Genesis 50 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Genesis 50

WHEN:

• Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years (47:28), until his death in 1689 B.C.

• Joseph died at 110 years old, approximately 1635 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Jacob (Israel) – The grandson of Abraham, the son of Isaac, and the father of Joseph and his 11 brothers. God changed his name to Israel.

• Joseph – The son of Rachel and Jacob. He became a ruler in Egypt after his brothers sold him into slavery when he was 17.  

• Joseph’s 11 Brothers – Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin

WHERE:

• Jacob and Joseph died in Egypt.

• Jacob was buried in Canaan in the cave of Machpelah with Abraham and Isaac.

OUTLINE:

• JACOB’S BURIAL (50:1-13):

  • After Jacob’s death, Joseph commanded the physicians to embalm his father.

  • The embalming process took 40 days and the Egyptians wept for Jacob for 70 days.

  • After the 70 days, Joseph fulfilled his oath to his father (47:29-31) and took his body back to Canaan for burial.

  • He was accompanied by the elders of Egypt, the servants of Pharaoh, chariots, horsemen, and all the adults of his father’s household.

  • When they reached a threshing floor at Atad, they lamented for Jacob 7 days.

  • Jacob was buried in the cave of Machpelah, the cave Abraham purchased from the Hittites to bury Sarah (Genesis 23).

• JOSEPH’S BROTHERS FEAR HIS REVENGE (50:14-21):

  • After Jacob’s burial, the large company of people returned to Egypt.

  • Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers feared he was going to get his revenge on them for selling him into slavery when he was a teenager.

  • They sent a message to their brother asking him to forgive them.

  • Joseph reassured them they had no reason to fear him. He told them God had used their evil actions to bring about good for their family and those suffering from the 7-year famine.

  • Joseph comforted their anxieties and spoke kindly to them.

• THE FINAL YEARS OF JOSEPH’S LIFE (50:22-26):

  • Joseph lived out the rest of his years in Egypt.

  • He lived to see his great-great-grandchildren through his son Ephraim.

  • Joseph prophesied God would lead his people back to the land of Canaan one day and asked for his bones to be taken with them and buried in Canaan when that day came.

  • Joseph died at 110 years old, was embalmed, and his body was put in a coffin in Egypt.

APPLICATION:

• Joseph never forgot his true home despite his prosperity in Egypt.

• It probably would have been easy for Joseph to say, “God has been good to us here in Egypt, there is no reason to go back to Canaan where our ancestors were shepherds and nomads.”

• Prosperity’s pull wasn’t powerful enough of a force to cause him to believe Egypt was a better home than the one God promised his descendants.

• Unfortunately, many people today are distracted from God’s promises by wealth or the pursuit of wealth.

• After accumulating a little money and comfort, they forget about the better home God has promised us (Heaven). They are content to make their home in Egypt.

• Let’s keep our hope fixed on a better country and a better home than the one this world offers.