GENESIS
CHAPTER
50
1. Then Joseph threw himself on his father's face and wept over him and kissed him.
(Genesis chapter 50 verse 1)
At the point of death of people we may say things to people, who are close to us things that we we had never ever before had the courage to tell that person words such as " I love you father", " I really love you, I have always wished to kiss you and hug you but I always feared and thought that you did not love me" or "Father I wish I had known you better, I never really knew you, how I wish I had had a better relationship with you, forgive me if I hurt you by my indifference or unforgiveness.
During such moments many cases of inner healing, have taken place. There are some who have obtained forgiveness from their parents, children or others, that has freed them from feelings of guilt, anger, hatred and even other forms of negative feelings such as grudge.
2. Joseph commanded the physicians in his service to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel; 3. they spent forty days in doing this, for that is the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
(Genesis chapter 50 verse 2)
Psychologically, we can also choose to embalm a loved one, in the sense that in our conscious minds that eventually is stored in our unconscious we take a photo of the person or the person's memory, good acts, negative acts, nice moments or even hurts or things that the person said about us, that we end up believing and holding as being the truth. In another sense, we can embalm the person as being still alive in the sense that we may strongly believe that that person never died at all. With alot of prayer, counselling and other means of support, God is able to heal us from the damage unleashed by such false beliefs that have the power of causing many psychological disorders that if not treated may harm us for life.
3. they spent forty days in doing this, for that is the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.
(Genesis chapter 50 verse 3)
Genesis chapter 50 verse 3 refers to a delicate issue, this is the issue of bereavement. It is natural for us to lament the loss of loved ones, even the loss of our pets, however the period cannot become exaggerated, for it may have a negative impact on both the spirit and on the mind. Some people I know are still stuck in this bereavement stage, because they are still angry at God for having 'robbed' them of their wives and husbands and as a consequence had to bring up a family single handed. When we become bitter, towards God the focus is on us. We have had a hard life, we have raised the family single handed and not with the help of God. We have to keep in mind that God has power over both birth and even death. He who gives us the capacity to live only lends us our soul and this opportunity for life. When God considers that we have fulfilled the role that he had assigned to us, He will call us back to our heavenly home.
4. When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph addressed the household of Pharaoh, "If now I have found favor with you, please speak to Pharaoh as follows: 5. My father made me swear an oath; he said, ' I am about to die. In the tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.' Now therefore let me go up, so that I may bury my father, then I will return."6. Pharaoh answered, "Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear to do."
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 4 to 5)
According to verses 4 to 5 the Pharaoh kept his promise and granted Joseph's request and kept his promise. Even though we are not always faithful to God he always keeps his promise, even though he has different timing especially when compared to human timing and our concept of time.
7. So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8. as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 Both chariots and charioteers went up with him. It was a very great company.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 7 to 9)
The image portrayed is that of a funeral of a head of State. All the important members of society attend such an event to show their respect to the deceased and his or her family. At the time of the passion of Jesus, the heads of state came to jeer at him and show Him all the disrespect that they could conjure against Him. During the celebration of the Eucharist we are also to show our respect to God. However, are we preparing ourselves to show this respect? Are we attending confession and taking part in the celebration? Are we on time or at least about thirty or fourty-five minutes before at Church in order for our selves to quiet down from the pressures of life and spend personal quiet time with God? This is also showing respect and love to God.
10. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they held there a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed a time of mourning for his father seven days. 11. When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning on the part of the Egyptians." Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim, it is beyond the Jordan.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 10 to 11)
On reflecting the inhabitants of Canaan decided to remember the Egyptians for the quality and quantity of their mourning. On reflecting I wonder what people will remember us for, maybe for being helpful to others, or for being kind and loving. If we invest some time in making a list of the positive gifts that God has given us, we can even thank Him for them in our prayer.
12. Thus his sons did for him as he had instructed them. 13. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, the field near Mamre, which Abraham bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 12 to 14)
Joseph in a spirit of obedience carried out the last of the instructions that had been given to him by his father. Om thinking the world or society in general has been giving us instructions since we were young children. This process is life long. On the other hand, God has also given us a list of instructions that help us live a better life, as Christians and even as social beings. However if we do not obey these rules, we end up conditioned by the rules of society and end up sinning against God and humanity.
15. Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him? 16. So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17. 'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 15 to 17)
Although Joseph's brothers had witnessed the great change in Joseph and how he had welcomed them back and gave them all his support and security, they still doubted his genuinity and conjured up a lie in order to secure their own safety. With God we do the same thing. Although He has been more than sincere and generous towards us, we still doubt God and make conditions to ensure his love. A typical case is when we promise Him to abstain from this or that, if only He grants us this or that wish. It is as if we are talking with a wizard and not with God our father.
18. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him and said, "We are here as your slaves," 19. But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20. Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 18 to 21)
When we view our live from the perspective of God, our vision becomes more positive than when viewed from a worldly perspective. What may appear as a sinful act done by one person to the other, as in the case of Joseph and his brothers, may be viewed as the unfolding of God's plan for us. Therefore we are not to be afraid or worried when negative acts take place in our lives because even though there are people who do harm to others, God is able to change the negative and evil outcome in to a positive one.
22. So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's household, and Joseph lived one hundred ten years.
(Genesis chapter 50 verse 22)
If we add the years of Joseph's life in the following table we have the following projection:
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years
(Genesis Chapter 25 of this Bible Analysis)
In fact it can be said that Joseph's life span was less that that of his ancestors especially when compared to that of Abraham and Jacob.
23. Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation; the children of Machir son of Manasseh were also born on Joseph'a knees. 24. Then Joseph said to his brothers, " I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." 25. So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, 'When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here." 26. And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 23 to 26)
When Joseph spoke to his family he was prophetic in his words in the sense that he was revealing a reality that was to take place in their lives. Sometimes without knowing we say words such as 'I am training you so that when I die you will be ready to continue in my footsteps', we might have no concept of the when our last our will be but in reality we could be prophetic in what we are saying.
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I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh my God and loving father, please help me to open with you in my relationship with you and others but especially with you. Please help me not to waste time in this pilgrimage of a life on earth so that when my time comes, I do not come empty handed. May Your will be done. Use me how and as much as you want to.
4. When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph addressed the household of Pharaoh, "If now I have found favor with you, please speak to Pharaoh as follows: 5. My father made me swear an oath; he said, ' I am about to die. In the tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.' Now therefore let me go up, so that I may bury my father, then I will return."6. Pharaoh answered, "Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear to do."
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 4 to 5)
According to verses 4 to 5 the Pharaoh kept his promise and granted Joseph's request and kept his promise. Even though we are not always faithful to God he always keeps his promise, even though he has different timing especially when compared to human timing and our concept of time.
7. So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8. as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father's household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9 Both chariots and charioteers went up with him. It was a very great company.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 7 to 9)
The image portrayed is that of a funeral of a head of State. All the important members of society attend such an event to show their respect to the deceased and his or her family. At the time of the passion of Jesus, the heads of state came to jeer at him and show Him all the disrespect that they could conjure against Him. During the celebration of the Eucharist we are also to show our respect to God. However, are we preparing ourselves to show this respect? Are we attending confession and taking part in the celebration? Are we on time or at least about thirty or fourty-five minutes before at Church in order for our selves to quiet down from the pressures of life and spend personal quiet time with God? This is also showing respect and love to God.
10. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they held there a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed a time of mourning for his father seven days. 11. When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning on the part of the Egyptians." Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim, it is beyond the Jordan.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 10 to 11)
On reflecting the inhabitants of Canaan decided to remember the Egyptians for the quality and quantity of their mourning. On reflecting I wonder what people will remember us for, maybe for being helpful to others, or for being kind and loving. If we invest some time in making a list of the positive gifts that God has given us, we can even thank Him for them in our prayer.
12. Thus his sons did for him as he had instructed them. 13. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, the field near Mamre, which Abraham bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 12 to 14)
Joseph in a spirit of obedience carried out the last of the instructions that had been given to him by his father. Om thinking the world or society in general has been giving us instructions since we were young children. This process is life long. On the other hand, God has also given us a list of instructions that help us live a better life, as Christians and even as social beings. However if we do not obey these rules, we end up conditioned by the rules of society and end up sinning against God and humanity.
15. Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him? 16. So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17. 'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 15 to 17)
Although Joseph's brothers had witnessed the great change in Joseph and how he had welcomed them back and gave them all his support and security, they still doubted his genuinity and conjured up a lie in order to secure their own safety. With God we do the same thing. Although He has been more than sincere and generous towards us, we still doubt God and make conditions to ensure his love. A typical case is when we promise Him to abstain from this or that, if only He grants us this or that wish. It is as if we are talking with a wizard and not with God our father.
18. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him and said, "We are here as your slaves," 19. But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20. Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 18 to 21)
When we view our live from the perspective of God, our vision becomes more positive than when viewed from a worldly perspective. What may appear as a sinful act done by one person to the other, as in the case of Joseph and his brothers, may be viewed as the unfolding of God's plan for us. Therefore we are not to be afraid or worried when negative acts take place in our lives because even though there are people who do harm to others, God is able to change the negative and evil outcome in to a positive one.
22. So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father's household, and Joseph lived one hundred ten years.
(Genesis chapter 50 verse 22)
If we add the years of Joseph's life in the following table we have the following projection:
Joseph lived for 110 years
Ishmael lived for 137 years
Jacob lived 147 years
Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 year
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Ishmael lived for 137 years
Jacob lived 147 years
Abram fathered children when he was eighty-six years old (died at 175 years)
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 year
Shem when 100 years old fathered children and died at 500 years
Arpachshad when 35 years old fathered children and died at 400 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Shelah when 30 years old fathered children and died at 403 years.
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years.
Eber fathered children when 34 years old and died at 430 years
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.
Serug fathered children at 30 years old and died at 200 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years.
Reu fathered children at 32 years old and died at 207 years
Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.
Peleg fathered children at 30 years old and died at 209 years.
Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.
Isaac 60 years old when fathering children
Nahor fathered children at 29 years old.
(Genesis Chapter 25 of this Bible Analysis)
23. Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation; the children of Machir son of Manasseh were also born on Joseph'a knees. 24. Then Joseph said to his brothers, " I am about to die; but God will surely come to you, and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." 25. So Joseph made the Israelites swear, saying, 'When God comes to you, you shall carry up my bones from here." 26. And Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old; he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt.
(Genesis chapter 50 verses 23 to 26)
When Joseph spoke to his family he was prophetic in his words in the sense that he was revealing a reality that was to take place in their lives. Sometimes without knowing we say words such as 'I am training you so that when I die you will be ready to continue in my footsteps', we might have no concept of the when our last our will be but in reality we could be prophetic in what we are saying.
please click to continue reading
I would like to end this chapter with the following prayer:
Oh my God and loving father, please help me to open with you in my relationship with you and others but especially with you. Please help me not to waste time in this pilgrimage of a life on earth so that when my time comes, I do not come empty handed. May Your will be done. Use me how and as much as you want to.
Thank You God
In order to move on to the Book of Exodus please click on the following link:
The Book of Exodus Chapter 1
In order to move on to the Book of Exodus please click on the following link:
The Book of Exodus Chapter 1
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