As servants in ministry, we have been involved in many funerals over the years. Some funerals gave praise to God for a life lived well. Some only praised the person for what they did. Some were awkward and sad because the one who died professed not knowing God and chose not to put their faith in him. But that didn’t matter, all funerals led by God’s servants, can proclaim the way to salvation so that those who remain behind can see God’s glory at work even in these times of mourning.
It is also interesting to observe the mourners. Some smiled through tears knowing with complete assurance that their loved one was now in the arms of Jesus. They knew that the “tent” that housed the person was taken down in exchange for the “place that has been prepared for us” by Jesus in heaven. Some mourners without faith came merely to pay respects with wonder what life will be like without the person who provided for them. Some came woefully fearful and left empty because they did not know Jesus, who is Life eternal. This is why Hope, who is Jesus, must be preached in times of mourning.
Joseph was a man of faith in God. Joseph is mournful but hopeful as he weeps over his father, Jacob. He knows God is with him wherever he goes, just like his father. His brothers, we will observe, are the mourners who are full of fear as they mourn, wondering what will happen next without their father’s protection and resources.
Genesis 50
Joseph threw himself on 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.[b]
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 along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite. 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.
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 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.
18 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.
The Death of Joseph
22 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 Israelites 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.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
Jacob died, and Joseph and his brothers, along with all Egypt, mourned deeply. But Joseph’s brothers feared that with their father gone, Joseph might repay them for their evil against him.
Joseph suffered greatly because of his brothers’ wrongs, but because he allowed God to work in his heart and free him from bitterness and resentment, he was able to forgive his brothers.
What we learn from God’s story through Joseph is how to respond to what has been done to us that was meant for harm—forgive them. When we forgive, which is a process of maturity within our hearts, we are released from the bondage of bitterness. We are set free to love all people like Jesus loves us—without conditions. It’s a new day, with a new mind, and a fresh start when we forgive those who sin against us in Jesus Name.
Though Joseph is compared to Jesus in suffering, sacrifice, and forgiveness; Joseph was an imperfect human who learned perfect forgiveness that was so completely embedded by God in him; he began to live a life of forgiving!
By God’s power, the same power that resurrected Jesus from death to life, active within us; we, too, can live a life of forgiving! Forgiveness frees us from our own prisons of bitter grudge holding that hampers and stunts our growth in our intimate relationship with God and with others. Seek first God’s gift of forgiveness!
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
God’s forgiveness is the clean slate; erased and washed of all sins that we long for in our lives. Running records of unrepented wrongs that we keep in our hearts are removed when we run to Jesus and ask Him to forgive. He not only forgives; we are no longer held accountable for those sins! AND those sins are remembered by Him no more! This brand of forgiveness was given to us as a gift of God’s love for all who believe. Paul speaks of this love, God’s love, that lives in us and guides believers’ responses;
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Max Lucado writes;
“When God gets in the middle of life, evil becomes good. Haven’t we discovered this in the story of Joseph? Saddled with setbacks: family rejection, deportation, slavery, and imprisonment. Yet he emerged triumphant, a hero of his generation. Among his final recorded words are these comments to his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” This is the repeated pattern in Scripture: Evil. God. Good.” (Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible)
May we praise God, grateful for what we have learned, as we close our study of Genesis. Pray for His Holy Spirit to teach us more of God’s character that He wants to grow in us as we begin the Exodus of His people from Egypt. After Joseph’s death; life in Egypt goes from bad to really bad for God’s people. It’s going to be a wild, adventurous ride, so hang on! God is still in control.
Lord, Savior of our souls, Father of all that is good,
Thank you for forgiving us, cleansing our hearts, renewing our minds to think more like you, refreshing our souls with your tender, daily mercies that we need, and for restoring the joy of your salvation at work with us, reminding us we are yours and you are mine. There is no one like you. You are Life. I trust in You. Thank you for being our present help in times of trouble. Thank you for being with us always!
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 