Read Genesis 50
Key Verses: “17So they sent word to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father left these instructions before he died: 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. But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 19You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’”
Observation: Embalming a body was a very involved process that was reserved only for the richest, most powerful people of Egypt. It was a highly honored burial to be given to Jacob, Joseph’s father, and reveals the high regard all of Egypt had for Joseph. Embalming a body took 40 days because they would extract the various organs in the body, soak them in preserving liquids and then put them back. Jacob being embalmed gave the boys time to take Jacob back to his homeland.
After Jacob’s death, I am amazed that the brothers become deceitful to the end. To save their own skin they devise yet another lie about their father’s instructions in verse 17 that Joseph is to forgive them. I find it interesting that Joseph was the one who rose up above his brothers to weep and also take charge of the situation. Joseph had already committed to forgiving them for their treachery and yet in fear they once again lie by saying it was Jacob who told them to make this request. Fear drove them right back to do what they had done from the beginning in being dishonest but Joseph stays true to his convictions to the end stating that what they intended for harm God intended for good, the saving of many lives.
Application: To the end, the brothers of Joseph were still deceitful and scheming to save their own skin but Joseph’s heart stays pure to the end. He never sought revenge but always kept his eyes focused on God’s plan over man’s. He saw through the evil and could see God’s plan working even when it looked like men’s evil was winning. What a focus and what an example for us to follow. It is so easy to live out of fear of what man may do rather than trusting in God’s plan and God’s will. Joseph chose to keep his eyes on God’s plan and even though horrible things happened in his life, he was able to say all the way to the end that God took what was meant for evil and turned it into great good. The God of Joseph is still the God of today and He is still taking our horrible situations and turning them into good.
Prayer: God, make me like Joseph. Allow me to see your plan in the midst of the heartaches and pain. Allow me to know what you are doing. Shape in me Joseph’s heart.
