End of an Era

    Endings are hard.  Even when it is a good ending.  It is always good when we can celebrate a life, but it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt when a person is gone.  It is much worse when relationships end and there is no closure.  As we finish Genesis today, I hope everyone find closure with whatever is going on in their lives.  In Georgia, we are seeing the quarantine lift from the virus.  It is time to embrace the new reality of life.

    It was an end a good ending for Israel when he died.  He got to see God really work in his life.  The family spent 40 days embalming him and allowed the Egyptians to mourn him for 70 days.  They did not believe in God, but in many gods.  When you don't have a relationship with God, death is a lot harder to accept.  Many of these people never knew Israel, but they knew Joseph.  It was more out of respect for Joseph than for Jacob, but it was a nice thing they did.

    After the two months was over, the family took Israel to Canaan to be buried with his family.  When the the tomb stone was replaced in front of the tomb the family had closure.  They all returned to Egypt and began to live their lives again.  The brothers however could not breath easy.  They were afraid now that Israel was not there to protect them that Joseph would finally take his revenge.   They took measures while Israel was dying to try to protect themselves.  I personally find it hilarious that people say that women are manipulative when in reality humans (male and female) have a manipulative nature.  It is something we all have to defeat.

    The brother's attempts to ensure their safety through manipulation.  Joseph had let the past go long ago.  He did all he could to show them kindness, but never says if they ever got to the point where they could accept his forgiveness.   If you do not forgive or accept forgiveness, you can't really live life.  Joseph spent the rest of his life trying to show them that he loved them all.  He was 110 when he died.  He too was buried in Egypt like an Egyptian.  He had embraced these people as his own and it is only natural that he be buried with them.  His death was an end to an era.  Things did not change immediately, but over time thing stopped being so good for the Israelites.

    Change is hard.  We can become stronger, grow endurance, or become weaker when major life events happen.  The best thing we can do is turn to God.  Go to Him in His word.  Try to memorize scripture that brings you comfort or take it in in sections.  Spend time in prayer, taking time to be alone with Him.  Pray for people to enter your life that will help you become a stronger Christian.  Hopefully it will be strong Christians, but God can put people in your path that will make life unpleasant to help you grow.  Pray for good and loyal friends to fellowship with (even if it may only be virtually).

Genesis 50