What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 13)

 

Jacob's burial

After Jacob's death, Joseph commanded the physicians to embalm his father. And it took them forty days to do so, after which, the Egyptians mourned him for seventy days. Then, Joseph went and asked for permission to go and bury his father in Canaan. This is because Jacob had made him swear that he would bury him in the burial place bought by Abraham. And Pharaoh granted him permission to go and return.

 

So, Joseph, his brothers, their families, servants of Pharaoh, and the elders of Egypt all went to the land of Canaan to bury Jacob. And when they got there, they mourned Jacob for seven days. So, Jacob's sons did for him just as he commanded them; for they buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah that Abraham bought for a burial place. And after they buried Jacob, Joseph and all who went with him returned to Egypt.

 

Joseph reassures his brothers

After their father's death, Joseph's brothers feared that Joseph will revenge for all the evils they did to him. So, they sent some people to Joseph to tell him that their father, Jacob, requested that he forgive his brothers for what they did to him. Then, later Joseph's brothers also came and bowed before him telling him that they were his servants. And Joseph told them not to be afraid, that what they meant for evil, God meant for good. This is because he was sent to save many people from dying. Then, he comforted them and assured them that he would provide for them. Read more...

 

 

 

 

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 12)

 

Jacob prophesies over his sons

Jacob called his children to gather so that he would tell them what will happen to them in the future. He started with his first son Reuben and ended with Benjamin. And he blessed each one according to his own blessing.

 

Summary of the blessings

• Reuben - He will not excel because he defiled his father's bed by sleeping with his concubine Bilhah.
• Simeon and Levi - They're to be scattered in the midst of Israel because their anger caused them to kill Shechem and the Schechemites
• Judah - He shall be great among his brothers and the scepter of royalty and the ruler's staff will not depart from him
• Zebulun - he will be a haven for ships.
• Issachar - he saw a resting place that was good and pleasant, and he bowed his shoulder to bear burdens. And he became a servant at forced labour.
• Dan - He shall be a serpent in the way that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward
• Gad - He shall raid at his enemies and assault them.
• Asher - He will have food in abundance.
• Naphtali - a swift warrior with beautiful words.
• Joseph - The blessings of his father up to the utmost bound of the everlasting hills shall be on his head.
• Benjamin - He is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey and at night he divides the spoil.

Jacob's Death and burial

Jacob told his sons that he would soon die and that they should bury him in the family burial place in Canaan, which Abraham bought from Ephron, the Hittite. Read more...

 

 

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 11)

 

Jacob tells of God's blessing on him

When Joseph heard that his father, Jacob, was sick he took his two sons to go and see him. And when he got there Jacob sat up to receive them. Then he told Joseph the blessing God gave him at Bethel, that He would multiply him greatly and give the land of Cannan to him and his descendants as their everlasting possession.

 

Joseph's sons to be Jacob's sons

Jacob told Joseph that his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, born to him before Jacob came to Egypt, would be numbered as Jacob's children. But other children he would have later will be his own. So, Manasseh and Ephraim will be on the same level as Reuben and Simeon, and they will receive their inheritance as they would.

 

Jacob blesses Manasseh and Ephraim

When Jacob saw Joseph's sons, he was happy to see them. And Jacob blessed God that he not only saw Joseph again but also saw his sons. Then he called on God according to how he knew Him to bless the boys. And he said

 

"...The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked [in faithful obedience], the God who has been my Shepherd [leading and caring for me] all my life to this day, the Angel [that is, the LORD Himself] who has redeemed me [continually] from all evil, bless the boys..."Genesis 48:15-16 (AMP). Read more...

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 10)

 

Jacob's Family stands before Pharaoh

Joseph took some of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. And he told him that they were shepherds and are presently in Goshen. Then Pharaoh asked the brothers what their occupation was, and they affirmed that they were shepherds from the time of their forefathers. Then, Pharaoh asked Joseph to put one of his brothers in charge of his own livestock. Also, Pharaoh asked Joseph to give his father and brothers the best land in Egypt, which happened to be Goshen. And Joseph did so.

 

Jacob stands before Pharaoh

Then Joseph brought his father before Pharaoh. And Pharaoh asked Jacob how old he was, and he said that the days of his pilgrimage were one hundred and thirty years, few and yet evil. Also, he told him that he hadn't attained the ages his fathers’ reached before dying. Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.

 

Joseph deals with the famine

The famine was too severe and got to the point that the people didn't have money again to pay for grains. So, they started buying food with their livestock. And when their livestock finished, the people asked Joseph to buy them and their land for food. So, Joseph bought them and all the land for Pharaoh, except the lands of the priests. And the people were okay with it because they said that Joseph had saved them, and they would be Pharaoh’s servants. Then, Joseph gave them seeds to plant and they were to give one-fifth to Pharaoh when they harvested the produce. So, four-fifth was theirs to do as they wished. Then Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt, that Pharaoh would have one-fifth of their harvests. This excluded the land of the priests, which did not become Pharaoh’s land. Read more...

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 9)

 

God visited Jacob as he journeyed to Egypt

As Jacob journeyed to Egypt, he stopped at Beersheba and offered sacrifice to God. Then, God visited him in the night and assured him that He was going with him into Egypt. Also, the Lord encouraged him not to be afraid of going to Egypt. Furthermore, He promised him that He would bring them up again from Egypt. And that Joseph was going to close his eyes in death.

