Genesis 50:1 Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.
We have seen Israel from the very beginning, from the time Jacob came out clutching his brother’s heel. He lived a long and storied life, with many positive steps in the service of God. He also had many, many mistakes and missteps along the way.
Genesis 50:2-3 Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
Just like with everyone, we have to look at his life as a whole. We can’t discount him because of the rocky bits. It’s important to remember how powerfully God used him–warts and all, human messiness and all, mistakes, missteps, and all.
Genesis 50:4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him,
God of second chances, Thank You for this look at the full range of human messiness and divine grace. Thank You that You can and will and do use us, even in spite of our failings and mistakes. Help us not to discount ourselves or each other because of that messy humanity. Help us to love as You love–deeply, fiercely, completely. Amen.
Genesis 50:5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ ”
Have a blessed day.