ch. 50

vs. 1-13 - The funeral of Jacob

v. 1 - "And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon

him, and kissed him" - Joseph had no doubt closed

the eyes of his father as God had promised to

Israel - ch. 46:4

Joseph has his father embalmed, asks permission of

Pharaoh to take his father back to Canaan to be buried -

Pharaoh okays the proposal and sends along servants

and elders of his house.

v. 9 - "And there went up with him both chariots and

horsemen: and it was a very great company"

v. 11 - an impression is made on the Canaanites

vs. 12-13 - Jacob's sons did for him as he commanded -

the buried him in the cave of the field of

Machpelah which Abraham bought for

a burying place.

The funeral itself said, Egypt is not our home. It pointed

with prophetic significance to the future of God's people.

Canaan, the home of God's people, is the symbol of the

everlasting home!

vs. 15-21 - After Jacob's death Joseph's brethren are

afraid that Joseph will turn on them but it

makes Joseph weep because he had truly

forgiven them and had seen the hand of God

in it all - ch. 45:4-8

How difficult it is to shake oneself free from the

evil consequences of sin, even after it has been

forgiven.

God is a Great and Forgiving God - he wants us to

forgive.

One of my favorite passages is Psalm 130:4 - "But

there is forgiveness with thee" - Psalm 130:7 - "with

the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous

redemption"

God revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7 as -

"The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious,

longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and

transgression and sin, and that will by no means

clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers

upon the children, and upon the children's children,

unto the third and to the fourth generation."

We are counseled many times in the New Testament

to forgive and if we do not forgive, neither will

we be forgiven.

Matt. 6:14-15, 18:21-35, Eph. 4:32, Col. 3:13

We have no right to play God as Joseph said to

his brethren in v. 19 - "am I in the place of God?"

vs. 22-26 - Joseph's charge to his brethren, his death

and burial.

v. 23 - He lived to see his great, great grandchildren.

It is well when death approaches to remember God's

promises. The thoughts of God are very suitable for dying

hours.

v. 26 - Joseph lived to be 110 years old, his death occurring

fifty-six years after Jacob.

In summary: