Today, we conclude this series of blogs on God’s promises in the book of Genesis. We began in the Garden of Eden on October 17, 2024, exactly nine months ago today, and we conclude in the land of Egypt, where a great biblical hero, Joseph, is about to pass away.
More coverage is given to Joseph in Genesis than to any other person, and for good reason. In my opinion, he is the most honorable of all the personalities covered in the book. We have seen him mature in his trust in God to work for good through the mistreatment of others and the difficult circumstances they put him in. We have seen him choose to try to reconcile with his brothers rather than exact revenge when he had the power to do so. https://www.cosdavis.com/revenge-or-reconciliation/
Today, we can learn from Joseph something that each of us needs to consider: how to live an honorable life. Each of us has a “finish line.” I realize my time to live is quickly coming to an end; I may have only today, or I may have ten to fifteen years, but my finish line is getting closer every day. No matter our age, we are not guaranteed another day. That is a sobering thought, one that should cause us to consider how we can finish well. To finish well, we must learn how to live an honorable life.
What does the word “honor” mean when used in the Bible? The Hebrew term for it is translated as “heavy” or “weighty,” meaning to give great respect or importance to the person or object being honored. Do you want to live an honorable life? If so, you must honor the persons and things the Bible tells you to honor.
What can we learn about living an honorable life and finishing well as we survey the final chapter of Genesis? As Genesis chapter 50 opens, Joseph, his brothers, and a large contingent of Egyptian dignitaries have taken Jacob’s body back for burial with his beloved Rachel in the field at Machpelah, which Abraham purchased many years ago.
What did Joseph honor?
Joseph honored his father.
Joseph had a deep respect for his father. I see something in Joseph that is likely true of most people who finish well. They respect and honor their parents. Joseph demonstrated how to honor his father before the commandment came through Moses, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12. The best way to honor our parents is to live an honorable life.
Although Joseph was “in a place of authority” over his father in Egypt, he submitted himself to his father concerning how Jacob would “bless” Ephraim and Manasseh and how and where he wanted to be buried. Joseph was a successful and powerful man, but he remained humble enough to have patience with and show deference to his elderly father.
Genesis 50:1-14 reveals the honorable way Joseph dealt with Jacob’s death. Joseph had Jacob’s body embalmed, a process that took 40 days. After 70 days of mourning for Jacob, his body was taken away for burial. When the party reached the burial site, Joseph observed seven more days of mourning for his father. This was no quick, “let’s get this over with” kind of situation for Joseph. Altogether, this process of burying Jacob likely took close to four months!
Is there something we can learn from Joseph about honoring our parents and how we need to take time to grieve when we lose a loved one? He honored his father in his life and in his death.
Joseph honored his God.
Joseph’s life was a picture of consistency. From all we see in Scripture, he never wavered in his deep reliance on God. Surely, he had difficult and confusing times when he didn’t understand what was happening to him, but he never forgot who God was. He learned to work under the authority of others, trusting God to work things out for him. He endured horrible mistreatment but never turned against the Lord. God was his ultimate authority.
Joseph knew who he was; his trust in God during hard times formed him into a stable and competent man. He was a man of confident, godly character. All this is true because he knew he belonged to God. From an early age, he was aware that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had his hand on him.
His immaturity and lack of understanding as a youth, in the way he handled his dreams, didn’t sit well with his father and brothers, but he allowed God to use what followed to purge any pride and self-importance from his mind. He quickly learned that his giftedness was not something he had earned or deserved, but a blessing from God.
Joseph knew he was not God and was quick to point that out. When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, he told them, “Do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.” Genesis 45:5 . Joseph sent his brothers home with this message to their father, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.” Genesis 45:9. It was about God, not Joseph.
The way he dealt with his brothers provides an important lesson about how to live and finish well. Genesis 50:15-17 tells us the brothers feared that, since Jacob was dead, nothing would prevent Joseph from getting revenge for how they had treated him. So, they concoct a lie and send a message to Joseph saying that their deceased father’s last wish was that he would forgive the wrongs they had done to him. How did Joseph react to this message? “When their message came to him, Joseph wept.” Genesis 50:17.
Look what he said when they prostrated themselves before him, wanting to become his servants, “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. So then, don’t be afraid, I will provide for you and your children.” Genesis 50:19-21. He was kind and honest with them, an honorable brother who knew his place. I understand him to be saying, ” I have forgiven you and will do everything I can to help you. I am not in the place of God to judge or punish you for what you did; I will leave that for God to do as He wishes. However, God has used what you did to accomplish something good. ”
The final verses of Genesis tell of Joseph’s death at the age of one hundred and ten years. As you read those verses, you will see that he died as he had lived, an honorable man.
How will those who know you best remember you? To what persons and things do you need to give “honor?” Are there specific actions you can take to show honor to your spouse, children, friends, and elderly relatives?