Genesis 50:15-26
Q.1. Was father Jacob the originator of the brothers’ request for forgiveness? How did the narrative dispel the idea that Joseph might be carrying a grudge against his brothers’? – (Gen.50:15-17)
The brothers claimed that a request for Joseph to forgive them, was from their father, Jacob. That is unlikely because of their reasoning – When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” (Gen.50:15). Revenge was the furthest thing from Joseph’s mind, as shown by his reaction to their story – … Joseph wept when they spoke to him (Gen.50:17). It can be very difficult to forgive ourselves for our own sin and degradation.
Q.2. What did Joseph think of their offer to be his servants? How did he cope with all his mistreatments? What was his promise to them and their families? How much was Joseph like Jesus? – (Gen.50:18-21 c.f. Heb.12:1-2)
When they eventually came to Joseph, they threw themselves prostrate before him and offered to be his slaves for the rest of their days. Joseph once more explained his divine perspective on the horrible treachery against him – Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? (Gen.50:19). He never allowed his power to run to his head. It was not as though he had been unaffected by the terrible events in his past. However, he had factored God into all his circumstances – As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive (Gen.50:20). As did our Master Jesus, Joseph spoke with comfort and kindness and promised to provide for them (Gen.50:21).
Q.3. Did Joseph always end up with the difficult circumstances? In what way was he a prophet? What solemn charge did he give to the descendants of Jacob? How was he an inheritor of the spiritual blessings of the patriarch? – (Gen.50:22-26 c.f. Ex.13:19; Heb.11:22)
Joseph fulfilled God’s purpose for his life, which included decades of shame, rejection, suffering, and humiliation. However, God had other things in mind for Joseph – 22 Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; as well as the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees (Gen.50:22-23). Like the patriarchs – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Joseph gave prophecies about the future of the tribes of Israel, which were fulfilled later, just as he declared them – 24 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” (Gen.50:24-25 c.f. Ex.13:19; Heb.11:22). Though the blessing of the firstborn passed to Judah, it was Joseph who truly inherited the spiritual blessings of the patriarchs. In Jacob’s eyes it was Joseph who received the double portion of his blessing. Joseph stands out as one of the finest examples in the whole Bible, of a godly Christ-like man. (Gen.48:5,22). He based his life on the promises of God – God will surely take care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob (Gen.50:24). Later, God would regather His people to their real homeland.