Thursday, Sept. 12
Genesis 49:29 – 50:26 Read it here
We end Genesis on two stories of mourning, but on a note of joy. After difficult and challenging lives, both Jacob and Joseph live to be old men and die surrounded by loving family. Death is always painful, but this is the kind of death most people would want.
It is a sign of the esteem that Joseph has earned that the death of his father results in official mourning among the Egyptians. Joseph came to that country as a slave, and may still have been a slave under the law, but is treated and trusted as great man among the people.
Like his father, Joseph wishes to be returned to his own land for burial, though that is still unfulfilled at the end of the book.
When we speak of the patriarchs we typically refer to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They received the promise from God that their descendants would be a great nation and a chosen people. With Isaac, that nation has begun to take shape, as his 12 sons are the fathers of the 12 tribes of Israel.
It seems that Joseph and his contributions get overlooked sometimes, but if it had not been for him, the people of Israel’s family would have died out within his lifetime.
Joseph’s life has some important parallels with the life of Jesus himself: beloved son, savior of his people, respected by both Jews and gentiles. Also like Jesus, he faced betrayal, was sold for pieces of silver, and became a great leader by being a faithful servant.
Thursday meditation
Proverbs 6:1-5
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion—and give your neighbor no rest! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Prayer focus
Pray for the wisdom to avoid unnecessary entanglements. Seek to live with honor and integrity so that your light can shine into the world’s darkness.
-Rev. Mark Fleming