Genesis 50 - Last Part - Notes from Sunday October 20

Genesis 50:15-26

READING

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.[c]

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

BOARD – Problem or Purpose

1)Protection, Pardon, Prophecy (15-18)

2)Place and Provision (19-21)

3)Promise and Prospect (22-26)

 50:15-18 – Protection, Pardon, Prophecy

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

15 –  What protection do we have in this life?  Who does it come from? 

Psalm 18:3, 54:7, 138:7

Deut 31:6, Josh 1:5, Chronicles 28:20, Hebrews 13:5

Initial thought was on themselves.  They envisioned payback based on wrongs these men did – What wrongs have we done to others? 

16 – 17 -   the brothers send a message – not directly speaking to him but through someone else – Is this what Jacob asked?  Where do we find it?

What did Joseph do at the end of this verse?  Why

18 – The Lord worked through many years to get to this point – as sounded in 1 Samuel 2:7 – He exalts and brings low who HE wants

Questions:

·     Do we need protection from bad in this world?

o  Or do we just have guilty conscience that continually nags at us?

·     Where do we look for protection?

·     Do we make up stories around our protection to deliver us?

·     What do we ultimately want?  Pardon?

·     All the while we must note that God is at work and already knows the outcomes.

·     What  is our response to those that have wronged us?  Is it like Joseph’s? 

 50:19-21 Place and Practical Provision

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

19 – What does joseph say his place is in bringing retribution/vengeance?

·     We know the new testament ones: 

·     Romans 12:19 and Hebrews 10:30

·     But why is this the case?  Let’s look at

·     Leviticus 19:18

·     What is our response to great submission?

20 – Joseph continues to tell us what God intended by all of this -

Notice Joseph’s response to their concern:

1) Recognition of the harm that others looked to inflict – that is a fact not brushing it away

o  RENDER GOOD FOR EVIL

o  EXCELLENT SPIRIT OF JOSEPH

o  PROPHECY COMPLETE/FULFILLED (THEY WILLINGLY BOWED DOWN)

o  DO WELL FOR AND SPEAK KINDLY TO

2) The harm ultimately did what – Save many lives

·     What lives were saved?

·     Right then and then Later?

21 – His message was on of practical provision

Determining to:

1)   Get rid of fear that he knew they had about how he might cut them off or hurt them

2)   Understanding that their fear included what the provision is for their families

3)   He spoke kindly

4)   He didn’t ask them to ‘be on their best behavior)

Questions:

·     Who is the one to bring Vengeance?

·     What can we pray then?  Psalm 94:1

·     What is our role in vengeance?

·     What is our reaction to the opportunity for vengeance?

50:4-6 Promise and Prospect

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

22-23 - Where he was and how old he was when he died.  Generations named for our use and history along with the traditions of the old blessing the new.

24 – What does Joseph say at the end? 

·      What is the idea that he wanted to leave with the tribes of Israel?

 

1) God will come to your aid

2) God will take you up out of your land

3) God will fulfill the promise he made to those before you

4) Notice this is the Same as 49:21 – This pattern should not be dismissed

25 – Why would they need aid?  Then he wanted his bones to go to the promised land

Let’s look at Genesis 15:13-14 and Abraham

Oath included what:

o  God will come to their aid

o  When he did they must carry Joseph’s bones to the promised land. 

*Note that even in the old testament a need to be in the place promised by God is important

26 – Embalming but no processional at this time – it wasn’t time – Joshua 24:32 – ~400 years

Questions:

·     Has God come to your aid?

·     Will or has God taken you up out of the land you are in?

·     Will God fulfill the promised land as he promised the others to YOU?

·     Do you want to be where Jesus is? 

·     Do you want to be in the promised land? 

o  Remember the preparation and practical steps through this life from last week

 Final Questions

YOUR PLACE –

·     What do you see as your role in fighting sin and oppression in this world?  What is your reaction to it practically?

·     How do the promises of a sovereign (and very much involve) God affect the above?

YOUR PROVISION –

·     What do you steward in this life?

YOUR PROMISE –

·     What is your promise after life?

What do you need protection from?

What is God’s promise regarding protection?

Is there someone that deserves payback for what they have done to you in the past?

How have your responded to that need?

What is(are) the promise(s) that you tell everyone about God?

Do you believe God will resurrect you in the promised land?