BEYOND JACOB’S DEATH

Genesis 50

Victor M. Eskew

 

I.           The Title of Genesis 50

 

A.   Burial and Blessing

B.    Weeping, Worries, and Wishes

C.   Beyond Jacob’s Death

 

II.         The Key Verse of Genesis 50:  Genesis 50:14

 

And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and all his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

 

Why this verse?  After his death, Jacob was buried in Canaan.  Then, Joseph and his brethren return to Egypt.  Life continues for Jacob’s sons after their father’s demise.

 

III.       The Outline of Genesis 50

 

i.               WEEPING FOR JACOB (Gen. 50:10-14)

ii.              WORRIES OF BROTHERS (Gen. 50:15-21)

iii.            WISHES OF JOSEPH (Gen. 50:22-26)

 

IV.        The Lessons of Genesis 50

 

A.   There is nothing wrong with touching the dead (Gen. 50:1).

 

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

 

B.    Each culture has its own customs and practices in caring for the dead (Gen. 50:2-3a).

 

And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father and the

physiccians embalmed Israel.  And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled

the days of those which are embalmed.

 

C.   Mourning is the proper display of emotions at the time of one’s death (Gen. 50:3b).

 

…and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

 

D.   Even those in high positions may have to go through the proper channels to reach their overseer or commander (Gen. 50:4b).

 

…Joseph spoke unto the hosue of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying…

E.    It is possible for good relationships to develop between superiors and inferiors (Gen. 50:6).

 

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

 

F.     There are some people who are mourned longer and mourned more than others (Gen. 50:11).

 

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.

 

G.   After death, the living must continue to live (Gen. 50:14).

 

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.

 

H.   Family relationships can change after the death of the patriarch (matriarch) (Gen. 50:15).

 

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.

                              

1.     The question has been raised:  “Why did the brother think this way?”

a.     Because they had seen this happen in other families.

b.    Because this was the way they would have responded if they had been Joseph.

2.     It is possible for us to assume something about a person that is not true.

 

I.     There are some who fear retaliation and revenge from those they have wronged (Gen. 50:15).

 

J.    Seeking true forgiveness through repentance and confession of sins is the best way to heal troubled relationships (Gen. 50:7).

 

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 God thy father.  And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.

 

K.   Vengeance is not the prerogative of man, but of God (Gen. 50:19).

 

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

 

1.     Romans 12:19

 

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath:  for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 

2.     Hebrews 10:30

 

For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord.  And again, the Lord shall judge his people.

 

L.    God’s providence always brings good things to pass (Gen. 50:20).

 

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.

 

M.  True love, always seeks the best interest of others (Gen. 50:21).

 

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

 

N.   A long life is often blessed with children and grandchildren (Gen. 50:22-23).

 

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:  and the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.

 

O.   The promise given to Israel was secured to Joseph who passed it on to his children before he died (Gen. 50:24).

 

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.

 

P.    To “visit” means more than to merely see another person’s affliction.  It involves both inspection and help (Gen. 50:24).

 

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.

 

Q.   Death is the one constant for all men (gen. 50:26).

 

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