Bible Chapter: Genesis 50

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    When Jacob died, Joseph wept and grieved this loss.  Joseph fulfilled his father’s wishes by taking him back to the homeland to bury him.  It was a very large caravan of family and government officials who traveled to the final resting place for Jacob.  All of the sons followed the command of their father and brought him back to the land of Canaan.  Even though they were not yet seeing the fulfillment of God’s assurance to take them to the Promised Land, Jacob wanted to be laid to rest there.  We also see this faith in Joseph when he died.  He told them to carry his bones back there.  They knew God would fulfill His word to them.
    We see one more time in the telling of this story when the impact of the selfish acts of the brothers in selling Joseph comes to haunt them.  This is also a good illustration that one sin leads to another.  When Jacob was dead, they began to fear that finally Joseph would get his revenge.  So, they lied and  said that their father had left a message that Joseph should forgive them all.  They even came to Joseph and threw themselves down before him saying they would be his slaves.  We see Joseph’s attitude when he quickly assured them that they were safe and he would continue to provide for them.  This is a good illustration of the power of forgiving.  When we are willing to forgive, God sets us free from the desire for revenge.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Throughout this whole story, we see the negative impacts of treating people in an evil way.  Joseph’s brothers spent their entire lives wondering about the consequences of their actions.  They lived in fear of a negative outcome.  This is an effective lesson on the importance of obedience to God’s way of life.  It shows the necessity of treating others in the same way I want to be treated. It shows the benefits of rejecting jealousy and being happy for the good fortune of others.
    Another thought: both Jacob and Joseph held on to the promise of God to make them a mighty nation and provide a land for them.  Even when they wouldn’t see it in person, they knew the future was in a better place.  That is also a good picture for us today.  When we trust in Jesus we know that we are only in a temporary place of residence.  There is a better place, a place of hope in Jesus that says we will spend eternity with HIM.  Someone wrote in a song: This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.

3.  How can I help someone?
    People need to see the promises of God and know they are true.  Often people only see the negative side of things regarding God.  They think He is some mean judge.  No, He had give us great and precious promises that fill us with hope.  How close can we get to Jesus?  That is an awesome goal.