Studies In Genesis: Chapter 50 Series

Note: When doing a study on a book in the Bible you use a lot of resources. The major influence for me on this study of Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris.

Title: Death of two great patriarchs

Theme: Show the faith of these two great patriarchs.

Text: Genesis 49:28-50

Genesis 49

28. All these [are] the twelve tribes of Israel: and this [is it] that their

father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he

blessed them.

29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my

people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that [is] in the field of Ephron the

Hittite,

Why do you think that Jacob wanted to be buried in Canaan? He was looking forward to the day when he would be raised and fully possess what God had promised him.

30 In the cave that [is] in the field of Machpelah, which [is] before Mamre,

in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite

for a possession of a buryingplace.

31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and

Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.

32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that [is] therein [was] from the

children of Heth.

I want you to notice the detail that he takes in naming the land. I believe all that was on Jacobs mind was thinking about the promise and the covenant of the Lord. He had no other desire but to live and die for the Lord.

If we would only wrap ourselves up in the Lord's promise to us. The promises that he gives us here on earth such as salvation and sanctification and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The gifts and the life. All these are promises that we have from God and then the promise of Eternal life and rewards in heaven. Oh we are so sidetracked with this world. We complain and fuss but God wants us. Oh that we would just lose track and gain God.

One description that I have heard to receiving the Holy Spirit or even a renewal of it from the Lord was that you must lose all sight of you surroundings and get focused on the Lord.

33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his

feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Do you see maybe an analog here by Jacob putting his feet in the bed and yielding up the Ghost?

Jacob had begun his own walk on his own two feet. Looking out for Jacob and know one else. But God did something in his life that reminded him that he must depend on the Lord. Do you remember?

Genesis 32:25-AV And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched

the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he

wrestled with him.

He in a sense crippled him and ever sense he had a limp. He now walked with the help of a Cain. He now was dependant.

Jacob's life could be summed up in the words used for the great patriarchs in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed

that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Before we begin with chapter 50 I want to make a note here. What was Genesis 1 all about, let us try to sum it up in one word? Life Now if you have read Genesis 50 what was it all about? Death. The death of Jacob and Joseph. Genesis begins with Adam and Eve in a perfect utopian society. Free of all worries, sickness, sin. No death. But ends with a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50

1. And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

In this chapter we are going to see many sad emotions expressed. Mainly over death. But I believe we will see some highlights and we may even learn our ownselves about dealing with death. Joseph had deep feeling for his father so he wept over him. But there was more.

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

So they embalmed him. The process took forty days of doing but Joseph took the care to do this. There is nothing wrong with morning and grief or even caring for the body after death. It helps us to deal with our grief instead of just holding it in or hiding it.