Genesis 50
Pastor Mark Hudson

Jacob dies at the end of the previous chapter so chapter 50 begins with Joseph weeping over Jacob dead body. Joseph will fulfill his commitment to bury Jacob in the land of Canaan. The narrator slows down to detail how the patriarchs needed to be buried in the promised land. The author is also prefiguring the return of God’s people after they are in bondage in Egypt.

All these events are not merely allowed by God but God is directing all these events and the timing of these painful circumstances. He is the One providing help to the nation of Egypt through the wisdom and leadership of Joseph – almost on loan from God to “bring it about that many people should be kept alive” as Joseph reminds his brothers in v. 20.

Let’s focus the rest of our time on vs. 15-21. Joseph’s brothers wonder if Joseph was just waiting until Jacob dies to let the brothers finally have it. Assuming that Joseph would or might kill them (v. 15), they pleaded for their lives to Joseph. It is doubtful that Jacob ever said the things the brothers quote him as saying. Why would Jacob just speak to the brothers and not directly to Joseph? Nevertheless, the brothers were forced to play this card, or so they thought. They must have thought there was a good chance they would be cast in prison or killed.

Joseph weeps when he hears what they are requesting (or had concocted). I think he is crying because they still don’t understand that God has removed any bitterness from Joseph. Furthermore, God has helped Joseph understand all the pain and suffering does not have a lot to do with Joseph. All this being sold into slavery, prison, injustice, waiting around is about larger issue than just Joseph. Joseph understands this but his brothers do not.

The brothers come into his presence and once again, Joseph tells them not to fear (43:23). Then he asks this profound question, “Am I in the place of God?” He is saying, as a rhetorical question, that for me to take revenge would be to push God out of the way and act like I know better than God. Joseph understood that he was in this exalted position to keep both Egyptians and the inchoate nation of Israel alive. Joseph seemed to be at peace with how he arrive to Egypt and how he became second to Pharaoh. I don’t know about you, but there are many times, I would like to take over the reins for my life because I actually think I know what is best for my life.

Joseph realized that God has a million reasons why He does what He does. Joseph knew that he would never have gone to Egypt on his own. Joseph never would be in this exalted position if even one of the events had NOT happened. Joseph only saw a small part of God’s plan. How can one human being understand what God is planning?

Just think if Joseph had not gone to Egypt? Would the sons of Jacob all die during the famine? Could they have made it through 7 years of famine? God is fulfilling his plans for thousands of individuals and many nations during this famine. And we can say the same for this very minute as you read this. We are not able to comprehend God’s plan even if God tried to explain all He is accomplishing right now in human history.

Notice that to believe that God works in an through every detail does not imply that we give sin a free pass. Joseph understands that his brothers were in the wrong. “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good. This is you sent/God sends or you meant/God meant. But the evil was personal, deliberate, and wrong.

I think one of the big lessons for us to learn is that the bad things that have happened to us may have more to do with other people and things than it has to do with us. I find this freeing. We are so self-centered. We are always thinking about ourselves when events, decisions, comments are not intended for us at all. In fact, most of life is not about us. Joseph didn’t do anything bad to deserve what he received but he learned God was not primarily focused on Joseph. God has larger plan in mind.

Joseph is dedicated to the cause of keeping people alive. Joseph is looking ahead. Joseph is grateful that God used him to provide the blueprint and the execution of the plan of keeping people alive during the famine. His brothers are looking back because they were never honest about what happened to others or God. So for maybe 40 years, these brothers suppressed, repressed, and tried to deny their guilt. But this is the first time, that we know, that they talked about their sin against Joseph. Their guilt was a burden so the verb in v. 17 (forgive) means to lift up or carry away. They had been carrying around this guilt for decades. They needed that guilt to be lifted. And they should have felt guilt but they needed the forgiveness that only God can provide.

This is true of the death of Christ on the cross. The worst sin ever, is part of the crucifixion of the perfect, sinless, holy, and righteous Son of God. Yet, for all the rebellion of unbelievers, God forgives the truly penitent. God ordained, orchestrated, and willed all the events of the cross. At the same time, those who crucified Christ and did not repent will bear their guilt for eternity. Yet, God ordained it all. Even those in outright, personal, deliberate rebellion against God ended up doing what God willed. They thought killing Christ would shut Him up. But in their hatred, jealousy, and pride, they only accomplished what God wanted and willed from eternity.

Dear our wise, loving, heavenly Father, we cannot possibly know the plans for our lives let alone all the plans you have for over 8 billion people on earth. The plans for our lives are and should be in Your loving and wise hands. We do not just believe in You, we deeply trust You. We rest in what You are doing because all You do is good, just, right, and perfect. Remind us that we can trust You for all things. In Christ’s name. Amen.