Genesis 50 Lesson: Joseph's last days - God does all things well!

Bible Study Series: Joseph, Jesus and You

Genesis 50 Lesson: Joseph's last days - God does all things well!

by I Gordon

We come now to the last chapter in Genesis and the last message in this series. We looked last time at the final hours of Jacob as he blessed his sons, tucked himself into bed and breathed his last. A wonderful way to go! So that is where we will pick up the story today as Joseph fulfills his promise to take his father's body back to the Promised Land and bury him there with his fathers and his wife Leah. But that isn't the only burial in this chapter. We'll have two deaths and two funerals to attend today. Sounds a little grim I know but they are both filled with hope! : ) And really our main focus will be elsewhere. So in this lesson...  

• We'll begin with Jacob's death and take a brief look at Egypt and mummification - why did they do that, why did they stop doing it, and what better hope do we have as Christians?
• We'll explore Joseph's brother's reaction to Joseph once their father had died - how does that relate to some Christians today?
• We'll see Joseph's reaction to his brothers - how does he see God's hand in all things and how does this speak to us as Christians in our relationship with the Lord today?
• We'll see the last days of Joseph - why does the book of Genesis end with a coffin in Egypt?
• And we'll close with a summary of Joseph's life, asking the question 'How do you know what is good and what is bad in life?' 

The Burial of Jacob

Gen 50:1-14 Joseph threw himself upon his father and wept over him and kissed him. (2) Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, (3) taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. (4) When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh's court, "If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, (5) 'My father made me swear an oath and said, "I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan." Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.' " (6) Pharaoh said, "Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do." (7) So Joseph went up to bury his father. 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. (10) When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. (11) When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning." That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim. (12) So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them: (13) They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field. (14) After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.

Now that is a longish passage but let me start with a question for you - "What Daddy in the Bible ends up as a Mummy?" Sounds a little dodge I know but it's simple right? It's here - Jacob! And bonus points if you said Joseph as well because he will too! Both will be mummified in this chapter. Now the Egyptians were obviously experts at embalming¹ and Jacob was honored here by getting the full 40 day treatment. Scripture also tells us that the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days which shows the respect they had for Jacob. Yet, as I have said, Jacob's hope lay outside of Egypt!

"Egypt was filled with magnificent tombs, and because of the respect Jacob had he could have been buried like a Pharaoh. But he wanted to be buried in an obscure cave in Canaan, because Canaan was the land of promise."
David Guzik

So Joseph and a whole procession of both family members and Egyptians made the trek north to Canaan. The body of Jacob, according to his request, the oath of Joseph, and the promise of God, was taken back to be with his fathers in an obscure cave near Mamre.  

"There is a cave with the bones of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And likely Joseph. He would be preserved like King Tut and some of the others who were embalmed by the Egyptian arts of embalming. Also Joseph was embalmed. So you ought to be able to find Joseph, too. That is, if you're interested in looking for mummies. One thing you'll never find, that's the body of Jesus."
Pastor Chuck Smith

Mummies, mummies everywhere... Why all the Mummies?

Now, just popping down a little side alley, it has been estimated that there were more than 70 million mummies in Egypt over a 3000 year period. One site says "Today, mummification is rare, although there are some places where people still preserve dead bodies. Communist revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin died in 1924, and his body was mummified using modern techniques. Nearly a century after his death, Lenin's body is still on display at a mausoleum in Moscow." In fact the Egyptians skill and process was so refined that in 2023 a 4300 year old mummy was found. But it is interesting the 'Egyptians stopped making mummies between the fourth and seventh century A.D., when many Egyptians became Christians.' Hmmm... Why is that? Well the reason is directly related to one's belief in the afterlife. 

The Smithsonian Institute says why they embalmed the body:

"The Egyptians believed that the mummified body was the home for this soul or spirit. If the body was destroyed, the spirit might be lost. The idea of "spirit" was complex involving really three spirits: the ka, ba, and akh. The ka, a "double" of the person, would remain in the tomb and needed the offerings and objects there. The ba, or "soul", was free to fly out of the tomb and return to it. And it was the akh, perhaps translated as "spirit", which had to travel through the Underworld to the Final Judgment and entrance to the Afterlife. To the Egyptian, all three were essential."

