As we continued our studies in Genesis last week we saw how Joseph convinced the brothers once and for all that they were completely forgiven for their sins against him.
Once that was all settled, life must have cruised along for Joseph and his family because the story picks back up some 50 plus years later when Joseph’s on his deathbed.
[Read Genesis 50:22-26.]
Now this passage really has three major themes: transition, God’s faithfulness and Joseph’s life ending well.
Remember, Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. So he knew the whole story before he started to write. This is the place in his writings where he needed to transition the story from the Patriarchs leadership of Israel to His leadership of Israel. Also, things were changing in Egypt around this time for Israel. So with the death of Joseph he transitions the reader to the next stage of Israel’s history being the Exodus!
Another major theme in this passage is the faithfulness of God. As we look at how Joseph ended his life well, we’re going to see God’s love and faithfulness to His people over and over again.
The two themes of transition and God’s faithfulness are encapsulated in how Joseph’s life ended well. It didn’t start out too good – but it sure ended well. (Isn’t that what really matters?)
[Giants winning the Superbowl two years ago.]
No matter how we started out in life, we want to end well for the Lord. So as we look at how Joseph’s life ended, we can get some principles to help us make sure that we end well too. We’re also going to parallel the principles found in Joseph’s ending with the Apostle Paul’s ending. (Another man who had quite a bad start in life.)
I. We end well by living selflessly
[Read Genesis 50:21-23.]
Here we get a picture of Joseph going out of his way to provide for his family. First he promises the brothers that he’ll always take care of them. And years later we see him in close contact with his great, great grandchildren. (When it says that “the sons of Machir were born on Joseph’s knees” this was a symbolic gesture of placing the new born on someone’s knees signifying that the child belonged to him.) Joseph did this to show how he would continue to take care of his family and that all he had would one day be theirs through inheritance.
Joseph ended his life as a selfless man. He didn’t seem to care much about his legacy. He didn’t seem to care much about his possessions. He didn’t seem to care much about his achievements. (All of which would be great!) He cared about his family and selflessly cared for them. That helped him end his life well.
The Apostle Paul also ended his life as a selfless man.
[Read Acts 20:22-24.]
Paul knew that when he went to Jerusalem with the message of Jesus persecution awaited him. He knew he’d be locked up, beaten or even killed. But here he shows us that his life’s purpose wasn’t wrapped up in himself – it was wrapped up in getting the gospel out to people who were dying and on their way to Hell. Paul didn’t care about his comfort, his freedom or even his health when it came to doing what God had called him to do. And as we know, eventually Paul was killed for the faith. But he was a selfless man who ended life well.
Being selfless enables us to end well. Trusting God also helps a man end life well.
II. We end well by trusting God
[Read Genesis 50:24.]
If there’s something that Joseph had learned to do over the years was to fully trust in God. Something that no doubt his father Jacob had taught him to do, but probably didn’t have to put into practice much in his youth.
But when he was sold by his brothers as a slave to Egypt I’ll bet he started to really trust God while on that awful journey away from home to a foreign land.
When Potiphar’s wife continually tried to seduce him and eventually made those false accusations against him I’m sure Joseph was learning more about trusting God.
When sitting in prison all those years for a crime he didn’t commit Joseph continued to trust God.
Even when given all the responsibility of governing the land of Egypt, Joseph had to trust that God would enable him to govern well.
Joseph never got away from trusting God and here in his death bed he continues to show that faith that’s gotten him through all those years of trials and triumph. He knows God will take care of his brothers, (nation of Israel), and he knows that God will fulfill his promise that he gave centuries earlier to Abraham. Joseph trusted God and it helped him to end well.
Paul obviously had a great faith as well.
[Read Philippians 4:11-13.]
The thing that kept Paul going all the way to the end was his enduring faith. No matter what he was going through, he knew God was on his side.
[Dick Taylor last days story.
We end well when we end with our faith in tact.
Another way we end well is if we end by looking ahead instead of looking back.
III. We end well by looking ahead
Now I know it’s normal to be reminiscing when getting ready to leave the earth. But to
be looking forward for those we leave behind is a wonderful way to end well. Let’s see how Joseph was looking ahead at the end of his life.
[Read Genesis 50:24-25.]
Joseph here is encouraging the brothers that God will eventually get them out of Egypt and into the promised land. I think that the political tides were starting to change and maybe Joseph and his brothers weren’t as honored as they once were. (Remember, Joseph had been in Egypt some 93 years by this time.) So Joseph brings up the future fulfillment of the covenant which he wouldn’t be around for, but his descendants would.
[Read Genesis 15:13-14.]
Joseph understands that the nation that would oppress Israel was the nation that at one time he ruled. So at the end of his life he’s looking forward to what God’s going to do for his people some day. He’s about to leave the earth – but he cares for what’s going to happen when he’s gone. Looking forward, even though you aren’t going to be a part of it, is a great way to end. Joseph ended well.
Paul was also always looking forward right up until the end of his life.
[Read Philippians 3:13-14.]
Now granted, Paul didn’t have much to look back about. I mean, before he came to Christ he was about as bad a person as you could be. But now as a believer and apostle for the Lord, he was always looking ahead.
Who can I reach for Christ next? Where can I plant a church next? Who can I train to be a pastor of that new church so I can go do it again? Paul was always looking ahead.
Have you ever known someone who reaches a certain position in life and they just decide to go on cruise control until they die? Just coasting into eternity.
Now, in our upper years we might have to slow down a little bit – but we sure don’t have to go lay down in the coffin waiting for death to come. We should always be moving forward and looking ahead trying to find ways to affect the next generation for Christ. I’ve always said, if what we do here at church doesn’t outlast us then it’s been a colossal waste of time! So what that we might not be here for what God does in this place in 20, 30, 40 years. We need to be looking ahead all the way to the end even if what we’re working for doesn’t include us. That’s how Joseph and Paul were, that’s how Jesus was, and that’s how we should be.
[Founding fathers illustration.]
Well, we can all end well if we’ll be selfless, if we’ll trust God and if we’ll be looking ahead right up until the end. And we can all do this if we’ll really focus on Jesus Christ.
IV. We end well by focusing on God
All through this passage, just like all through his adult life, Joseph kept his eyes on God.
Even though he had plenty of opportunities to loose his focus, he didn’t.
When Potiphar’s wife was coming on to him he said, “How can I sin against God.”
When he was interpreting dreams while in prison he always gave the glory to God for the ability he had.
When faced with forgiving his brothers for selling him into slavery he told them, “You didn’t sell me into slavery, God did.”
And here at the end of his life he’s saying, “God will take care of you.” “God will take care of you.” “God will bring you up from this land.”
Joseph kept his focus strictly on the Lord. So did the writer of the book of Hebrews.
[Read Hebrews 12:1-3.]
Wouldn’t it be sad to live a lifetime for Jesus and at the end of your life lose heart and get your eyes off Jesus. You know it can happen to any of us.
Have you ever been watching a great movie and the way it ended ruined the whole movie for you?
[“Free Willie” movie illustration.]
If we end life poorly it will discolor our entire life. We need to and want to end well! You know the good news is – we can. If we’ll simply keep our eyes on Jesus we can end life well.
You know we can’t rewrite the history of our early years. We can’t undo the stupid things we did in our middle years. As a matter of fact, we can’t change anything about our past. But we can be dedicated to looking ahead and focusing on what Jesus might have for us in our later years. Paul said in Philippians 1:6, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Because of Him we can all end well.
