(Genesis) Genesis 50:21-26 — J. Vernon McGee

Joseph Comforts His Brothers in Egypt

Listen to him, "'Now therefore,' he says, "'fear ye not, I'll nourish you and your little ones.'. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's house.

Joseph's Descendants in Egypt

And Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation.'". And I take it that he was a great, great grandfather. "'The children also of Makar the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

Joseph Orders His Bones to Be Carried to Canaan

And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and God will surely visit you and bring you out of the land, under the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

Genesis Ends With Joseph's Coffin in Egypt

So Joseph died being a hundred and ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.'". And that's the way the book of Genesis ends. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

From Creation to a Coffin in Egypt

That's the beginning. But now, a coffin in Egypt. What happened? Well, sin entered the human family. But now, notice this specifically. The question arises, why wasn't Joseph taken up at this time and buried in the land?

Why Joseph Remained Buried in Egypt

Well, I think, obviously, Joseph happens to be a hero in the land of Egypt. I do not think that they would have permitted his body to have been removed from that land at the time. I think he was one of the outstanding patriots that the Egyptians worshiped, probably.

At least they certainly treated with respect his grave, and probably a monument was reared to him. But now he said to his own people, when you go up, don't leave my bones down here. Now again, friends, may I say that he had a hope.

Joseph's Hope of Resurrection

It was an earthly hope that someday he was to be raised from the dead. Now if he's to be raised from the dead and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, what difference does it make whether launching pads in Egypt or Canaan or Florida or wherever you live?

It wouldn't make a bit of difference. We are to be caught up to meet the Lord in the air someday. It doesn't make any difference where we are buried, but for these people it meant a great deal to be buried in that land.

Canaan as Israel's Eternal Possession

For that land is their hope. It's to be their eternal possession. And this brings us now to the conclusion of the book of Genesis.