January 17
Genesis 48–50
Scripture Text: Genesis 48:1–50:26
Series: Read the Bible in a Year
Jacob blesses his grandsons, Joseph's sons, who will receive a share in the land of Israel because they are Israel's (Jacob's) grandsons. However, Joseph does not. The tribe thet would have been Joseph is double-portioned to his sons, and Levi, the priestly tribe receives no land. Thus, there are twelve tribes in Israel.
Jacob gathers all his children and blesses them, telling them generally what God will do to them. Then he commands his sons to bury him with his fathers in a certain cave in Canaan. Then he breathed his last and died. The text describes his death as having "breathed his last and was gathered to his people." Even before Jacob is buried with his fathers, he is gathered to his people. Do you think there is something that might be understood here about the Communion of Saints?
Jacob's funeral lasts months and a great company of Egyptians went with Joseph and his brothers to bury Jacob in Canaan. It must have seemed an odd thing, not only to Jacob's sons but to the people in the land as the Egyptians repectfully accompanied the grieving family of Joseph.
Despite all these blessing,; Joseph's reassuring words, and the obvious favor of God, the brotherly deceit continues. They lie to Joseph about something their father said, which may have caused Joseph to think his father mistrusted him too, after all he had done for them. But kindly Joseph comforted them again with reassuring words of God's love for Jacob's son.
Joseph tells his sons that one day they would live in Canaan, and that they were to gather his bones in Egypt and carry them to the land God had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Genesis ends with the death of Joseph. Tomorrow, we begin the book ofd Exodus.
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Author
Rev. Dr. Mark E. Ryman has served as Pastor for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Salisbury, NC, since 2021. Previously, Pastor Ryman served congregations in North Carolina and Ohio, as well as a call to specialized ministry with Sola Publishing.
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