In contrast to this, the Bible speaks of resurrection and a new body. There is no need to try preserve what remains of this broken old body after death! Jewish belief, even in the Old Testament, was in the soul leaving the body at the point of death. The real person is no longer with their body.

Gen 35:16-18 Then they journeyed from Bethel; and when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth and she suffered severe labor. (17) When she was in severe labor the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for now you have another son." (18) It came about as her soul was departing (for she died), that she named him Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.

Where is our hope?

The Christian's hope is where our citizenship is. Our hope is heaven. Our hope is in being with the Lord Jesus in the place that He has gone to prepare for us. And our hope is in an entirely new body! So we don't need any embalming or mummification when we die, thank you very much! I'm happy for the worms to have my decaying corpse for I a heavenly home and a heavenly dwelling awaiting just as scripture says:

2Co 5:1-2 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2) Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling.

And thus, in contrast to the hope of the Egyptians, all believers in the true God, in both Old and New Testament times, have looked forward to a new home and city whose maker is God! Speaking of the Patriarchs, the Bible says:

Heb 11:16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

The fear of Joseph's brothers

Gen 50:15-17 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?" (16) So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died: (17) 'This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 

In accordance with the dreams Joseph had as a teenager, this is the fifth time Joseph's brother came and fell down before him. Yet it seems as though guilt and fear led to another wee porky (lie). They told Joseph that Jacob left instructions before he died as to how he was to treat them. If this is true there is no record of it in scripture and by the way Joseph reacted, with tears, it seems more prompted by fear and doubt over Joseph's intentions. So it seems that this could well be the brother's guilty conscience and fearful hearts speaking! They seem to be still acting like the sons of Jacob here, trying to deceive their way out of what they think is a tricky situation! 

So why did Joseph cry at this? Well, we will see from his reply that he had no intention of harming his brothers. He wasn't holding a grudge, nor waiting for the day when his father would die so he could repay their evil with evil. Not at all. He had already reassured them that this was all God's plan and they should not be angry or grieved at what they did (Gen 45:4-8). Yet it seems that they think Joseph is... well... like them! But he isn't! Joseph is still just the same and hasn't changed in his thoughts towards his brothers. 

Confidence, or lack thereof, before God

Jesus thoughts towards His sheep do not change either! Yet some Christians fail to believe they are forgiven. I've recently had a lot of correspondence with a lady who is far more tempted to believe that God is holding a grudge against her than believe she is forgiven because of her faith in Jesus. So after many emails we seem to be going in circles as she struggles to get her eyes off herself and onto the promises of God. So the fear of Joseph's brothers well illustrates the insecurity that some believers still have coming before God. They think that God is still secretly angry and when the opportunity arises He will pay them back. But God doesn't pay anyone who believes back. It has already been paid back when Jesus paid your debt in full on a cross 2000 years ago! So why do some believers lack confidence in their relationship with God?

• Like Joseph's brothers they still hold guilt over their sins. They fail to know that they are actually forgiven!
• Like Joseph's brothers with Joseph, they still don't know the character of Jesus well. 
• Like Joseph's brothers they think on a natural level, assuming that He will act like they would. "We've done him wrong, so he will repay us" is their thought.
• Ultimately they don't understand the finality of the cross - that God was totally wiping away sin and remembering them no more.

Yet the Bible speaks of the boldness and confidence we are to have 'in Him':

Eph 3:8,12 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ... (12) in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

The wisdom in Joseph's response

Gen 50:18-21 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. "We are your slaves," they said. (19) But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? (20) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (21) So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Now look closely at Joseph's response to his brothers here for it a wonderful reply. Let's break it down. He says

• Don't be afraid - He says this twice. Everything is ok! This is something Jesus also said a lot. He must know us well!
• Am I in the place of God? - He wasn't going to take matters into his own hands. He didn't see it as his position to judge them but committed all things unto God. We can certainly learn from that!
• You intended to harm me - He speaks the truth and is not blind to their intentions at that time. But this isn't the end of the sentence...
• But God intended it for good - But he sees the bigger picture and why this was all allowed by God. This is VERY important for all of us!²
• For the saving of many lives - And what a blessing Joseph turned out to be for so many desperate people during the famine. 
• Don't be afraid, I will provide for you and your children - He wasn't just wiping the slate clean, he was going above and beyond in providing for them. In the words of the New Testament for the believer, there wasn't just mercy, there was grace!
• Reassured and spoke kindly to them - And oh the kindness of God that He grants us in Christ Jesus!

