Genesis 50 vs 1-26

Genesis Chapter 50 Verses 1 – 15

•There comes a time when you begin to realize that the problem in the world isn’t only the evil that you see in others, but also the evil that you see in yourself. We so often are so unkind and so condescending towards others and the genesis of that is truly our own inability to be honest with ourselves about our own condition. The truth is that each one of us are in need of an equal portion of grace.

•It’s an interesting equalizer…all men really are created equal…equally dependent upon the grace of God through Jesus Christ. The sooner you come to that conclusion, the sooner your heart exhales, relaxes and you begin to actually enjoy folks rather than secretly despise them in your ignorance-infested heart.

•The human experience though, it’s amazing…I think about the so-called “classes” of people. Men and women that have done nothing…accomplished nothing…earned nothing…everything is given to them by their parent’s legacy or their successful husband or their accomplished wife and those folks are sometimes the most ungrateful, unkind, unloving, ungraceful…how confusing this sinful human heart must be at times to the heart of God…

•But here, the brothers acknowledge their sin and fear grips them. Now that Jacob is dead, will Joseph still show them kindness…will he hate them now? Knowing human nature, the human experience, this is not a crazy concern! It’s not that they feared evil…what they feared is justice! That’s what makes you grateful and praiseful towards Jesus for what has been done for you. Show me a person who is not grateful and does not have an air of humility and grace about them and I know they have no true understanding of justice…or perhaps they’re ignorant of their own sin…because they don’t fear God at all! And the odd thing is…those folks are usually the world’s self-appointed judges!

Genesis Chapter 50 Verses 16 – 18

•Why did they go this route? Why did they put words in the mouth of their father? There was something in them that caused them to believe that they were not, in any way, deserving of mercy. And the truth is…well, that’s the truth. And so what did they do? The made the petition on the basis of Joseph’s relationship with his father. Isn’t that interesting!! “We can’t come on our own merit! That won’t work! But we can come on the weight, worth and merit of the relationship that Joseph has with Jacob.”

•So…did he really say this before he died? Chances are that he did not…but…do you really think that is not precisely Jacob’s heart? To see his sons, his family, serving each other? Of COURSE it is! Man, when the deadlines are done and the weight of this world is no more, nothing will matter but love! Nothing will matter but peace! So even if these are words that are put in Jacob’s mouth, they are no doubt words he welcomes!

•And Joseph weeps. All Joseph wanted was to serve them. All he wanted was for them to be well and be taken care of…and yet apparently they kept their distance. They sent messengers…they sent a note…rather than coming and seeing their brother and just being with him…this caused sadness on the part of Joseph.

•When faced with the rejection of the Jewish leaders, Jesus spoke one day, recorded for us in Matthew 23:27-28, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate…” God’s desire for each of you is simply to be with you…but we make our distance. Through sin, through self, through temporal and worldly focused hearts…and truly without Jesus, our house, our heart…becomes desolate.

•We ought to just come to him. Messed up, fearful, grateful, with all of our baggage and junk…just like the brothers should have just come to Joseph…he would have received them! He would have rewarded them even! Thrown a party! Put on a feast! Shared some of his makeup! I don’t know…! He would have been so happy if they had just come to him…and if they had of…think about it…there would have been no need for this question. They would have seen and experienced his love and mercy and grace for them….

Genesis Chapter 50 Verse 19

•I love what Courson says and truly this is something I have learned. Courson says that when he was early on in the ministry, he thought it was his job to judge people and God’s job to love them. But God set him straight and told him, “Nope, it’s your job to love them, and My job to judge them.” Makes things a whole lot easier, too!

Genesis Chapter 50 Verse 20 – 21

•This reveals an overarching truth to us…that your life and my life are not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God. The issue is, will I trust Him? God can take the worst of circumstances and issues and use them for “the good.” But this is a difficult concept because this takes faith. Faith involves patience, it involves trust, it involves righteousness even when retribution is seemingly just…

•Joseph trusted God through betrayal, through slavery, through false imprisonment…he trusted God when his brother showed up for food that day…he could have killed them on the spot…he chose to honor the Lord rather than honor himself…this is the hope that kept him during those times. Men meant it for evil, no getting around that…no cutting them any fictitious slack…what they did was evil…but God was meaning it for good.

•And Joseph comforts them…He doesn’t just say that he is going to provide for them and their families…he actually does and I think these last four words are perhaps the hardest but the most noble and the most God honoring, he “spoke kindly to them.” After all they’ve done? How? Often, the problem we have in treating others well, freeing ourselves from bitterness…is an issue of faith. Really has nothing to do with the other people but everything to do about me or you simply having no trust in God…we’re trying to be Him…a sure product of the fall.

Genesis Chapter 50 Verses 22 – 23

•No doubt the best grandpa a kid could have. Can you image, a grandpa with endless resources! HA! Kids would come home all covered in eye liner! HA!! But I love what it says, they were brought up on his knees. It’s sweet, it speaks of closeness and love and involvement…but it also speaks of prayer.

Genesis Chapter 50 Verses 24 – 26

•The Book of Genesis begins with life…creation and life…and it ends with death. It is, as a whole, the story of what has happened and what did happen in the story of mankind. What has happened? God created life and He created it perfectly…but man introduced sin, and the wages of sin are death…but it’s also the story of what DID happen in mankind…God created, blessed His creation and walked with man…and man tore away from Him, but then One came…who would not be mindful of Himself but would be mindful only of others…and through His death, He provided for His brothers and their little ones. Being brought up on His knees…as He forever lives to mediate between God and Man…to pray and advocate for us with His immutable blood…even to this generation…God is so very good…He is so very faithful!