THE END OF THE BEGINNING

THE BOOK OF GENESIS

CHAPTER 50
 

             How great to see you have returned to share another story with Daily Bread.  The last time we read about the blessings that Israel gave to his twelve children. Today we will complete the book of Genesis. That's right ... If you have followed along with us from the first study Creation ... You will have completed the book of Genesis after this study.

            Let's begin ... Joseph loved Israel very much.  He fell on his dad’s face and wept on him and kissed him.  He had Israel embalmed and the Egyptians mourned for him for 70 days.  After that Joseph spoke to Pharaoh and asked him if he could go and bury his father in Canaan. 

            The Pharaoh consented and all of Pharaoh’s servants and all the elders of the land of Egypt went with him.  All of Joseph’s family and his brothers and Israel’s family went, only the children and the livestock stayed back in the land of Goshen.  Chariots and horsemen accompanied them as well.  Many people mourned at the death of Israel and when the people of Canaan saw them coming, they remarked about how terribly sad it must have been to the Egyptians.  Israel was buried in the cave in the field of Ephron, as he willed. 

            Joseph returned to Egypt with all his brothers and all those that went with him to Canaan.  Then Joseph’s brothers began to worry that because Israel was gone, Joseph would now want revenge for all that they did to him.  They said to him, Before he died, our father told us to tell you to forgive us for all the evil we did to you. 

            Joseph cried when they said this.  His brothers all bowed in front of him and said, We are your servants.  Joseph was kind in his heart and told them, Don’t be afraid, Am I God?  You wanted to harm me, but God had other plans.  He made it all turn out good, so that many people were saved because of it.  So don’t worry, I will take care of you and your little ones.

            Joseph lived 110 years and he saw his children’s children’s children.  And he said to his brothers.  I am going to die.  God will be with you and bring you back to the land that He promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  He made his brothers promise that they would take his bones out of Egypt.  Joseph died, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. 

            Congratulations friends!  You have just finished studying the entire book of Genesis!  It has been a wonderful and enlightening journey, and I hope you will join us next time as we begin another great excursion through the second book of the Bible which is called Exodus.  The adventures ahead and God's Power, Love and Grace get even more awesome. See you soon!