Genesis 50 - "Forgiveness Accomplished"
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Intro
Opening Statement - January 8th 2025, our first Weds church service, we started the book of Genesis together.
April 22nd 2026, we will finish the book of Genesis! It really ends on a high note, showing us that God is just as much at work in Genesis 50, teaching the world about forgiveness through Joseph, as He was in Genesis 1, Creating the Heavens & the Earth.
And God will be just as much at work all the way through Revelation 22...to the end of time.
He has never left us, nor forsaken us. (Heb 13:5)
Opening Illustration -
Gen 1-11 gave us the Creation account and the History of Mankind.
Gen 12-50 gave us the History of Israel.
And there are more chapters in Genesis dedicated to Joseph (14 chapters; Gen 37-50) then any other character.
Opening Background -
And Joseph was the first of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) to not have a supernatural encounter with God.
It won’t be until 400 years later with Moses, before man has another supernatural encounter with God.
Therefore, Joseph was an “ordinary” guy…in a really messed up situation.
He didn’t get a “leg up” on the rest of us by having some “super-spiritual” experience with God.
I would even say the opposite. Joseph was treated so incredibly terrible, that he should have all the PTSD, the depression, anxiety, and excuses to not ever trust ANYONE ever again? But the grand narrative here, is that if good can come from his crazy life...then good can come from your crazy life too.
The last lesson we get in Genesis, from the character with the most chapters dedicated to his life, is a classic story of forgiveness.
Since Genesis 3…there is no shortage of sin being dished out and hurting all those involved.
Josephs life took the brunt of a lot of sin from other people…and “he had every reason to hurt them back,” but did he?
No. He forgave and will continue to forgive them.
Where there is sin, there is a chance for forgiveness.
The closing chapter of Josephs life-story will end with… “Forgiveness Accomplished!”
Somebody else’s life-story ends with “Forgiveness Accomplished.” (Tetelestai - It is finished)
That’s Jesus.
Relevance to CCB - Grace and forgiveness are the hallmarks of Christianity. Do you have them? I hope that’s semi-uncomfortable for you...as it is with me, because as graceful as you may be, we can ALL grow in grace.
Are you naturally inclined to give grace, to forgive?
No?
Neither was Joseph, but he did. So let’s read how.
Message -
Let’s Pray
Read along (vv. 1 - 14) Death and Burial of Jacob
(v. 1) Then Joseph fell on his fathers face and wept over him, and kissed him. Very dramatic scene with Jacob's death (Gen 49:33) as the last of the three patriarch's dies (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).
Lot’s of emotions (as expected), even though they believed in the afterlife.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
“The former things have passed away.” Including tears, death, sorrow, and crying.
By Jesus’ resurrection, we know that He conquered death itself.
Because of this, we don’t have to fear death, but rather knowing that glory waits for us on the other side.
So the believer can say, “Death, where is your sting?” (1 Cor 15:55)
But, regardless of our afterlife “theology,” we’re still human beings and we have perfectly appropriate emotional reactions, when a loved one dies.
It’s okay to have sorrow and grief. Get it out...it’s healthy. Joseph did.
Joseph wept seven times in Genesis.
But even long-after, you’ll still have some sorrow...that’s okay.
I always say, “you wouldn’t miss somebody if you didn’t love them in the first place.”
You should be more concerned, about “what if they don’t miss you?!?!”
And at the same time, we still have work to do. We gotta move on.
(vv. 2-3) Joseph commanded his physicians to embalm his father. His body is treated with dignity.
Took 40 days to embalm his father. Egypt was big on preserving remains. (ref. Mummy’s and Pyramids)
Joseph's own physicians did this. NOT the Egyptian priests, who would typically do this. “You ain’t touching my father with that black-magic voodoo…”
(v. 3) the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. 72 days for full royalty and Jacob got 70.
Jacob became a respected figurehead amongst Egypt as well for the 17 years he lived there.
(vv. 4-6) Joseph asked Pharoah if he could bury his father as he had promised. Joseph respected the Pharaoh and especially respected his fathers wishes to be buried in Canaan.
(v. 5) In the same cave as Abraham, Isaac, and their wives.
Israel didn’t want to “rise again” from Egypt...from some “pointy pyramid.”
“Take me to my home. With my fathers.”
(v. 6) This would have been a great time to migrate back to Canaan. Especially since the 7-year famine would have been long past (at least 10 years). But:
Israel had become a key part of Egypt's economy.
Joseph had become a key part of Egypt's government.
(vv. 7-8) Only the leaders/elders went up...leaving the young/women home to tend the homestead.
(v. 9) This would have been a large caravan still...and very long funeral procession.
What stands out to me is how "matter of fact" this "Short" trip seems to take...when compared to Moses' 40 year trip.
A direct route took 2 weeks, more or less.
(v. 10-11) They stopped in Atad on the east of the Jordan and mourned there (an Egyptian style deep mourning) that left an indelible mark on the surrounding Canaanites.
Suggest Canaanites have continued to inhabit the promised land.
(v. 14) They all returned. Probably knowing that they would be there a while until God told them to return.
Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions.
It hasn’t been 400 years yet. Only 17.
God had more work to do with Israel in Egypt.
God’s work won’t be a “cake-walk,” but actually the opposite.
They need to go from being respected and appreciated by the Egyptians to being their slaves.
God’s opportunities will come through the form of trials.
But it’s all good!
