The book of Genesis began with creation and blessing, but it ends in Egypt, with coffins and waiting. This is the end of the book of beginnings. As scripture unfolds from here we will see how God will use this beginning to bring about the promises he makes here at the beginning. That Israel will become a great nation, that they will be given a land, and that all the world will be blessed through them. But before we can get to the middle, we need to finish the start.

Genesis 50:22–26 (ESV)

So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own.

Joseph’s life is long and fruitful. He lives to see his grandchildren and even great-grandchildren. It is really a picture of blessing, of God’s kindness after so much difficulty and after all the trials he went through. Once he was sold as a slave boy, but now he is surrounded by his children and his children’s children. God had restored him and saved him. But we should be careful. Just because this has happened to Joseph, does not mean God will do this like this for us. Joseph had a pivotal role to play in God’s redemption story, and we don’t. But at the same time, no matter how big our part is in God’s story, he will ultimately restore all believers when we are raised on the final day.

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

There is something beautiful about these last words. Joseph talks just like Jacob before him did. Even in his last words, Joseph points beyond himself. He doesn’t place his hope in Egypt, or in all the power and wealth he gained in Egypt. He points to God’s covenant promises. “God will visit you. God will bring you up.” Joseph, like Jacob, knows that Egypt is not their final home. He fixes his eyes on God’s faithfulness. This is the same faith that carried Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”

Just like Jacob before him, Joseph makes his family swear to carry his bones back to the promised land. He wants even his remains to testify: God’s promises are true. One day, Israel will leave Egypt. One day, God will bring them home. And Joseph’s bones will go with them. This promise would not happen until 400 years later, when Egypt had forgotten about God. But Israel remembered, and so when Israel finally walked out of Egypt, they carried him out in a coffin. Sometimes we have to wait a long time, maybe even the length of many human lives, before our faith in God’s promises come to fruition.

So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis ends with a coffin. But it is an odd coffin of hope. Because as the book of beginnings comes to an end, the bigger story is unfinished. The coffin in Egypt points forward to Exodus, when God will raise up a deliverer and bring His people out. It also points beyond Exodus, to Jesus who is the greater Joseph. He is the one who died and was placed in a tomb, but who rose to bring His people into the true promised land.

PrayerFather, thank You that even at the close of Genesis, when coffins fill the land, Your promises still stand. Teach us to live and die like Joseph, trusting that You will visit us and bring us home. Thank You that in Jesus, death is not the end but the doorway to resurrection life. Keep us waiting with hope until the day Christ returns. In His name, Amen.

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Sometimes fear has a way of sneaking back in, even after years have passed. In this passage we see Joseph’s brothers, who have lived under his kindness for a long time start fearing for their future. It seems as if once Jacob their father died, they start thinking that Joseph will now take revenge on them. The protection of their father’s presence is removed, and so they feel their old guilt resurfacing. Would Joseph finally pay them back for what they had done? Let’s have a look.

Genesis 50:15–21 (ESV)

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

These brothers are haunted by their sin. Even after years of Joseph’s kindness, they still expect revenge. Guilt can be like that. It lingers. It reminds you time and again, payback is just around the corner. Sin really is it’s own reward… So these brothers again take things into their own hands. It seems to me that they make up Jacob’s dying words, or at least we have no record of Jacob saying what they say he said. And so they send a message on behalf of their father, to plead for forgiveness.

In response Joseph weeps. Why? Maybe because they don’t understand how forgiveness works. When sin is wiped out, it is gone for good. Maybe he had forgiven them, but he sees that they haven’t forgiven themselves…

His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

This is the gospel. This is actually what the whole book of Genesis has primarily been about. God created the world good, but Satan infiltrated, tempted Adam and Eve and the fall of sin happened. Eventually what Satan had meant for evil, will ultimately result in good. With Jesus glorified through his death and resurrection. Here we see the mini-version of that same story. “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” Their sin was real. Their betrayal was evil. But God was at work through it all. It is through this broken family, that he saved many many lives from a terrible famine. It is from this family that he will ultimately save many many lives from sin.

And this points us straight to Christ. On the cross, humanity did its worst. We meant it for evil. But God meant it for good.

The invitation is to stop living like Joseph’s brothers, afraid that God is still holding something against us. If we are in Christ, forgiveness has already been given. The debt has already been paid. We don’t need to grovel, we can boldly approach the throne. The war is won. Rejoice.

PrayerFather, we confess that guilt often clings to us, even after we know Your forgiveness. Help us to believe the good news—that in Christ, what was meant for evil You have turned for good. Thank You that He not only forgives us but provides for us, comforts us, and speaks kindly to us. Teach us to rest in His mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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