1 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
The book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible and is considered to be the foundation of the Christian faith. It contains the stories of creation, the fall of man, and the beginnings of God's chosen people, the Israelites. Chapter 50 of Genesis is the final chapter of this book and it concludes the story of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. This chapter is a culmination of the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation, and God's sovereignty that have been prevalent throughout the book.
The story of Joseph begins in chapter 37, where he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Through a series of events, Joseph rises to a position of power in Egypt and is able to save his family from a famine that strikes their land. In chapter 50, we see the reunion of Joseph with his brothers and the forgiveness and reconciliation that takes place between them.
After the death of their father Jacob, Joseph's brothers fear that he will seek revenge for their past actions. However, Joseph reassures them that he holds no grudge and acknowledges that God had a greater plan in their actions. This is a powerful example of forgiveness and shows how God can use even the most difficult situations for His purpose.
Throughout the book of Genesis, we see God's sovereignty at work. He is the creator of all things and has a plan for His people. In chapter 50, we see this plan come to fruition as Joseph's brothers realize that what they meant for evil, God meant for good. This is a reminder that even in the midst of difficult circumstances, God is in control and can use them for His greater purpose.
Furthermore, we see God's sovereignty in the fact that Joseph's rise to power in Egypt was not a coincidence, but rather a part of God's plan to save His people from famine. This shows that God is always working behind the scenes, orchestrating events for the good of His people.
The story of Joseph and his brothers in chapter 50 of Genesis teaches us several important lessons that are still relevant to us today.
One of the main themes of this chapter is forgiveness and reconciliation. Joseph's forgiveness of his brothers and their reconciliation is a powerful example of how we should treat those who have wronged us. It shows that forgiveness is not only possible, but it is also necessary for true reconciliation to take place.
As Christians, we are called to forgive others just as God has forgiven us. This can be a difficult task, but the story of Joseph reminds us that forgiveness is a key component of our faith and can lead to healing and restoration in relationships.
The story of Joseph also reminds us of God's sovereignty and His ability to use even the most difficult situations for His purpose. It is a reminder that we can trust in God's plan for our lives, even when we don't understand it. This can bring comfort and peace in times of uncertainty and difficulty.
Throughout the book of Genesis, we see God's faithfulness to His people. He fulfills His promises and remains faithful even when His people are unfaithful. In chapter 50, we see this faithfulness in the reunion of Joseph and his brothers and the preservation of the Israelites through the famine.
This serves as a reminder that God is always faithful to His promises and will never leave or forsake His people. It also encourages us to remain faithful to Him, even in the midst of trials and challenges.
Chapter 50 of the book of Genesis is a powerful conclusion to the story of Joseph and the themes that have been prevalent throughout the book. It teaches us about forgiveness, reconciliation, and God's sovereignty. It also serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people and His ability to use even the most difficult situations for His purpose.
As we reflect on this chapter, we are reminded of the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation in our relationships. We are also encouraged to trust in God's plan for our lives and to remain faithful to Him. The story of Joseph and his brothers is a timeless reminder of God's love and grace, and it continues to hold meaning and relevance for us today.
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