Joseph's Story, Genesis 47-50, the conclusion

Hey guys, I feel really bad that's it's been so long since I wrote on Joseph's story...so I'm going to try and conclude it today.

Since it's been so long, I suggest that you should perhaps go back and read the last one, to refresh your memory on what's been happening...

Okay, so, Genesis chapter 47.



Joseph took five of his brothers to be presented to Pharaoh.

When Pharaoh asked them what their profession was, they did as Joseph had told them and said they were shepherds.

They also told him that they had come to Egypt because the famine in Canaan was so bad that they could not feed their flocks anymore, and they asked that he let them stay in the land of Goshen.

Pharaoh told Joseph to give the best of the land of Goshen to them, because they were his family. He also said that if any of them were diligent and hardworking, that they should take care of the Pharaoh's flocks as well.

Joseph then brought in his father, so that he could bless the Pharaoh.

When Pharaoh asked how old Jacob was, Jacob replied that he was 130 years old, but that his days had been short and evil, his ancestors had all been much older than 130 when they died.

After that, Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

Joseph gave his family land, and food, according to how much their family needed.

So the famine continued, and everyone in Egypt and Canaan were starving.

Soon though, they ran out of money to buy grain with, so Joseph told people that he would trade cattle and flocks for grain.

So the people traded all of their animals for grain.

And when that year was over, they were out of animals to trade with, and still the famine continued.

So they decided to sell themselves and their land to Joseph, so that he could feed them.

Pharaoh had all the people moved to one side of Egypt, and Joseph gave them food.

He also gave them seeds to plant on the farms that Pharaoh had moved them to. Joseph told the people that every fifth of the food they grew would belong to Pharaoh, and that is when the taxation in Egypt began.

The only people excluded from having to sell their land and pay taxes was the priests, because Pharaog had given them their land, and kept them well fed.

Jacob and his family lived in the land of Goshen, and grew exceedingly. This is the beginning of the nation of Israel.

After they had been in Egypt for 17 years, Jacob knew that his time on earth was coming to an end. He called Joseph to him and made his swear not to bury him in Egypt, but instead take him to his ancestral burying ground.

In chapter 48, Jacob is dying, so Joseph takes his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to see him.

Jacob tells Joseph when Rachel died, and that she is buried in Bethlehem.

Then he goes to bless Joseph's son, saying that the youngest will be the stronger nation.

In chapter 49, Jacob calls his 12 sons around him, to give them a final blessing, and tell them what the future will hold for them.

To Reuben, he says that he will not excel, because of the things that he had done.

To Simeon and and Levi, he says they will be instruments of cruelty, because of their anger.

To Judah, he says his brothers will praise him, and he will be prosperous.

To Zebulun, he says he will live by the sea, and he will be a haven for ships, and his borders will stretch all the way to Zidon.

To Issachar he says that he will become a servant, and will bear the weight of others.

To Dan, he says that he will be a judge in the tribes of Israel.

To Gad, he says that a troop will overcome him, but he will be victorious in the end.

To Naphtali, he will give good words to others.

To Joseph, who has gone through so much and been hated, he will be blessed tremendously.

To Benjamin, he tells him that he will be like a wolf, he will destroy his prey in the morning, and in the night he will divide the spoils.

Jacob was not literally talking about his sons, but about their decedents, the Tribes they will become.

After this, Jacob died.

In chapter 50, Joseph tells his servants to embalm his father, which was Egyptian custom, not the custom of Jacob's people.

After 40 days, which had something to do with the embalming traditions, Joseph went to the Pharaoh and asked that he might be allowed to take his father to his ancestral burying grounds. Pharaoh gave him permission and Joseph went.

With him went all of Pharaoh's servants, all the elders of Egypt, all of Joseph's house, and his brother's and their households, and chariots and horsemen. They left only their little ones and their flocks and herds.

All told, it was a very impressive company.

So Joseph buried his father as he had been told and went back to Egypt.

Once they were home again, Joseph's brothers began to fear for their lives, thinking that now that Jacob was dead, Joseph would be angry at them for having missed so many years with his father.

So they sent a messenger to Joseph, saying that Jacob had told him to forgive his brothers for what they had done to him.

I don't think he actually said this though. It's just another way the brothers used to try and get themselves out of the deep trouble they think they are in.

Joseph went to his brothers personally. He told them not to worry, because he is not in the place of God to judge them for their misdeeds. What they had intended for evil had turned out good, he had saved hundreds of lives.

Joseph was a great man, despite all he had been through, despite having lived in Egypt and lived in it's culture, despite everything, he had already forgiven his brothers, even though he could have had them all executed and nobody on Earth could have stopped him or really blamed him.

Joseph lived to be 110 years old. He was able to see his great-great-great grandchildren.

Joseph told his brothers that he knew he was dying, but he knew that God would take them out of Egypt one day and into the land that was promised to their family.

Joseph also made them promise to take his bones to the Promised Land, whenever they finally got there.

And so Joseph died, and was buried in a coffin in Egypt.

I hope you enjoyed Joseph's story. It's one of my favorite. It just goes to prove that no matter what culture we live in, no matter what hardships we have gone through, no matter what we may have to overcome, God can use us, if only we follow Him.

Cheers!