In
today’s passage we again come face to face with the inevitability of
death. Jacob again asks all his sons to
do as he has asked Joseph earlier: to bury him in the cave back in Canaan and
not in Egypt. We can learn much from the way Jacob refers
to his death: I am to be gathered to my
people (49:29). He again recognized
that life is a pilgrimage. Others had gone on before him; now it was his
turn. He does not seem to be
fearful. He only desires that, based on
God covenant promise, that his body be returned to the land of promise. Joseph makes the same request by faith
(50:22-26; cf. Heb. 11:22 where God says Joseph asked for this by faith).
Being
in Egypt,
and Joseph being a ruler, Jacob’s body was handled according to Egyptian practices. There is an amazing procession in taking the
body back to Canaan, showing the continued
significance of Joseph even after the famine.
The procession ends at the border of Canaan,
and then the sons take the body the rest of the way.
In
reading v15-21 you may be a bit saddened by the brothers who, upon the death of
their father, demonstrate concern about what Joseph might do to them. Let it be said that it was common in those
days, and acceptable, for rulers to kill their rivals. But the brothers have apparently forgotten
that Joseph knew the big picture. He
realized what God was doing, and that his sufferings (like Christ’s) were part
of God’s plan. Thus he repeats words
said previously: you meant evil against
me, but God meant it for good. It
has been my experience to see several times the need for even strong Christians
to have assurance in the face of death.
At times, as the day approaches, they may begin to wonder about the
truth of God’s promises. In nearly every
instance, a repeating of the Word of the gospel and the promise of eternal life
has been sufficient to grant them confidence in crossing the bar.
We
have seen the need to live out of God’s blessing (Gen. 48). We have been reminded that character counts
(Gen. 49). Now let us live our lives as
if we will die! Let us not live in fear
of that day. Rather, through the
knowledge of Christ, let us live with confidence: knowing Christ and serving
Christ. By God’s grace, may our
character reflect the words and heart of the Apostle Paul (Phil. 1:20-21):
20 according to my earnest
expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness,
as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or
by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is
gain.
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