Genesis 50:1-26

We now come to this last chapter in our study of Genesis. I hope you have enjoyed this study in Genesis, the book of beginnings. We have studied the beginning of the universe, the beginning of animal and human life, the fall of mankind, and the consequences of sin in a violent world that resulted in the global flood. We have studied the beginning of faith in the life of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and the beginning of the twelve tribes of Israel. It has been such a massive undertaking to consider all that God has done to separate unto Himself a people who would be called by His name. From these beginnings, we all partake in the goodness and mercy of God, through the promised seed of the woman, that has crushed the head of the serpent, to set us all free from his dominion to follow Jesus!

The death and burial of Jacob.  Vs. 1-14

“Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, “My father made me swear, saying, ‘Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.’ Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.” And Pharaoh said, ‘Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.’ So Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds they left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering. Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father. And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, ‘This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.’ Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father” (Gen. 50:1-14).

Joseph’s expression of grief.

Grief is an inevitable part of life, and of death. When a loved one dies, mourning, weeping, and lamenting are such a natural response. If you have a heart that loves and cares for others, this grief will fill your heart. You grieve because you are being human, because that is normal, and the way God has created us. If He grieves for mankind, we will grieve, because we are made in His image (Gen. 6:6; Mark 3:5). When grief is absent at the death of a loved one, something is probably wrong, either in the relationship with the person who died, or within the person who is refusing to mourn.

In ancient times, people allowed themselves the time to grieve. Traditionally, mourning lasted forty days, but the Egyptians extended it to seventy days for Jacob. When they reached the land of Jordan for Jacob’s burial, before entering the Promised Land, they mourned another seven days. In total, they grieved for Jacob for nearly two and a half months.

However, today some Christians believe that mourning is somehow unspiritual. They say things like, “Why are you still crying? It’s been a month; you need to get over this.” However, most people will carry grief in their hearts long after the loss of a loved one, which I believe is also very normal. Parents who have lost children, or a person who lost spouse, especially when it was through tragic circumstances, often admit to me that they never truly, “get over the loss of that person.” So, for those who are reading this segment who don’t consider grief as spiritual, remember, if Jesus wept, then weeping is a godly emotion (Luke 19:41; John 11:35). If He mourned, so can you!

However, as believers, we grieve differently than the world grieves. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul reminded us, “I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” We do sorrow, but not as those who are without hope in Christ. That’s an important distinction. Why? Because we have hope in the resurrection, and the life to come. We are not saying goodbye to our lost loved ones or friends, we are saying, “see you later,” because we will see them again.

David deeply understood this concept of grief and sorrow. In Psalm 31:10, he wrote, “For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.” Grief was a constant issue that he experienced in his life. Likewise, Paul expressed in Romans 9:2, “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart,” when he wrote of Israel’s rejection of Christ. Scripture is filled with godly men and women who experienced deep sorrow and grief, which means that we should recognize that grieving will be a part of our own journey.

But grief must also be balanced with going forward with your life. There comes a time to move forward in life, and not allow your grief to overwhelm you and stop you from living. This timing varies for everyone, but the moment always comes when you must go on with your life. In 1 Samuel 15:11 we see that Samuel mourned deeply because of King Saul’s rejection by God, and the Scripture declares that he cried out to the Lord all night for the king. Yet shortly afterward, in 1 Samuel 16:1, God asked Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go.” In other words, God was saying to Samuel, “Stop looking back at Saul’s failure. It’s time to move forward, and go anoint a new king.” Samuel obeyed the Lord, and anointed David as king.

In other words, there is a time to mourn, and there is a time to move forward. Solomon wrote confirming this truth when he said there is, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecc. 3:4). If you remain, and continue living in your sorrow indefinitely, it becomes unhealthy and debilitating for you and those around you, especially your immediate family members. When loss comes, and when death separates us from our loved ones, remember, God always has a new plan, even if we can’t see it at that moment. This was what God was trying to tell Samuel, as he grieved over Saul. Grief is real; it is painful, and it is necessary, but in time, God will call you to step forward, to grow, and to embrace the next season of your life. This is exactly what Joseph did in this chapter. This is why Joseph then went to Pharoah to ask permission to go and do what his father had requested.

