Genesis 50 Commentary
Jacob is buried in Canaan. The procession consists of the who-is-who of Egypt. Joseph leads the procession. We notice how the Abrahamic blessing results in elevated social status. While not being the main focus, we also see how men of low status enjoy elevated status when they come to Jesus.
After Jacob’s burial, the story quickly and steeply winds down with the closing moments of Joseph. He has lived his life already. Now the scripture focuses on his parting. The fearful brothers are forgiven. We know from scripture that forgiveness is a command and must be obeyed without question or even reason. Now we see there is possibly a way to help the process.
Joseph forgives his brothers because their actions aren’t independent of God’s will and knowledge. Their actions, including other actions by others, (other than the brothers,) are all part of God’s master plan. The LORD God channels experiences and shapes elements of nature to work, “for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. Joseph has read Romans 8 verse 28 and applies it very well. If only we could see the sovereignty of God….forgiveness becomes easier!
Joseph dies aged 110 years. He has seen his great-grandchildren. The LORD mentioned the exodus to Abraham and Jacob, and now Joseph repeats it to his brothers as he spells out his wish concerning his final resting place in Canaan.
Genesis ends here.
In this particular study, the LORD has emphasized one word – blessing. We first meet this word in 1vs28 as it relates to man. In Chapter 3, the blessing suffers serious reversals after the fall of Adam.
Even in the reversals, we can see God’s incredible compassion. The LORD God has a salvation plan for mankind – the Seed of the Woman.
Cain gives us a picture of what life is like after the fall. His line highlights the ‘evil anointing’ running from Cain to Lameck. Lameck openly boasts about murder and is the first known polygamist. He considers Cain a hero whose record he must break!
The LORD would restart with Seth. It is this line that eventually produces Enoch who walks with God. Noah comes after Enoch and he is also a godly man. It is with Noah that the LORD repeats the 1vs28 blessing after the flood.
Like Adam, Noah represents another start. But Noah’s son, Ham, takes a route of evil and escalates evil to a different level at Babel. The scattering occurs here. Abram is also ‘scattered’ from here. The LORD singles out Abram for another fresh start. Chapter 12 begins with another blessing in the manner of 1vs28.
The Adamic blessing (1vs28) and the Noahic blessing (9vs1) become the Abrahamic blessing (12v1). They are the same. It passes from Abraham to Isaac, from Isaac to Jacob, and from Jacob to the nation that he births. Judah and Joseph carry the main lines of the blessing.
Genesis closes with the holy nation in Egypt, numerous and prosperous. The exodus is next – as anticipated through the prophetic messages to Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph.
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