City Life Starter

Written by Blesson Selvanesan

The Word

¹⁰ When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹¹ When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. ¹² Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, ¹³ for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. ¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

Genesis 50:10-14 (ESV)

Interpretation

Jacob lived a fulfilled life and passed away at a ripe old age after seeing all his children and grandchildren. He died a fulfilled man after reuniting with his lost son Joseph. There was genuine grief among his family. Egyptians also grieved as though a king had died. Even though his last few years were in Egypt, he knew Egypt was not the promised land. He instructed his sons to bury him in Canaan, the promised land. His sons faithfully carried out their father’s wish by carrying Jacob’s body to be buried alongside his ancestors. All of Jacobs’s children united in grief and buried Jacob and returned together to Egypt under the leadership of Joseph.

Application

Jacob knew very well that Canaan was the promised land and Egypt was just a detour. He had instructed his children to bring his body back to Canaan. This completes the life of Jacob who wanted to be around his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. God renewed His covenant relationships with all three men. As patriarchs of a nation promised by God that is yet to be born, they wanted their memories to be etched on the land of Canaan. It is as though Jacob on his deathbed showing his family where the promised land is and that their eyes should be fixed even though they are bound to have wealth, power, and security in Egypt. Joseph assumed the full leadership of the family as per his dream and brought all of them back to Egypt. Jacob’s death was not an abrupt end of a patriarch’s life rather, it was a fulfillment of God’s promise and completion of God’s sovereign plan.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to know what is important and where Your promises are. Help us to be focused on Your promises and trust in Your timing. Let not comfort, security, and success make us forget Your promise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.