The Legacy of Joseph

Introduction: What legacies have been passed down to you from your parents, grandparents and beyond? For some of you that legacy was and is something to be overcome while others like myself that legacy is something to be rejoiced in and learned from. Some people are handed down a legacy of abuse, anger and heartache while others are handed down a legacy of love, nurture and guidance. This is something you cannot control. You had no choice that family that you were born into. In a strange way Joseph represents both sides of this coin. In part the legacy handed down to him from his family was one of favoritism, jealousy and deception. On the other hand a piece of the legacy handed down to him was one of trust in God, a special relationship with God and clear examples of God’s providence. To say the least Joseph understood what it meant to have a complicated family legacy.

Unfortunately, for this entire introduction we have been asking the wrong question. The more important question is not what legacy have we been given, but what legacy are we leaving behind. We have no control over the former, but the latter is in our hands. Thus the main question of our text this morning is not what legacy Joseph was given, but rather what legacy did he leave behind?

The truth is that legacies come in many parts and pieces that only form the whole when we who are looking back on history put them together. Using Genesis 50 lets put the pieces of Joseph’s legacy together.

Joseph Buries His Father

The first piece of Joseph’s legacy is revealed in the way Joseph treated his father.

Grief Revealed (v. 1-3, 11)

Joseph’s grief is clearly genuine. He loved his father dearly.

How easy would it have been for Joseph to blame his father for how his brothers treated him? All too easy...

What Jacob did in playing favorites was clearly wrong, but the brothers are responsible for their actions not Jacob.

Our society wants to play this game all the time. “The reason crime is so high in that area is because of poverty.”

There are a lot of poor people that are not criminals. Our culture does not want to face the facts that the reason crime is so high in certain areas not because of poverty but because of absent fathers and broken homes.

The truth is that Jacob needed to come to terms with his part in his families dysfunction and the brothers needed to take responsibility for their actions as well.

The main point of this text however is that Joseph loved them anyway.

Guarantee Resolved (v. 5-10, 12-14)

Joseph’s love for his father is also revealed when the promise Joseph made to Jacob is kept.

Genesis 47:27-31 “So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.”

Joseph was a man who loved his family.

This is certainly a great legacy to have.

It is one that we should all strive for.

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

The second piece of Josephs legacy is seen in the way that Joseph summarizes his suffering.

Fear Resurfaced (v. 15-18)

The voice of fear resurfaces in the brothers.

It may have started with just one

Fear is contagious and it soon spread to the rest of them as well.

What will Joseph do to us now that dad is gone? This fear leads them to present Joseph with a statement that we don’t even know if its true. “Dad said to be nice to us!”

Remember that this is 17 years after Joseph had revealed himself to his brothers.

How often do you think that voice of fear resurfaced in those 17 years?

Some of you have a similar voice of fear that rears its ugly head from time to time.

When that voice of fear resurfaces I want you to ask yourself a question. “What do I know to be true about the grace of God?, are my sins somehow greater than the grace of God?”

Forgiveness Reassured (v. 19-21)

“Do not be afraid am I in the place of God?”

For me to exact revenge now would be putting myself in God’s place.

A fact that God solidifies when He says “vengeance is mine” in Deuteronomy and repeated in Romans.

From Joseph’s perspective his suffering had a purpose as a part of God’s plan.

He was able to forgive his brothers precisely because he trusted in that plan.

Joseph was a man who trusted in God’s plan.

Is this something that will be said of you when you are gone?

Trusting God as a imperfect people is a tricky thing. Because the truth is life is so much easier when we trust God, but yet we find trusting God a hard thing to do.

Joseph Secures His Legacy

The third piece of Joseph’s legacy is seen in what he passes on to the next generation.

Grandchildren Raised (v. 22, 23)

Guarantee Renewed (v. 24-25)

Not the guarantee that Joseph made to Jacob, but that God made to Abraham.

Joseph wanted to pass on to his children and grandchildren that same trust in God’s plan.

God will bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Joseph was a man who believed in God’s promises.

Is this something that will be said of you when you are gone?

Do you believe that God is going to do what He has said He will do?

Joseph believed that his family would one day again live in the land of promise simply because God said they would.

Do you believe that Jesus is coming back? Because He said He would.

Joseph’s legacy is that his life will forever serve as an example of providence.

Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

When we look at Joseph’s life we rightly say, “look what God did.”

When you tell your story to your kids and grand-kids do you frame it that way?

Son, let me tell you about what God has done in my life.

Your story, your legacy can be one of providence as well.