Unit Theme: Early Jewish History (Genesis 12—50)

October 15, 2023 (Lesson 7)

 

JACOB AND JOSEPH DIE WELL

 

  1. Jacob’s Final Words (Genesis 49:28—50:3)
  2. Jacob’s Burial (Genesis 50:4-14)
  3. Joseph Reassures His Brothers (Genesis 50:15-26)

 

Central Truth: God enables His children to finish life well.

Focus: Consider what it looks like for God’s people to die well and pray for power to finish well.

Evangelism Emphasis: A Christian who dies well testifies to God’s power and faithfulness.

Golden Text: “For I [Paul] am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:6-7).

 

This lesson brings the story of the patriarchs to completion. After Joseph’s disclosure to his brothers (Gen. 45:1-8), Jacob and his entire family settled in the land of Egypt. However, before Jacob migrated to Egypt, God appeared to him in Beersheba (46:1). The focus of God’s speech was the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

 

“Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt,” God said to Jacob (v. 3 ESV). Why would Jacob be afraid to move to Egypt? Canaan was the land God had promised to give to the descendants of Abraham. Leaving Canaan might mean forsaking God’s promises associated with the land. Egypt imperiled the promises God made to the patriarchs. The move to Egypt also recalled Abraham’s ominous dream where God predicted his descendants would be strangers “in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years” (15:13 ESV).

 

It is also possible Jacob remembered God warning his father, Isaac, not to travel to Egypt to escape the famine in the land (26:2). Therefore, God appeared to Jacob to assure him going to Egypt would not nullify His promises. To eliminate any lingering doubts Jacob might have, God said to him, “There I will make you into a great nation” (46:3 ESV). This divine assurance recalled God’s promises to Abraham (12:2; 17:20; 18:18; 21:18). In Egypt, Jacob’s descendants would become innumerable, and they would be established as a great nation. In Egypt, the ancient promise of God would be fulfilled. Furthermore, God pledged to accompany Jacob to Egypt and return him to the land of Canaan (46:4). God’s promise made clear that Egypt would never be Israel’s permanent residence. But for now, Egypt would be a place of safety for the family of Jacob. Therefore, Joseph’s plan to settle his family in Egypt was really God’s call to Egypt. This call came with divine assurances of protection and well-being; thus, Jacob must trust the call.

 

The narrative then moves from the family’s settlement in Egypt to Jacob’s last days. The promises of blessing, descendants, and land continue to govern these last chapters as Jacob blesses Joseph’s children, Ephraim and Manasseh (48:1-22), and his twelve sons—the twelve tribes of Israel (49:1-28). The blessings signify God’s gifts of favor and well-being to the recipients. Interestingly, when Jacob blesses Joseph’s children, he elevates the status of the younger son, Ephraim, over Manasseh. The blessing of Ephraim is reminiscent of Jacob’s own blessing, which he won through deception. The blessing of Ephraim also reminds us God’s ways often subvert human tradition. Jacob’s blessing of each of his twelve sons gives us a glimpse of the distinctive future of each tribe of Israel.

 

  1. JACOB’S FINAL WORDS

 

  1. Jacob Blesses and Instructs His Sons (Genesis 49:28-33)

 

28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.

 

29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,

 

30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.

 

This passage begins with the narrator’s summary statement to Jacob’s benediction. All twelve sons received a blessing, and each son’s blessing was just and fitting (v. 28). After Jacob blessed his children and grandchildren, the dying father issued one last charge. His children must bury him in Canaan—the Land of Promise and the land of his ancestors (vv. 29-30). Egypt had saved Jacob from the threat of the famine, but it would not be his final resting place. He must be buried in his homeland. The burial cave was purchased by Abraham (23:4), and it was where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were buried (49:31). The family’s legitimate ownership of the cave in Canaan initiated Israel’s possession of the Promised Land.

 

At the end of his life, Jacob had not forgotten the promises of God, yet he continued to look forward to their fulfillment. It is no wonder Hebrews 11:21 lists him as one of the heroes of faith. “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth” (v. 13 ESV).

 

Once he made his dying request known to his children, Jacob “drew up his feet into the bed” and died (Genesis 49:33 ESV). The expression is certainly peculiar, but it suggests Jacob was at peace and fully prepared for death. 

 

Why is it critically important today for fathers to bless their children, and how can they do so?

 

  1. Egypt Mourns Joseph’s Loss (Genesis 50:1-3)

 

1 And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

 

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

 

3 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.

 

The depth of Joseph’s grief and his intense love for his father was expressed in three actions: “Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him” (v. 1 NIV). That Joseph was present at the time of Jacob’s death fulfilled the promise God made with Jacob before he journeyed to Egypt: “Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes” (46:4 ESV).