Jacob's family who went to Egypt

Jacob went to Egypt with all his children, his children's children, both sons and daughters, and his son's wives. Also, he went with all his livestock and the goods he acquired in Cannan. They were sixty-six persons that came from Jacob's body and went from Cannan to Egypt. However, his son's wives were not included. Then Joseph, his two sons with Jacob made them seventy persons of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt.

Joseph meets his father

When Joseph heard that his father had reached Goshen, he went to meet him. And when he saw him, he wept for a while on his neck. Then, Jacob said to him that he should let him die now he had seen that he was still alive.

Joseph's brothers are to stay in Goshen

Joseph proposed to tell Pharaoh that his brothers and father's household were shepherds so that they would be allowed to stay in Goshen. This was because shepherds were abominations to the Egyptians, and they wouldn't want to live near them. Read more...

 

 

 

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 8)

 

 

Joseph revealed to his brothers

When Joseph couldn't control his emotions towards his brothers anyone, he asked others to leave the room. And when they did, he told his brothers that he was Joseph and that he was sent to Egypt by God to preserve their lives and posterity. Therefore, they shouldn't feel bad that they sold him to Egypt. This was because his brothers were dismayed by his presence. Furthermore, Joseph told his brothers to go and bring their father and families. Also, he told them that he would give them the best land in Egypt and cater for them. This he would do most especially because they still have five years of famine to come.

 

Pharaoh's generosity towards Joseph's brothers

When Pharaoh heard of the arrival of Joseph's brothers, he was pleased. And he asked them to go and bring their families, and that he would give them the choicest part of Egypt. In addition, he gave them carts to go and bring their families.

 

The brothers returned home

So, Joseph sent his brothers back to go and bring their families and all that belonged to them. Also, he gave them garments and provisions for their journey. However, he gave Benjamin, his brother money and more garments.

 

Jacob hears the good news

When Joseph's brothers got home, they told Jacob all that happened and that Joseph was governor over all of Egypt. However, Jacob initially didn't believe them, but when he saw all that Joseph sent to him he believed. As such, Jacob's spirit was revived and he was ready to go to Egypt to see his son Joseph again before his death. Read more...

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 7)

 

Joseph's cup

Joseph got his servant to fill up his brothers' bags with the grains, and put their money back into their sack. Also, the servant was to drop Joseph's cup in Benjamin's bag. And in the morning they let the brothers go home. However, after a while, Joseph sent his servant to chase after them and inquire about his cup.

The cup is found in Benjamin's sack

When Joseph's servant got to them and inquired about the cup, they denied having it. Then they asked him to check and that whoever has it will be killed and others become his slave. But the servant said that only the one with the cup will be his servant. And lo and behold, they found the cup in Benjamin's sack. Then the brothers tore their clothes, packed their donkeys, and returned to Egypt. And when they got to Joseph's house, Joseph told them to return to their father and that he will have Benjamin as his slave.

Judah intercedes for Benjamin

Judah explained to Joseph that Benjamin was the only surviving child of his mother and a child of their father's old age. And that they can't go back to their father without Benjamin. This was because their father would die if they ever returned without him. Furthermore, Judah pleaded that he himself be detained while Benjamin is released to go home.

 

Lessons

• One can never be too sure of anybody or anything, except God. Therefore, be careful how you vouch for anyone or anything. Joseph's brothers were too sure that they, sons of Jacob, can never steal. Unfortunately, they didn't consider the events that could have taken place before they carried their sacks. Read more...
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What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 6)

 

Jacob releases Benjamin to go to Egypt

When the food they bought earlier needed replacement, the issue of Benjamin going back to Egypt with his brothers arose again. Though Jacob still didn't want to release Benjamin, he had to do so for the good of the entire family. This is because the governor in Egypt made it clear, that they shouldn't come before him without their youngest brother. And the whole family would starve if they didn't go to buy food from Egypt. So, Judah promised to be responsible for Benjamin.

 

The brothers return to Egypt

When Joseph's brothers returned to Egypt, Joseph instructed his servants to take them to his house for dinner. The brothers reported to Joseph's servants that they'd found their monies in their sacs out of fear. This was because they didn't know why they were taken to the governor's house. But the servant told them that they received their money; so, they do not owe.

 

Joseph receives his siblings

When Joseph returned home, he saw his brothers and his heart longed for Benjamin, his mother's son. However, he didn't disclose his identity to them. Also, he made them sit according to their ages, which surprised them greatly. And he sent more food to his brother Benjamin. They drank and were merry with him.

 

Lessons

• Joseph was a man with a large heart and a forgiving spirit. These are very vital if you're to pursue peace with all men as God instructed. Joseph treated his brothers so well in spite of what they did to him. Surely, he walked in love towards them. Read more...

 

 

 

 

What To Learn From Joseph A Bible Character (Part 1)

 

 

Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, “God has taken away my reproach.” So she called his name Joseph, and said, “The LORD shall add to me another son.”

Genesis 30:22-24 NKJV

Birth of Joseph

Joseph was born to Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. His mother, Rachel, had him after many years of waiting. And she named him Joseph because she said that the Lord will add to her another son. This, God actually answered because Rachel had Benjamin, though she didn't live to raise them.

Lessons

There is power in names

Beloved of his father

Joseph was the beloved of his father. This was because he was born in his old age by his beloved wife. And Jacob showered him with much love which angered his elder brothers and made them hate Him. 

Lessons

Never show that you prefer one of your children over the others.

Joseph dreams of greatness.

Joseph told his family his dreams; how he dreamt of his parents and siblings bowing to him. This didn't go well with them. Unfortunately, it made his elder brothers hate him the more. Read more...