Day 45 – Joseph & his Death

It’s Valentine’s day! But you don’t need a date – we can focus on God’s amazing love for us today instead! 😉

• Today is a day of endings. We’re finishing the narrative of Joseph, and at the same time finishing the book of Genesis. It’s a mini milestone as milestones go, but well done on getting this far. If you’re up to date now, you’ll be with us all year, I’m sure!
• As Genesis 50 opens, there is a good deal of mourning in Egypt, and indeed back in Canaan, about the death of the much-loved Jacob. Why do you think the Egyptians were joining in this mourning? Why would they care about Jacob?
• Skipping on to verse 15, what gives Joseph’s brothers cause for concern? Why did Jacob’s death make them more worried? What did they do to try and appease Joseph?
• Did Joseph really need appeasing? Was Joseph bitter and resentful of their previous evil actions?
• Why do you think the brothers doubted Joseph’s forgiveness?
• Joseph says some truly wonderful words in verses 19 and 20. In verse 19, Joseph explains why he’s able to forgive his brothers, and not hold grudges. What humbling reasons does he share with his brothers?
• Think of a time you have been wronged and you needed to forgive someone. Perhaps you haven’t forgiven them still. Can verse 19 give you a sense of perspective about the burden of unforgiveness, and the encouragement to resolve to make forgiveness a priority? Does considering Jesus, who didn’t come to judge, but instad to be judged himself, help?
• On the subject of forgiveness, how did Joseph live out the wisdom of Ephesians  4:31-32? Do you think you’re good at living these commands?
• Genesis 50:20 is a famous verse summing up God’s power and control. It’s a classic “upper story/lower story” verse, and similar, perhaps, to 45:7. Maybe it’s one to underline or write down in your journal. The verse continues to proclaim truth, as people are “alive” in Christ nowadays too. They are comforting words, aren’t they? Think about something that you struggle to see anything “good” in. How might you trust that God could bring something good  from it?
• Joseph ended up living out a long and happy later life. What promise did Joseph make his sons swear to as the book of Genesis ends?

Joseph’s life is a story which has been shared and discussed and delighted people throughout the generations. It talks of God’s sovereign control, even despite the evil actions and intentions of men. We see it in Joseph and we see it wonderfully in Jesus too, as He was crucified by godless men, leading ultimately to that great act of love on the cross. That doesn’t mean the evil was right; their actions were still wrong, but God can use their sin to bring about His plans. In the darkest moments, God is there, working all things out for those who love Him.

So well done! We’ve finished Genesis. Some of it was super exciting, some of it was tough. But we’ve worked through it carefully and steadily, and rightly so, as it’s got so much important (and foundational) stuff in it. To celebrate I’ve found the world’s cheesiest reconstructions of the Joseph story and attached them below. Hurrah!

Now we move onto Exodus (and with it Moses, the plagues of Egypt, the rescue of God’s people from slavery, the parting of the sea, life in the wilderness, the Ten Commandments… and image after image of Jesus being foreshadowed). I’m really looking forward to working it through with you three and bringing to life more of the scriptures as we do so.