Dear Lord,
Thank you for this morning; for an early rising, and the time with You. I can’t believe it has taken me literal YEARS to finish this book!
First, Jacob is embalmed at Joseph’s request by the Egyptians. The notes in my ESV study Bible say that Joseph had the physicians, rather than the priests, do it, so that the religious significance of embalming would not be there. Even so, the Egyptians wept for Jacob for 70 days. A big show of mourning was so important to the Egyptians; I remember from when we visited Egypt that they would hire lamenters. Did the Egyptians do this themselves, or did Joseph ask them to? I think the former, because it says clearly the things Joseph asked for or commanded.
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh’s household, “If now I have found favor in your eyes…” Was the mourning and embalming part of finding favor – because he’d followed some of their practices?
Pharaoh seems to readily agree for Joseph, Pharaoh’s servants, household elders, and the Egyptian elders (all of them) to journey to Canaan to bury Jacob. They must have been gone a very long time. How much Pharaoh valued Joseph.
This group lamented loudly for seven days in Canaan, and the Canaanites named the place “the mourning of Egypt.” Joseph and his group are seen as foreigners here.
God’s Good Purposes
This is a great section title. Joseph’s brothers, again probably fearing that now Joseph will treat them the way they would treat him, beg for forgiveness with a lie, and from afar (through a messenger). They say it was Jacob’s command. Joseph weeps at their message. Why? Because of their continued brokenness and their doubt of his previous shows of love? Because of being reminded again of their evil deeds, and all he endured?
Joseph says, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?” He seems to be reminding them of who is truly in charge. He is continually humble, and seems to be saying that only God can judge and punish, although I don’t know if that means harsh judgment is never right (or maybe that we need to seek your will before any judgment).
“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” You use men’s bad intentions to accomplish Your own will. How would Your will have been done if Joseph had not been so obedient?