 

Joseph mourned his father according to Egyptian custom, which pointed to Joseph’s Egyptian enculturation. He ordered the embalming of his father’s body (50:2). Jacob and Joseph are the only two cases of embalming mentioned in Scripture, which indicates embalming was an Egyptian burial practice. Embalming slowed down the corpse’s decomposition process and was performed only on very important people. Therefore, Jacob’s body being embalmed and the Egyptians mourning him seventy days (v. 3) indicate the widespread admiration and respect the Egyptians held for Jacob.

 

Anticipating Life in Heaven

 

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul realizes he has come to the end of his life. He is confident he has remained steadfast to the call of God (vv. 6-7). Therefore, Paul does not despair as death draws near but rather eagerly awaits the blessed hope of eternal life. The end of his earthly life meant receiving a heavenly reward (v. 8).

 

  1. JACOB’S BURIAL

 

  1. Journey to Canaan (Genesis 50:4-11)

 

4 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,

 

5 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.

 

6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

 

7 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,

 

8 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.

 

9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.

 

At the end of the seventy days of prescribed mourning for Jacob, Joseph requests permission from Pharaoh to bury his father in Canaan (vv. 4-5). Several generations later, Moses will petition Pharaoh to let the Israelites go from the land of Egypt (Ex. 5:1), recalling Joseph’s plea to Pharaoh to let him take his father out of Egypt. Jacob’s exit from Egypt, therefore, prefigures the Israelites’ exodus from Egyptian bondage.

 

Pharaoh grants Joseph permission to leave Egypt to bury his father in Canaan (Gen. 50:6). The immense size of the funeral party and the fact “all” of Pharaoh’s courtiers and dignitaries are numbered among the mourners journeying to Canaan testify to the prestige Jacob held in Egypt (v. 7).

 

By leaving the children and livestock in Egypt, Joseph signals to Pharaoh he will indeed return after the burial of his father in Canaan. After listing the travelers and items of the funeral procession, the text summarizes the magnitude of the party by calling it “a very great company” (v. 9).

 

As the mourners approach Canaan, they stop at the “threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan” (v. 10 NKJV), for seven more days of mourning. The seven days of mourning is in keeping with Hebrew funeral customs (see 1 Sam. 31:13; 1 Chron. 10:12; Job 2:13). In Egypt, Jacob was mourned as an Egyptian. But in his ancestral homeland, he is mourned as a Hebrew. The lament in Atad is intense and collective, marked by agonizing cries of deep grief and great anguish (Gen. 50:10). The sight and sound of the Egyptians’ wailing at a Hebrew’s funeral was so shocking to the Canaanites that they named the place “Abel-mizraim” (v. 11), which means “mourning of Egypt.” The exact place of Atad is unknown, but noting Atad is “beyond the Jordan” might indicate the funeral procession is taking the same route the Israelites would take four centuries later when leaving Egypt. This notion is strengthened by the fact the Israelites paused at the Jordan before entering the Promised Land.

 

Why was it significant for Jacob to be buried in Canaan?

 

  1. Return to Egypt (Genesis 50:12-14)

 

12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:

 

13 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.

 

14 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.

 

Jacob’s sons—not the Egyptians—took him to Canaan and buried him in the cave in Mamre (vv. 12-13), carrying out their father’s deathbed wish. Perhaps the Egyptians did not go into Canaan proper because Jacob’s command, “Bury me” (49:29), was directed to his sons only. It is also likely the Egyptians could not participate in the internment of a Hebrew.

 

Yet, an alternative suggestion might be considered. Canaan is the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants. By leaving the Egyptians on the outskirts of Canaan, the text seems to indicate the land is a promissory gift from God to Abraham and his descendants only. Egypt would not be able to pursue and threaten the Israelites in the Land of Promise.

 

This passage concludes with Joseph, his brothers, and the rest of the mourners returning to Egypt.

 

Fathering Is a Marathon

 

I like to compare the job of a father to that of a long-distance runner. Fathering is a marathon—a long and often trying journey—and we must be disciplined if we hope to finish successfully.—Ken R. Canfield

 

  1. JOSEPH REASSURES HIS BROTHERS

 

  1. Joseph Lifts Up God’s Sovereignty (Genesis 50:15-21)

 

15 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.

 

16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,

 

17 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.

 

18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

 

19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

 

20 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.

 

21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

 

With the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers are fearful of their own safety. They are convinced Joseph will finally exact his revenge (v. 15). Clearly, they were not persuaded by Joseph’s speech in Genesis 45:3-7. Their sin was great against Joseph; surely he could not so easily forgive them of their heinous wrongdoing. Their guilt had prevented them from receiving Joseph’s mercy and forgiveness.

 

Joseph has already assured his brothers it was God who “sent” him to Egypt to save his family from destruction (v. 8). However, their father is dead. No one and nothing stands in the way of Joseph releasing the full force of his hatred upon them (50:15). Their guilt and fear have restrained them from fully trusting Joseph’s love and pardon. Therefore, the brothers make a straightforward appeal to Joseph in an attempt to ward off any revenge. They say, “Before he died, your father gave a command: ‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin—the suffering they caused you’” (vv. 16-17 CSB).