Joseph’s request to Pharoah.  Vs. 4-6

This is such an interesting and humble request to Pharaoh. Joseph asked the servants of Pharoah, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, “My father made me swear, saying, ‘Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.’ Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’” And Pharaoh said, ‘Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear’” (Gen. 50:4-6). I really like what Joseph based his request to Pharaoh upon, “Have I found favor in your eyes?” I believe Joseph already knew the answer to this question, yet it was still important to come with this kind of humility. He was essentially asking, “Do you trust me, Pharaoh?” I think Pharaoh did trust Joseph implicitly. Why? Because as soon as Pharaoh heard Joseph’s interpretation of the dream, what did he do? He made Joseph the second most powerful person in Egypt. There was no doubt in Pharaoh’s mind that Joseph was the right man for the job. And after seeing Joseph successfully guide the nation through both the years of abundance and the years of famine, Joseph had proven himself to Pharaoh that he was a man of integrity who could be trusted. But the humility in Joseph’s words were a compelling example of the character of this man. Joseph was preparing to make a request, and such a request requires trust. Will you trust me to go into the land of Canaan and then return? This was important because, trust is something that is earned, not just given, without seeing the proof of trustworthiness. Paul taught that, “It is required in stewards that one be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2). In the old King James Version of this passage, it translates this as, “proven trustworthy.” In other words, trust is not something you simply hand out carelessly to anyone who asks for it. Trust must be earned over time by consistently fulfilling the responsibilities you take on, and by keeping the promises you make to people. For example, recently I had a worker come to my house who said, “I’ll call you back this afternoon with an answer as to whether or not I can do the job you want.” He did exactly that, calling me at the time he promised. I thought to myself, This is a man of his word. I can trust someone like this. Honestly, I was surprised that he kept his word, because I’m used to people making promises, and not following through. So, when you make a promise to anyone, keep it. If you don’t, they will eventually not trust you. The opposite is also true. When you do keep your promise, trust is strengthened between you. This aligns exactly with what Jesus taught in Luke 16:10. He said, “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much. He who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” Remember this principle the next time you make a promise to anyone. Consequently, you are either building trust with others, or you are destroying trust with them. Therefore, be a man or woman of your word!

Jacob communicates his final wishes.

Jacob communicated that he wanted to be laid to rest with his other family members in the cave that he had already purchased many years before. He also said that he wanted to be buried in the grave that he had already dug for himself. Now that is a sobering thought to dig your own grave, in preparation for what you know is coming. None of us would probably ever think of digging our own grave, but it might actually be a good idea, because doing so would make you reflect more deeply on your own mortality. It would cause you to realize that there is an end to this life, and hopefully cause you to live each day, knowing that you must give account to God for how you have lived your life. It would certainly change your perspective on this life.

But why did Jacob insist on being buried in this particular cave? Was it just because he wanted to be with his ancestors? I think there is much more to this request. I have mentioned this before in previous studies, but it bears mentioning again. Jacob wanted to be buried in the land that God promised to him and his fathers. Jacob believed in the promise of God, and that is the most important reason. So may your heart and life be lived with your eye focused on the ultimate promise of God. That promise that Jesus stated, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Just as Jacob prepared a place for himself, so God has prepared a place in His house for you.

These final wishes that were communicated to Joseph, I also believe are really an important example for all of us to do with our families. My wife and I have had this conversation with each other about our wishes for when we die. I also had this conversation with my mother before she died. I think it’s crucial to have these discussions with your loved ones, so there is no question concerning their final wishes. Yes, it’s an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s a necessary one. You need to know their wishes, because none of us can guarantee what tomorrow holds. Life is fragile, and we don’t know when it might be our time. So, are you prepared to communicate your desires to your loved ones for when you leave this earth? Most importantly, are you confident concerning your eternal home?