Seeing the bigger picture

Let's just zero in again to grasp how important is it to see the bigger picture in what we go through? It is the difference between success and failure... between spiritual growth or stunted growth. Pastor Chuck Smith writes well on this showing how God turns the tables on the work of the enemy and uses trials for our own good:

"The Bible says that God uses "the wrath of man to praise His name" ( Psa 76:10 ). It is interesting to me how so many times God turns the tables on the devil. He'll prepare a trap for the children of God and God will just turn the tables on him. Now here the brothers of Joseph, their intentions were evil, no getting around that, but behind it God was working for good. And this is true all the way through life for "no weapon that is formed against you will prosper. This is the heritage of the children of the LORD" ( Isa 54:17 ). Though man may intend to evil and to hurt you and all, God is able to turn it around and to bring good from it. We need to have that kind of confidence in God that "all things are working together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose" ( Rom 8:28 ). And even though a person might maliciously seek to malign you and hurt you, God can turn it for good. You meant it for evil but God has intended it for good, for the salvation of many people."
Chuck Smith

The fulfillment with the Lord Jesus

'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives'

Hopefully it is clear and obvious but the ultimate fulfillment of this verse is the cross when God turned the tables completely on Satan and turned what he thought was a victory over Jesus into his ultimate defeat! It was meant to be the death of the Son of God and instead turned out to be the salvation of many lives! And what a way to do it! Who would have seen it? Satan, who is full of pride, was undone by the complete humility of God who would come as a man, suffer, and die in complete weakness. And had the enemy known that this cross was their downfall they would not have crucified Jesus!  

1Co 2:7-8 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, (8) which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

The Departure of Joseph

Gen 50:22-26 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father's family. He lived a hundred and ten years (23) and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees. (24) Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (25) And Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath and said, "God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place." (26) So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Like Jacob his father, Joseph had no concerns about his own death. He wasn't fearful or hanging onto life with everything he had. He had no doubts about his future or regrets over his past. Nor did he have any doubts for those that were left behind. His thoughts were actually for them and his confidence in their future was in God. God will take care of you, he says. He can see from his own life the faithfulness of God who does all things well! His only request about himself is that his bones to be taken back to the Promised Land. And this, according to Hebrews 11:22, was spoken in faith:

Heb 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

Again, like his father Jacob, his heart lay elsewhere. He lived the vast majority of his life in Egypt and there he died. But his heart was elsewhere where the future for his people lay. It was in the promises, and the Promised Land, that God had given to the Israelites. And the Bible says this was faith.

"Ninety-three years had passed since he was lifted from the pit; sixty since he buried his father. Finally Joseph’s end came. His bones were not buried, but awaited the summons for the Exodus. That coffin seemed to be the end of all. Nay! it was the seed of the coming harvest."
F B Meyer

It would be another 300 years before Joseph's bones were taken with Moses in the exodus back to the Promised Land (Ex 13:17-19, Jos 24:32) and the oath that his family made to him to take his body home. And so at the age of 110, Joseph's remarkable and eventful life came to an end. And with it the book of Genesis closes. I have always like what William MacDonald writes here:

"It has been pointed out that Genesis opens with God's perfect creation and closes with a coffin in Egypt. It is a book of biographies. Whereas two chapters are devoted to an account of the creation of the heavens and earth, forty-eight chapters are largely concerned with the lives of men and women. God is interested primarily in people. What a comfort and challenge to those who know Him!"
William MacDonald, Believers Bible Commentary

It is actually a sad indictment on the human race that Genesis, the book of beginnings, ends with a coffin in Egypt. Those are its very last words and it speaks to what the fall of man led to. Yet at the same time, as we have seen, God had a plan and thankfully death is not the end for all those that place their trust in Him! It is but the close of the prelude to the real main attraction which is eternal and still to come! 

Conclusion: What is good and bad? How do we know?