Read along (vv. 15 - 21) Forgiveness Accomplished
(v. 15) Now that their father is dead…they thought, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us…and repay us for the evil which we did to him. Insinuating that Joseph’s previous forgiveness to them was all a show. (Ouch)
(v. 16) Our father said you need to forgive us...really? Jacob would not have said that.
That puts Joseph on the same level as Esau who
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
Joseph IS NO Esau.
What this REALLY shows, is that after ALL THIS time, decades, that His brothers, still DISTRUSTED Joseph; probably because they still suffered the lingering effects of a guilty conscious.
Joseph’s reaction? Joseph wept. For the seventh time.
Because his brothers doubted his sincerity and faith in God after all this time.
What hurts more than someone doubting your motives?
When someone questions your character?
Remember Joseph has been “over” all this for a while…
17 Years Earlier…
But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Without reading Rom 8:28, Joseph knew it.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
And Joseph knew that if He would have taken his own retribution, which he could have easily done it as #2 most powerful man in the world, it would have been out of distrust that God will “take care of it.
"Even if Joseph had still harbored a personal resentment against his brothers, he would have feared to take vengeance. God had so clearly used their deed to accomplish His own good purpose to preserve life through the famine that Joseph knew it would be bold presumption on his part were he now to punish them for that same deed.” (Morris)
God had CLEARLY done such an amazing and miraculous work USING the evil done to Joseph, that the LAST thing Joseph should do is to ruin God’s good work.
“I know you forgave them...but let me just punch ‘em right in the face one good time...”
That’s how we often feel.
But to follow our feelings above the Truth (of God’s Word) will get us in trouble.
Instead, Joseph saw how God will turn “Graves into Gardens.”
Joseph understood and abided by “vengeance is mine says the Lord.” (Rom 12:19)
(v. 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. Highlight, Underline, Memorize!!!
Joseph calls out their evil. You meant evil against me
He doesn’t water down his offenders sin. Call a spade a spade.
But God meant it for good
Only God CAN turn evil into good.
Joseph’s example is perhaps the most vivid example of true forgiveness in the Bible (besides Christ).
If anyone ever had a reason NOT to forgive, it would be Joseph.
Next time you feel justified in your unforgiveness...replay Joseph’s injustice through your head...and cap it off with Gen 50:20
Then try to justify unforgiveness.
You can’t.
Joseph didn’t withhold forgiveness. He let the Lord work it out.
And NO bitterness grew in him.
Heb 12:14 - Pursue peace...
lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
If you don’t forgive. Then the unforgiveness will take you for an ugly ride that you WILL one day regret (because God doesn’t lie).
Hopefully you don’t wait years, decades, or until the end of your life before you figure that out.
You CAN be free NOW!!
Joseph was free…
(v. 19) For am I in the place of God? - Despite rising to the top of the food chain...Joseph never allowed his pride to take the place of his faith.
Joseph, though the victim, became free from it, by forgiving his brothers.
Oddly enough his brothers, the offenders, we’re entangled by it, by not accepting Josephs forgiveness.
(v. 21) Again...Prime Minister Joseph's kind and patient response was total graciousness… do not be afraid, I will provide for you and your little ones. And he comforted them and spoke to kindly to them.
This type of graciousness is only possible with God! You can’t “conjure” this up.
And no secular psychologist would tell you to study and apply Gen 50 to your situation as a treatment plan.
Forgiveness is is the hallmark of a Christian.
Forgiveness has more power then the sin itself.
Try it.
Read along (vv. 22 - 26) Joseph, Out.
(v. 22) Joseph died at 110, significantly less than his forefathers (Abe 175, Isaac 180, Jacob 147).
He had the sweet experience of being able to see his children to the third generation
And God is still multiplying His people as expected.
Joseph's bones will stay in Egypt for 400 years.
(v. 26) Joseph dies. After completing the work that God gave him.
His life will be remembered as (one of) the greatest “pictures of forgiveness.”
Not being #2 in Egypt. Not being rich, or famous.
But for forgiving.
Joseph, Out. - Another, 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Closing -
The Bible started out telling us that humans are “image bearers” of God. An image is a reflection of the real thing. The reflection IS not the real thing.
Joseph showed us a beautiful picture of what forgiveness should look like.
From a man who didn’t have a leg up…just an ordinary guy who had faith in an extra-ordinary God.
Through that faith, God showcased His grace down onto Joseph, and after experiencing the goodness of God’s grace, Joseph spread it to his brothers who once hated him and tried to kill him.
But since Joseph is JUST a picture of what forgiveness looks like…that insinuates it’s only a reflection of the real thing.
And if Joseph is just an image bearer…who is the real deal? God of course. The Triune God, who said,
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And the Son was NOT a reflection or picture of forgiveness…Jesus Christ was forgiveness ITSELF.
Jesus went to the cross to forgive the sins of the whole world,
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Had it not been for Jesus’ actions, we would not/could not be forgiven.
We would have been damned to hell for eternity. Rightly so.
What are the implications of Jesus’ actions on the cross?
SO THAT…we could accept that forgiveness...which He cashed in His physical life, so that we would have that opportunity.
And once you are forgiven. Forgive those who hurt you!!
Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
Jesus demonstrated this, by saying, Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” As they crucified them.
Do you feel like someone “crucified you?” We all feel that way sometimes.
But more powerful than sin itself is forgiveness. (Rom 5:20)
This doesn’t minimize or excuse that persons sinful actions who hurt you.
We would be no where without forgiveness.
You can’t grow into the person that God wants you to be unless you forgive first.
If you’re holding onto unforgiveness...I urge you to follow Joseph’s example and forgive that person who wronged you, that you would be set free.
Let’s Pray