Abel Mizraim.  Vs.11
When you look at a map of the land of Canaan, and where Joseph’s family lived in Egypt, you will notice that Joseph took the long way around to get to the cave that Abraham had purchased for his burial. This cave was near to Hebron where Abraham dwelt. Joseph could have taken a very direct route to the cave, but he did not do that. He went southeast, across the Jordan river, and came up the eastern shore of the Dead Sea to the threshing floor of Atad, which was later named Abel Mizraim. The words Abel Mizraim meant meadow of Egypt. This was the very same place where several hundred years before, the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah existed, and were destroyed. This is also the same place that Moses would bring the children of Israel when they were about to enter the Promised Land, which was on the eastern side of the Jordan River just across from Jericho (Numbers 33:48-49). This place was still known in those days as Beth Jesimoth which meant, house of desolation. This designation referred to the desolation and destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the other cities of plain, during the time of Abraham. If you would like to study the site of Abel Mizraim, here is an article that would be helpful.

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/dig/tall-el-hammam-2/

The blessedness of true forgiveness.  Vs. 15-21

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.’ So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, ‘Before your father died he commanded, saying, “Thus you shall say to Joseph: ‘I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.’” Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.’ And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’ Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 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. Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them” (Gen. 50:15-21).

This is a fascinating part of the story within this family, and I previously addressed this topic of complete forgiveness, when Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers in Genesis 45. As you read through chapter 45, as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, you will notice that his brothers never actually humbled themselves to ask Joseph’s forgiveness for what they had done to him. They all wept, and hugged in astonishment that Joseph was still alive, but there is no record of their seeking Joseph’s forgiveness. Now in Genesis 50, it has been more than 17 years since they had arrived in Egypt (Gen. 47:28). That is a long time to wait to ask forgiveness for the wickedness they committed against Joseph. Their actions and this request to Joseph reveal that their past actions had not been resolved, or they would have never sent messengers to ask for his forgiveness now. It also appears from the text that Jacob had encouraged the brothers to ask for Joseph’s forgiveness before he died, which is clear evidence that they had not done so up this point (Gen. 50:16-17). When Joseph responded to them with kindness, clearly this proved that he had forgiven them in his heart, and had put all their evil behavior behind him.

So, why does this happen in relationships? How can people hold the guilt for some offense, and not do anything about it. Let’s explores some of the reasons why this takes place in relationships.

1. First, some people are just simply too proud to go and ask for a person’s forgiveness. Pride is what usually causes an offense in the first place, and pride is what hinders people from actually going to resolve the issue (Prov. 13:10; Prov. 21:23). This is why Jesus said several different times during his ministry, that we must humble ourselves, and go to our brother to resolve issues that have separated us. Jesus taught, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother” (Matt. 18:15 – underline added). Again, Jesus taught his disciples, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison” (Matt. 5:23-25 – underline added). In both passages, Jesus taught his disciples to “go” to their brother, and reconcile the issue. In other words, there is no justification for anyone to sit and wait for the other person to come to them. Humble yourself, obey God’s command, and go!

2. Others, don’t go to ask for a person’s forgiveness, because they really don’t believe the other person will forgive them. Based on this thinking, they refuse to go and seek reconciliation, which then causes them to hold the resentment or guilt within their heart over what has occurred. I have had people in counseling use this rationale with me many times, as a justification for not going to seek reconciliation with someone they have offended. When God’s command to, “go,” is not obeyed, resentment and guilt will reign in their heart, and it holds them captive to their sin, and steals their peace within. Don’t go down this path. Go and seek forgiveness. You never know how it will turn out, unless you go!

