Genesis 45-50, Week 6, Part 2

Our journey with Joseph concludes in these final chapters of Genesis. Here are some thoughts as you read this week.

1. Genesis 45 - "Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him..." Finally, after all his tests, tricks, observations, listening to his brothers while they are unaware Joseph stops the charade. "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" The brothers can't respond. Please put yourself in this story for a moment. Imagine the shock. Imagine the fear. Imagine the joy. Imagine the party. Imagine the talk in Pharoah's house among the servants. Imagine explaining this to Jacob. Whew....who says the Bible is boring?

2. Look closely at 45:4-8 and 50:15-21 - Joseph sees beyond revenge and bitterness. Even with all of Joseph's success and power, he could have chosen to hold on to the injustice. He forgives. With the forgiveness comes a new family story. Reconciliation. What personal pain have you not released to God? Are you living in bitterness when God's grace waits for you?

3. Chapters 46 - 47. A big move for the family of Jacob. Have you ever moved to a "strange land"? Sometimes we move in our lives for all the right reasons, but we remain a foreigner in the new land. Hospitality to others is important in our community. Is there someone in your daily life who needs some hospitality from you?

4. Chapter 48 - 49 - Jacob's blessings. You might be tempted to skim these chapters, I encourage you to slow down and read them carefully. What do you learn about Jacob's perceptions of his sons through his blessings? The twelve tribes of Israel are established with these pronouncements. What blessings have you received from your father - material or otherwise? What perceptions did your family give you about yourself? Were they right or were they wrong? Do they affect your relationship with God?

5. A further thought on chapter 49...the power of a father's words. My dad was a quiet man. While our relationship was not a bad one, it was not a close one. In my senior year of high school, I received a state award and my dad was very proud. I will never forget him asking if it was ok for him to take the newspaper write up to work and share it. The look in his eyes still moves me (I am now 53!). If you are a parent or grandparent reading this, please remember the power of your words to your child or grandchild. Choose them carefully.

6. Chapter 50 - Jacob dies. Your hometown. Your roots. What is it that draws us back to our beginnings? Obviously for Jacob he wants to be buried with his ancestors because of God's original promise. Interestingly, Joseph dies and remains in Egypt. As you reflect on the death of Jacob and Joseph, what do you think about your own family roots? About your family's faith? About famly traits that are passed from generation to generation? What traits do you want to pass on to your children and what traits need to end?

You've completed a whole book! Congrats. Now on to Moses!