 

Their plea follows the pattern of the laments in the Psalms. That is, they address their complaint to the only person who has the power to help (in this case, Joseph). Next, they state why they should be heard (because “your father” commanded). Then, the brothers petition for Joseph’s forgiveness and indirectly confess their sin to Joseph.

 

Joseph responds to their plea with weeping (v. 17). Does Joseph cry because his brothers still do not trust him? Or, does he weep because his brothers finally acknowledge their wrongdoing? The text is not interested in the reasons for Joseph’s tears, but only that his weeping indicates he has no plans for revenge. By absolving his brothers, Joseph illustrates “turn[ing] . . . the other cheek” (Matt. 5:39 NIV).

 

The brothers even fall down before Joseph and say, “We are your slaves” (Gen. 50:18 NIV). By bowing down and asserting their subservience, the brothers, without coercion, have inadvertently fulfilled Joseph’s dreams (37:6-9). Again, Joseph’s response is unfathomable. First, he tells his brothers, “Fear not” (50:19). The Lord spoke those words when He appeared to Abraham (15:1), and “Fear not” is spoken at the announcement of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:10) and at His resurrection (Matt. 28:10). This assurance is given to those who are terrified and threatened by danger, and it usually precedes the declaration of God’s purposes.

 

Then Joseph asks a rhetorical question that sounds more like an accusation: “Am I in the place of God?” (Gen. 50:19). His question is reminiscent of his father’s question to his mother, Rachel (30:2). Joseph recognizes he is not God; thus, he will not act like God. Joseph knows God had “sent” him to Egypt, and his sufferings were part of God’s mission. Therefore, Joseph has submitted to the purposes of God and refuses to hold a grudge or take revenge.

 

Joseph explains, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (50:20 NKJV). While the brothers plotted to kill Joseph, God’s mysterious plan was at work to bring about salvation for “much people” (v. 20). The brothers cannot stop God’s plan. If God had intended for Joseph to go down to Egypt to bring about good fortune for Jacob and his descendants, it would be wrong for Joseph to subvert God’s plan by exacting revenge. Joseph’s conviction is expressed by Paul in the New Testament: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

 

Joseph concludes his speech by reassuring his brothers not to be afraid and by promising to continue to provide for them and their families (Gen. 50:21). Joseph’s comforting words vanquish the brothers’ fear, guilt, and grief.

 

God’s Sovereignty

 

Absolutely everything that needs to be done to bring about His purposes, God sees to it that it happens.—John Piper

 

  1. Joseph Prophesies About Israel’s Future (Genesis 50:22-26)

 

24 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.

 

25 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.

 

26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

The conflict between Joseph and his brothers being resolved, the scene was set for Joseph’s eventual death. Joseph and his father’s household did not return to Canaan, but rather continued to dwell in Egypt. Joseph was 110 years old when he died, which indicates his long life in Egypt (v. 22). He lived to see Ephraim’s children and grandchildren (v. 23). Joseph, who had been fully assimilated into Egyptian culture, spoke now as a full Israelite. He confidently asserted, “God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob” (v. 24). This is the only time God’s covenantal promises were uttered by Joseph, and his words signaled hope for the future. God would watch over His people, and in God’s time, He would deliver them out of the Egyptians’ hands.

 

Like his father, Jacob, Joseph knew his final resting place was not in the land of Egypt but in Canaan (v. 25). Joseph requested the Israelites take his “bones” with them to the Promised Land when God set them free from Egypt. Like Jacob, Joseph looked forward to God’s promise in death. Therefore, the Book of Genesis concludes with the Israelites in Egypt awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promise. Accordingly, the readers of this book are called to embrace the faith of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, who embraced and believed the promises of God.

 

FACING DEATH

 

The deaths of Jacob and Joseph frame the last chapter of Genesis, and their deaths offer a paradigm of how we should face death. Their deaths evoked memory, were mourned by the community, and even looked forward to the future. Therefore, the last chapter of Genesis is not the end, but only the beginning for God’s people. Indeed, Jacob’s and Joseph’s deaths were mourned, but the lamentations were not hopeless. Both Jacob and Joseph exemplified faith in God’s word to the end of their lives.

 

Accordingly, Joseph’s last words explicitly looked forward to the salvation and deliverance of God.

 

Daily Devotions

 

  1. Moses’ Final Blessing on Israel (Deuteronomy 33:1, 26-29)

 

  1. Joshua’s Final Words to Israel (Joshua 24:14-28)

 

  1. David’s Last Public Prayer (1 Chronicles 29:10-19)

 

  1. Jesus’ Final Words to His Followers (Acts 1:4-9)

 

  1. Paul Prepared to Die (2 Timothy 4:6-8)

 

  1. The Final Words of the Bible (Revelation
HOLLAND PCG