So as we conclude not just this lesson, but this entire series on the life of Joseph, I want to close with a great summary of Joseph's life that I heard. Several months back I listened to a message online by Mike Minter, part of which concerned the life of Joseph and the providence of God. I encourage you to watch this message. There is depth and wisdom in this message yet it is delivered with a profound simplicity that stays with you. In it, he speaks about God's ability to take the good, the bad and the ugly of our life and bring about his plan without manipulating us as a puppet. He also raises the question of how do we know, as we go through life, whether something is actually good or bad for us? So here is an extended quote from this message as it gives a great summary of Joseph's life, while asking an important question...

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"Joseph's father makes him a coat of many colors. Well that's a good thing.
But his brothers were jealous. Well that's a bad thing.
Then Jacob says to Joseph 'haven't seen your brothers in a while, go see how they're doing.' Well that's a good thing.
So he goes to a place called Shechem but he can't find them - well that's a bad thing.
But there's a guy standing out in the field and says 'who you looking for?' 'My brothers.' 'Oh they went to Dothan.' Well that's a good thing.
But when he found them they wanted to kill him. Well that's a bad thing. How do you know?
And the older brother said 'let's not kill him' - well that's a good thing.
So they sold him into slavery. Well that's a bad thing.
While he was in slavery he was put in charge of Potiphar's house. Well that's a good thing.
But then Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him - that's a bad thing.
But he fled from her. Well that's a good thing.
But then he got thrown into prison because she said he tried to rape her. Well that's a bad thing.
But he was put in charge of the prison. Well that's a good thing.
But the two prisoners in there had dreams and they didn't know what they meant. Well that's a bad thing.
But Joseph says 'my God interprets dreams'. Well that's a good thing.
And he interprets the dreams and the prisoner that gets out forgets Joseph and that's a bad thing. How do you know?
Two years later Pharaoh has a dream and he doesn't know what it means. That's a bad thing.
But the butler says 'there's a guy in prison that knows how to interpret dreams, get that man' - that's a good thing.
Joseph gets out, he has no clothes, no place to live, nothing. That's a bad thing.
He interprets the dream and he's now made second in command of all of Egypt. That's a good thing.

God providentially works in Joseph's life to the point where he becomes second in command and Israel winds up being birthed in the land of Goshen. And through the tribe of Judah the Messiah comes and that's a good thing. That's a good thing! You don't know what is good and what is bad. You don't know. The man that said 'I overheard your brothers, that they went to Dothan. I just happened to overhear' - Had he not overheard we wouldn't be here today... And one of the reasons I believe the Bible so much is that nobody could have written the story. Nobody. Not John Grisham. Not Tom Clancy. Nobody could have written this story. The Narrative in scripture takes you into the world of the unknown and right now some of you are living with a lot of pain, a lot of difficulty, because life is difficult and you do not know whether it's good or bad. You don't know. And so the providence of God helps us in so many ways."

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I love how he puts that... 'And that's a bad thing. How do you know?' You see without God all we have is our feelings and natural reaction to life's highs and lows. And yet with God even the lowest of lows can really be a blessing in disguise. Can you relate that to your life right now? What we think is the 'bad thing' can be changed into an eternal and/or temporal 'good thing'. It is extremely likely that Joseph, as he went through much of this trouble, did not see many events in his life as good or useful things! Yet they were. He probably wasn't thankful when hated and betrayed... in being lied about, falsely accused and thrown in prison. Yet all of these were God's path for him to eventually rule in Egypt, save so many lives, and bring all of Israel down into Egypt to carry forth God's ultimate will. 

Thus it is not till the end that Joseph, looking back over his life with all it's unexpectant twists and turns, can say to His brothers:

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..."

So as we close this message and series, remember this for your own life. This is the God whom we serve. How do you know what is good and what is bad in life? We don't. Not when we are going through it. Like Joseph we may be granted the privilege at some stage to look back and see the blessing that those difficult times resulted in. Maybe. Or it may not be revealed until we are with the One whose potter's hand was all over those events, shaping and forming what He desired. But we know that in all things, God is good and He does all things well.

May the life of Joseph be a reminder of this for us.

God bless!    

FOOTNOTES