In this episode we continue studying the Book of Genesis. In this episode we find Joseph mourning at his fathers beside.
After Jacob left his body, Joseph fell upon his father's face and wept upon him and kissed him.
Jacob the man had left his dwelling place, it was now empty, he was gone. He was just a sojourner, a pilgrim on earth, traveling through. He was now a citizen of a far away country called heaven. A place where Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
This was a time of sorrow for him and his brothers but for Jacob it was the beginning of a new life.
Solomon said in Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 1, a good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
Jacob said his days were few and evil. But there is no evil in the new country Jacob has gone to. No evil is allowed there.
That’s why God places our souls in bodies that die, so he can determine by the way we live on earth, if we are worthy of living in that place.
Evil doers are not allowed to enter into that place, so we must go through a time of testing on earth. Revelation chapter 22 verses 14 and 15 says:
Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Revelaiton 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Everyone doesn’t have the right to enter into the gates of heaven. Everyone will not have the right to eat from the tree of life or be partakers of the first resurrection.
Only those who abide in Christ and do the will of His Father, while they are on earth, can claim those rights.
Jude reminds us that God cast out the angels who fell into sin, the ones who left their first estate, that is the state of righteousness. They were cast out of heaven now they abide in everlasting darkness.
After Jacob is buried his brothers send Joseph a message saying, that before Jacob died he told them to tell him to forgive the sin and evil they had done to him.
When Joseph received the message he burst into tears.
He couldn’t believe it, after all those years, they still did not get it. They thought, he was only being kind to them out of respect for their father. But he had forgiven them 17 years ago.
Yet, still somehow, they thought he would try to get even with them.
But with tears in his eyes, he said, although their motives to sell him was evil, God’s intentions were for good. And that was to save many lives. He spoke kindly to them and told them he would take care of them and their little ones.
Sometime later Joseph died at 110 years old. He saw Ephraim's children, grandchildren and his grandchildren's children.
Joseph is a picture of Christ the Redeemer, who was also sold by his brethren, who were also descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
They too gathered together and conspired against Him. They killed Him but he did not charge them with wrong doing.
Because it was God who sent Him to this country called the world, to be sold into the hands of wicked men, so he could die and rise again, saving the lives of many.
He tells us that those who see and believe him shall be raised at the last day. Mounce says, seeth him means to behold, to view with interest and attention.
Today we have many interests, many things have our attention, we behold and view many things. But only those who behold Christ and have their attention on Him will escape the trap of being lukewarm and ultimately, spued out of his mouth and denied the right to eat from the tree of life.
John 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
John 6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