3. Others, simply won’t “receive” forgiveness, even when it is verbally granted to them. This was a real possibility with Joseph’s brothers. If they actually did ask for Joseph’s forgiveness, they obviously didn’t believe that he had forgiven them, or they wouldn’t be asking again at this point. Forgiveness can be granted by God, and by people, but it must be received by the individual being forgiven. Many times, people try and earn forgiveness from God, by doing good works, and people also do the same with others they are seeking forgiveness from. But forgiveness can never be earned or deserved, it must be granted by grace, and received by faith. Jesus told Paul that He had appeared to him, “To make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:16-18). Note how Jesus referred to the way someone could be forgiven. He said, “That they may receive forgiveness.” Notice Jesus did not say, “achieve” forgiveness. This receiving must also be done, “by faith in Me.” This is a very clear instruction from Jesus concerning the way someone is forgiven. So, if Joseph’s brothers did ask for his forgiveness after he first revealed himself to them, they surely didn’t believe it, or receive it! This is so sad, because I have met many people over the years that constantly question whether or not God, or other people, have truly forgiven them for some offense they have committed. What is so heartbreaking is that they have been beating themselves up over their sin, sometimes for years. This lack of assurance has continually tormented them. Don’t you be one of them!

4. Others, don’t seek reconciliation, because they allow fear to keep them from going. Joseph identified that his brothers were afraid of him, and that this was the reason why they were making this request at this point. Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?” (Gen. 50:19). What causes this fear to control a person’s thinking? Fear is always caused by unbelief in God’s promise, and also unbelief in what people promise. Jesus coupled fear and unbelief together when He asked the disciples while they were in the midst of the storm on the Sea of Galilee, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). Therefore, trust God’s promise, that if you confess your sins, He will be faithful and just to forgive you your sins (1 John 1:9). “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). Let faith reign in your heart, not fear!

There are always two sides to forgiveness.

The Bible clearly addresses two sides to the issue of forgiveness, which means that you need to understand your responsibility. The first side to forgiveness is the one requesting to be forgiven, and second is, the person granting the forgiveness. I have addressed previously in this study the responsibility of a person to go and to seek reconciliation and forgiveness, when they have been offended, or when they know someone is offended with them (Matt. 18:15; Matt. 5:23-25). However, Jesus also commands that when forgiveness is requested, you must forgive. He taught in Luke 17:3-4, “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times a day returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” Note that this is a command, which means, choosing to grant forgiveness is not optional. If you are a Christian, and someone asks for your forgiveness, you must forgive. Doing so will bring God’s peace to your heart, and to the relationship.

Is this forgiveness to be granted for anything to anyone? Yes! Jesus also taught in Mark 11:25-26, “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” This command is very clear. You must forgive those who sin against you for anything they might have done to you. Remember, Jesus declared from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). If He forgave those who had just had Him crucified, you can do the same. Now I know what you are thinking, I’m not Jesus! I just can’t do that! But if you have Jesus living in you, and you are a believer, then He will give you the power to do whatever He commands. With His power, you should be able to say with Paul, “I can do all things, though Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). In addition, you must always remember that Jesus also said, if you refuse to forgive, after you have been continually forgiven every day of your life, then He will not forgive you. Be assured, Jesus meant what He said!

The lesson Joseph learned.  Vs. 20

One of the most powerful lessons that Joseph learned concerning his trials of being sold into slavery, and being unjustly thrown into prison, is stated in verse 20. Speaking to his brothers he declared, “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” (Gen. 50:20). This is a piece of wisdom stated by a man who truly understood God’s sovereignty. He had lived experience of seeing how God can take the evil done to him, and turn it into something good. Do you believe that God can really do that? Have you seen this truth revealed in your life experience? I hope that you have! We have so many examples sprinkled throughout Scripture, where God sovereignly takes evil things that people plan to do, and He turns them around for good. The greatest example we have in history is the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. His betrayal resulted in the salvation of the world. One of the greatest evils done to our Savior, was turned around to bring about the greatest good the world could ever experience, the salvation of mankind. If you are a believer in Jesus, then you are just like Joseph. Never forget this fact!

Another great example is Paul the Apostle. He understood the power of God’s sovereignty when he wrote of his imprisonment in Rome. He declared in Philippians 1:12-14, “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Paul was assured that because the entire palace guard had heard the gospel, and believers everywhere were much bolder to speak the Word, that God’s sovereign plan was being fulfilled. Paul also declared to the Romans with such confidence that, “We glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4). Do you see that the trials you experience in this life are producing perseverance, character, and hope within you? Only as you trust His sovereignty that He is at work in your life, will this be the result! Trust in His promise! These are just a few of the examples, of God’s sovereignty at work in the affairs of men. May you see His hand in your own life, working all things together for your wellbeing.

