Genesis 49 & 50: Are You In God’s Place?
Verse of the Day: (50:19) And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
1. Progenitors (49:1-33)
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. (49:26)
The last words of a man are usually the best words. Jacob’s last words to his twelve sons were God’s prophecies. Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, was mighty but unstable. Simeon and Levi were unrighteous and their descendants shall be scattered in Israel. Judah, the lion’s whelp, shall be the progenitor of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. Zebulun and Issachar were the diligent silent majority. Dan shall be a judge as well as a rebel. Gad and his descendants shall be warriors of Israel. Asher and his descendants shall enjoy prosperity. Naphtali and his descendants shall also enjoy prosperity. Joseph and his descendants shall be richly and greatly blessed. Finally, Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest son, and his descendants shall also be warriors of Israel. Though Jacob’s twelve sons were far from perfect and reaped the consequences of their sins, yet God eventually blessed them. Indeed, it is never the good of man, but the grace of God upon man! (Ephesians 2:8-10).
2. Pharaoh (50:1-13)
And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. (50:6)
Pharaoh acceded to all of Joseph’s requests as Joseph was truly the saviour of his kingdom and even the world. Pharaoh agreed to Joseph to have Jacob’s body be carried to Canaan to be buried with his forefathers. It meant a lot for Jacob to be buried with his forefathers as this was God’s promise to Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, that in him shall the people of Israel be fruitful and multiplied throughout the world. Indeed, today, Israel is one of the most successful country of the world, but let us pray that the people of Israel shall truly come to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 3:16).
3. Place (50:14-26)
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (50:20)
Joseph forgave his brothers for the evil they did to him, as he realised that God meant it for good because he eventually became the saviour of the world. Joseph knew that he would never be in God’s place to judge his brothers, as it was God who was with him all the time. Joseph just submitted to God’s leadership even though he was mistreated and wrongly accused by his brothers. Let us therefore submit to God’s leadership even though we may not fully understand why we are mistreated and wrongly accused! (Romans 8:28).
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to fully submit to You that I can never be in Your place.
