Genesis 49 & 50
Genesis 49 & 50
We have completed all of Genesis! At this point we read about the deaths of both Jacob and Joseph. There is a lot in this passage we could discuss, but what stood out to me in this reading was the faithfulness of Joseph in what he said at the end of his life.
In Genesis 50:24-25, Joseph reminds his brothers of the covenant God made with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and their father Jacob. He also implores them to not bury him in Egypt, but in the land God would give them. Joseph died just how he lived: having a firm trust that the Lord would fulfill His promises. This was the fruit of his obedience, faith, and life dedicated to the service of the Lord. Hebrews 11:22 states, “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
It was four centuries later that Moses would carry the bones of Joseph out of Egypt (Exodus 13:19), and in another forty years Joshua would bury them at Shechem (Joshua 24:32).
Joseph spent his entire adult life in Egypt, never going back to Canaan after his brothers sold him into slavery. Yet even when he was facing death he trusted God would bring His chosen people out. He was the fourth generation heir of the promise given to Abraham, yet he had faith God would keep the covenant. Joseph demonstrated his confidence by making his brothers promise to take his bones back to Canaan, the Promised Land.
Do we trust in the promises of God like that? Are we confidently reminding those around us of God’s promises?
By: Kaitlin White
We have completed all of Genesis! At this point we read about the deaths of both Jacob and Joseph. There is a lot in this passage we could discuss, but what stood out to me in this reading was the faithfulness of Joseph in what he said at the end of his life.
In Genesis 50:24-25, Joseph reminds his brothers of the covenant God made with the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and their father Jacob. He also implores them to not bury him in Egypt, but in the land God would give them. Joseph died just how he lived: having a firm trust that the Lord would fulfill His promises. This was the fruit of his obedience, faith, and life dedicated to the service of the Lord. Hebrews 11:22 states, “By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.”
It was four centuries later that Moses would carry the bones of Joseph out of Egypt (Exodus 13:19), and in another forty years Joshua would bury them at Shechem (Joshua 24:32).
Joseph spent his entire adult life in Egypt, never going back to Canaan after his brothers sold him into slavery. Yet even when he was facing death he trusted God would bring His chosen people out. He was the fourth generation heir of the promise given to Abraham, yet he had faith God would keep the covenant. Joseph demonstrated his confidence by making his brothers promise to take his bones back to Canaan, the Promised Land.
Do we trust in the promises of God like that? Are we confidently reminding those around us of God’s promises?
By: Kaitlin White
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