The death of Joseph.  Vs. 22-26

“So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees. And Joseph said to his brethren, ‘I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’ Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’ So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt” (Gen. 50:22-26).
It’s fascinating that Joseph, a man of faith, knew where his true home was, and longed to go there. Just as Jacob had asked Joseph to bury him in the land of promise, so now he too asked to be taken back and buried in his homeland. Why? Because he knew that Canaan was land that God had given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He also knew that the Children of Israel would eventually leave Egypt, and return there one day. This is why he spoke prophetically that, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” Although it would be quite some time before this would occur, Joseph knew their departure was certain because of the prophecy God had given to Abraham so many years before. God told his grandfather, “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. Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete” (Gen. 15:13-16). This prophecy to Abraham that refers to the Children of Israel who would go down into Egypt, was made three generations before Joseph was ever born. God told him that his descendants would spend four hundred years there in this foreign land, and ultimately would be delivered, and return to the land of Canaan. This prophecy also revealed God’s incredible long-suffering toward the Amorites who were committing great evil, by giving them time to repent. It is also clear that Joseph knew this prophecy, and spoke of their return to the land.

Joseph died and was placed in a coffin, but the Hebrew word actually meant a box. The Jews in ancient times used a box for the bones of their dead, called an ossuary. During their time of affliction in Egypt, Joseph’s ossuary stood as a daily reminder of God’s promise to visit them, and bring them back into their land. This promise was passed down through generations, all the way to the time of the Exodus of the Children of Israel out of Egypt. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they took Joseph’s bones with them, just as the fathers had promised (Ex. 13:19). Joseph’s bones were a tangible reminder of that covenant made to Abraham so many years ago.

Always remember, we look forward to something so much greater than just our bones buried in the Promised Land, or next to our relatives. We have an eternal home in heaven. Consider even this fact, when you visit the land of Israel today, you can only visit the empty tomb of our Lord. There are no bones in Christ tomb, because He is risen. The empty tomb stands as a continued promise to each of us, that we too will rise again. The empty tomb testifies to all of us that this world is not our home. As Hebrews 11:13 declares about the men and women of faith, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off were assured of them.” Joseph was assured of God’s promises; he embraced them and confessed that he was a stranger and a pilgrim on this earth. Does that sound like the testimony of your life? Hebrews 11:14 continues, “For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly, if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”

Warren Wiersbe, one of my favorite authors, wisely said that, “Genesis began with a garden and ends with a coffin.” It’s a sobering thought, but a profound one. However, a coffin is not the end for anyone who believes in Jesus. Our journey ends in the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, not a box buried in this world. The New Jerusalem is where my home is, and I hope it will be yours as well. The longer I live and walk with the Lord, the more I long for that city, and for that place with my LORD. The more your heart is set on heaven, the more you will long for it.

Conclusion

Genesis contains so many powerful truths concerning God’s great power that created the universe, the earth, and all that is in them. We have looked at how God has sought fellowship with mankind beginning in the Garden of Eden, and how He has sought after individuals to reveal Himself to, revealing His desire even to use them for His glory. God has also, through His promises of redemption, revealed that He has even thought of you and me. God is always pursuing men, and revealing Himself to them, if they will be receptive. We have come to know incredible men and women of faith through this study, those who have who heard God’s voice, and taken His outstretched hand. At times these men and women of faith gloriously succeeded in what God called them to do, and at other times, they failed miserably. But God’s overall message in Genesis was that He will not give up, or ever abandon mankind, even if the world has to be flooded in catastrophic judgment. Even after the flood, God was still seeking after those who would believe and follow His call. Another great judgment is ahead for this world, but Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). Never forget that God fulfilled His word every time to the men and women in Genesis, and He will also fulfill His promises to you as well. He will be with you in your walk of faith, every step of the way! Please pray with me, even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!