PART 13 – JACOB’S BURIAL AND JOSEPH’S CONTINUING TESTIMONY
Series: JOSEPH – FROM THE PIT TO THE PALACE (15‑Part Bible Study)
Main Scripture: Genesis 50:1‑21
Supporting Scriptures: Romans 12:19‑21; Genesis 50:20; Ephesians 4:31‑32; Hebrews 13:5‑6
📌 Opening Background
Jacob had passed away after blessing his twelve sons. Joseph and his brothers were deeply grieved. Joseph honoured his father’s final wish to be buried back in Canaan, the promised land, at Machpelah, the family burial ground. A huge funeral procession travelled from Egypt to Canaan for Jacob’s burial. After they returned to Egypt, the brothers were gripped with fear. They worried that now their father was gone, Joseph would finally take revenge for selling him into slavery. They sent a message begging Joseph for mercy. Joseph wept and reassured them of his complete forgiveness, once again reminding them that what they meant for evil God had turned for good. This study teaches us that true forgiveness lasts beyond the people who once mediated peace between us. Joseph’s healed heart was on full display, even after Jacob was no longer there to keep the family together.
📝 Verse‑by‑Verse Breakdown
Genesis 50:1‑3 – Joseph mourns for his father Jacob
“And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father Israel: and the physicians embalmed Israel. And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.”
Joseph’s grief was raw and genuine. He had been reunited with his father for seventeen precious years, and now Jacob was gone. Even the Egyptians mourned with Joseph, showing how highly respected Joseph was in the land. Joseph’s first priority was to honour his father’s dying instruction to bury Jacob in Canaan. Honouring your parents does not end when they pass away; it includes keeping the promises you made to them and respecting their final wishes.
Genesis 50:4‑14 – The journey to Canaan for Jacob’s burial
“And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear… And the sons of Jacob’s sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah… And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.”
Joseph asked Pharaoh for permission to travel to Canaan. He gave his word he would return to Egypt to continue his assignment. The massive funeral procession was a powerful public testimony of the covenant promise God had given Abraham, Isaac and Jacob concerning the land of Canaan. Jacob’s body was laid to rest in the promised land, a prophetic sign that one day the whole nation of Israel would return there to dwell. Joseph kept his promise and travelled back to Egypt. He still had work to do for God in Egypt. Your season of mourning must not stop you from fulfilling the assignment God has placed on your life.
Genesis 50:15‑17 – The brothers’ fear after Jacob’s death
“And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.”
The brothers’ fear revealed they still carried guilt for what they had done to Joseph. They thought Joseph’s forgiveness was only for Jacob’s sake. They believed once their father was gone, Joseph’s mercy would disappear. Joseph wept when he heard their message. He was sad they still doubted his love and forgiveness for them. True forgiveness is permanent. It does not expire when the mediator is no longer present. Joseph’s mercy came from his relationship with God, not just out of respect for his father.
Genesis 50:18‑21 – Joseph’s final words of comfort and reassurance to his brothers
“And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.”
This is the most famous verse from Joseph’s story. “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” Joseph told them clearly he was not God; he would not take vengeance into his own hands. He reminded them his purpose was to nourish, provide for, and protect them and their children. He comforted them and spoke gentle, kind words to them. Joseph’s heart was completely healed. There was no hidden bitterness waiting to surface once Jacob was gone. This is the mature, finished work of God in a believer’s life.
💡 Key Biblical Lessons
Lesson #1: Honour the final wishes of those God has placed over your life
Joseph kept Jacob’s dying request to bury him in Canaan. Honour extends beyond the lifetime of your loved ones.
Lesson #2: Grief is natural, but do not let grief stop your divine assignment
Joseph mourned deeply, but he returned to Egypt to continue the work God had given him. Give yourself time to grieve, but remember you still have a purpose to fulfil.
Lesson #3: True forgiveness is permanent and does not depend on someone else watching over the relationship
Joseph’s forgiveness was genuine, not a performance for Jacob. If you have truly forgiven someone, your mercy will remain even when there is no one there to make you be kind.
Lesson #4: Leave vengeance to God alone
Joseph said “Am I in the place of God?” Vengeance belongs only to the Lord. It is not your job to punish the people who hurt you.
Lesson #5: Keep declaring the truth: God turns every evil action for your good
Joseph repeated the truth to his brothers. Speak the same promise over your own life: what people meant for evil against me, God is turning it for my good.
🙋 Reflection & Group Discussion Questions
1. Have I fully grieved the losses in my life, or am I rushing to pretend I am fine? Am I still fulfilling my God‑given purpose through my grief?
2. Is my forgiveness genuine, or am I only being kind when someone else is watching me?
3. Am I tempted to take matters into my own hands and get revenge for the wrongs done to me? Am I leaving justice to God?
4. Do I need to speak words of comfort and reassurance to someone who is afraid of me, just like Joseph comforted his brothers?
5. What evil thing done against me am I believing God will turn around for my good?
🤲 Closing Prayer for Part 13
Heavenly Father, help me to grieve well without abandoning my divine assignment. Seal genuine, permanent forgiveness deep inside my heart. I release every desire for revenge and leave all judgement in Your hands. Remind me daily that You are working every hurt and every betrayal for my good. Give me a Joseph‑like heart to speak comfort and kindness to those who have wronged me. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
