessly connects the patriarchal narratives of Genesis to the Exodus story, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan for His people.
Genesis 50 is more than just the end of a story; it's a testament to God's unwavering love, His sovereign power, and His enduring promises. It reminds us that even in the midst of loss and uncertainty, we can find hope in the God who works all things together for good. As we reflect on Joseph's life and legacy, may we be inspired to forgive others, trust in God's plan, and live with a confident expectation of His future blessings. God’s destiny for us will always bring blessing and benefit to others.