If you are ever on a game show, here are a couple of pieces of minutiae. If they help you win, please donate 10% of your winnings to your favorite charity.
In Genesis chapter 50, upon Jacob’s death, Joseph fell on his face and wept for him. Because of Joseph’s prominent role in government, great respect was shown to his father by the nation and her leaders.
Joseph instructed the physicians to embalm Jacob; the Hebrew term for physician here refers specifically to someone who makes a cut in the side of the body for organ removal during the embalming process.
Following the embalming, the Egyptians mourned for Jacob for 70 days, equivalent to the mourning typically observed for Egyptian kings.
A Funeral Procession for a King
Jacob wasn’t a king, but Joseph, his family, and the Egyptians gave him a funeral that was worthy of a king.
Notice the large crowd of dignitaries who traveled to Canaan to bury Jacob.
With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
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.
Both chariots and charioteers went up with him. It was a very great company.
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 (Genesis 50:7-10).
Turn one page in your Bible from this grand display of appreciation for a human being and you find a completely different story. Years have passed and the once revered Hebrews are now feared and despised.
That will be the theme of tomorrow’s blog article.
God’s Perfect Plan
The story of the patriarchs, who formed the foundation of Israel’s heritage, concludes with Jacob’s death.
Just before reaching this final passage, the narrative describes the brothers’ fear that now that their father is dead, Joseph will take revenge for their mistreatment of him in his youth.
Joseph’s response to their fear has been echoed throughout history by many who have faced difficult circumstances.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?
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.
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 50:19-21).
Paul understood the sentiment behind Joseph’s words. What evil intends for harm, God will transform it into good.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).
Richard Foster adds Romans 8:29 to our understanding of God working things for our good.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family (Romans 8:29).
Foster believes there are three key components to being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The first involves engaging in basic spiritual disciplines such as prayer, solitude, worship, study, and Bible reading.
The second is trusting completely God’s teachings and living in obedience to them.
The third component relates to difficult hardships, sometimes referred to as “crosses,” a concept familiar in the Catholic tradition.
Foster suggests, like Joseph’s experience, that there are some things God can accomplish in us only by allowing us to go through hard times.
Indeed, what others may have intended for evil, God can turn for our good, using these experiences to fashion us into a life reflecting Christ’s likeness.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 