# 14 2024 Dev. Ge. 49:20. God’s Intention! Read all of chapter fifty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Ge. 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Chapter 50 Is about Jacob’s burial and Joseph’s death. It is the end of Genesis, the first book of Scripture but also the first chapter of God’s redemptive plan for the whole world: “All the families of the earth will be blessed through you” Abraham! Further, Joseph’s singular success, by God’s grace, prefigures Jesus’ success as the singular Savior of the world. “By no other name are we saved!”
Vs.1-6 Jacob dies and Joseph has him embalmed. “And the Egyptians mourned for him for seventy days.” After the mourning period Joseph asks Pharaoh for permission to bury his father in the land of Canaan.
Vs.7-14 “So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him – the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt – besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household.” They continue to mourn on the way, stopping for seven days of mourning at the Jordan. It was a very large company of mourners, bringing to mind God’s promise to Abraham, “I will make you great, a great nation, a precursor of Israel’s return to Canaan four hundred years in the future.
Vs,15-21 Joseph’s brothers despaired after the death of Jacob that Joseph would seek revenge for how he was treated. The brothers really did not acknowledge their role in Joseph’s service as a slave in Egypt much less ask for forgiveness. The only ones concerned at the time at Dothan was Ruben and Judah. Even in this attempt to repent they put the request for forgiveness on Jacob. In the end they had to approach Joseph, “His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said’”. No apology included.
“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’” Joseph contrasts his brothers’ intention to God’s intention. They intended evil but God intended it for good, only God brings good out of evil, praise the Lord. This statement is the commentary on all of Genesis, Satan intended evil but God brings good. This tension is still going on today, therefore recognize and acknowledge God’s good in your life, in the lives of the people around you and in God’s creation in this world. Praise be to Him!
Vs.22-26 “Jacob’s family stayed in Egypt.” Joseph saw his offspring to the third generation. “Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” The promise of the land is also for us, the promise mirrors the New Heaven and the New Earth. Praise be to God!
© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.
Heavenhigh 