Page 35 - Pentateuch

The final chapter of Genesis ties up loose ends. Joseph is permitted to return to Canaan to bury his father.
His brothers speculate about their future with Joseph now that Jacob is dead. They bow down to him as
slaves, fulfilling the dream of Joseph, the teenager. He reassures them and promises to treat them with
grace. In the last scene, Joseph is dying at 110 years of age. He reminds his brothers of God’s promise to
settle them in Canaan and asks them to bury him back home (chapter 50).

The writing in Genesis is complicated and detailed when we do not expect it. Yet one theme with two
threads dominates the life of Joseph from beginning to end. God is sovereign. He can take the greatest evil
that happens to a person and use it for good. He can also take the greatest evil, and out of it brings the
Messiah. His purposes of blessing do not depend on the goodness of a person or of mankind altogether. For
that, we are deeply and eternally thankful.

The life of Joseph resonates with the message of Genesis. Mankind has sinned from the very beginning and
can do nothing to save itself. People pass on to their children a deeply evil heart. Generation after
generation deserves destruction at God’s hand, only to be spared a succession of floods due to God’s
patience. From the beginning of all the sin, YHWH promises a Savior. Moses allows us to watch how God
keeps his promise through the lives of three men, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph.

We are encouraged. We who know this Savior are still sinners ourselves. We wonder at times how God can
use us. We wonder if he is interested. We wonder if he is bigger than the evils that threaten us. We wonder
if the gospel spoken by our mouths or lived at least partially in our daily walk can make a difference for
others. To this, Moses would reply, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

Let’s Practice…

1. What does the name “Jacob” mean?

2. What two possessions does Jacob “steal” from his brother?

3. Give three examples of the magic that God uses for his own purposes.

4. With whom does Jacob wrestle to obtain God’s help before meeting Esau?

5. What is the name of the most important descendant of Judah and Tamar?

6. Joseph was accused of __________________________by Potiphar’s wife.

7. How did Joseph get out of prison and work for the king?

8. ___________________________volunteered to take Benjamin’s place as a slave.

9. What prophecy of the Messiah is given by Jacob about a future descendant of Judah?

10. What is the summary of the life of Joseph?
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