The death of Jacob and Joseph, as narrated in Genesis 49:28-50:26, marks a poignant end to the patriarchal narratives in the Book of Genesis and sets the stage for the subsequent story of the Israelites in Egypt. This story, rich with themes of faith, forgiveness, and God’s sovereignty, offers a powerful message about legacy, reconciliation, and hope.
After blessing his sons and prophesying their futures, Jacob, also known as Israel, gathered his sons to give them his last words. He instructed them to bury him not in Egypt, where they were living to escape famine, but in the Cave of Machpelah, in the land of Canaan. This burial site was significant, as it was where Abraham and Isaac were buried, along with their wives, reaffirming the promise God made to Abraham about the land that his descendants would inherit.
Jacob’s death was a moment of great sorrow for his family, especially for Joseph, who wept over his father and ordered the physicians to embalm Israel, a process that took forty days, a common period for embalming in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days, signifying the respect and high regard in which Jacob was held in Egypt, largely due to Joseph’s prominent position.
After the period of mourning, Joseph requested permission from Pharaoh to fulfill his father’s last wish. Pharaoh consented, and a great procession, including both Egyptian officials and Jacob’s family, made the journey to Canaan to bury Jacob. This act of honoring his father’s wish was significant, demonstrating Joseph’s faithfulness to his family’s heritage and God’s promises.
Upon their return to Egypt, Joseph’s brothers feared that he might seek revenge for the wrongs they had done to him in the past. They sent a message to Joseph, claiming it was Jacob’s wish that he forgives them. Joseph wept upon hearing this, assuring his brothers of his forgiveness and God’s providence in their lives. He comforted them, saying, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
The narrative concludes with Joseph’s death. Before he died, Joseph made the Israelites promise to carry his bones out of Egypt and back to the Promised Land when God would lead them out of Egypt. This promise highlighted the enduring hope in God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob about the land their descendants would inherit. Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten, and like his father, was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt, awaiting the day his remains would be taken to the land God had promised to their forefathers.
As the book of Genesis closes with the deaths of Jacob and Joseph, the narrative leaves a legacy of faith and promises that would resonate through the generations of Israelites. This legacy is not just about the past; it’s a beacon for the future, foreshadowing the journey of God’s people towards the fulfillment of divine promises.
Jacob’s insistence on being buried in the land of his forefathers and Joseph’s request to have his bones eventually taken out of Egypt were both acts deeply rooted in the belief of God’s promises. They believed in the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob about the land that would belong to their descendants. These acts of faith were powerful declarations that, despite their current residence in Egypt, their true home and future lay in the Promised Land.
Joseph’s life, marked by trials, from being sold into slavery to rising to become the second most powerful man in Egypt, is a testament to God’s providence and purpose. His ability to forgive his brothers and recognize God’s hand in his life’s events is a profound lesson in trust and faithfulness. Joseph understood that his journey, including his hardships, was part of a larger divine plan aimed at the preservation of his family and fulfillment of God’s promises.
The story of the patriarchs, culminating in the deaths of Jacob and Joseph, thus serves as a foundation for the themes of redemption, deliverance, and covenant that will unfold in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Israelites’ eventual exodus from Egypt, their wandering in the desert, and their entrance into the Promised Land are all seen as the fulfillment of the promises made to the patriarchs, a testament to God’s faithfulness across generations.
Moreover, the narrative sets the stage for the central theme of the Bible: God’s ongoing relationship with His people. It illustrates how individual lives are woven into the larger tapestry of God’s sovereign plan. The stories of faith, forgiveness, and the anticipation of future deliverance encourage readers to see their own lives and struggles as part of God’s providential care.
In this way, the deaths of Jacob and Joseph are not merely the end of a familial saga but a bridge to the unfolding story of Israel’s redemption and the continuous revelation of God’s purpose for His people. It teaches about the importance of remembrance, the power of faith in God’s promises, and the enduring hope that guides believers through trials towards a promised future. This narrative invites readers to reflect on their own journey of faith and the ways in which God’s promises and providence are at work in their lives, pointing them towards a future filled with hope and fulfillment.