Genesis 50:7-14, NKJV 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 fathers 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. Tuesdays with Jacob Theres so much more here than a mere burial story. Yes, people all around could witness Josephs love for his father and the great manner in which he and his brothers honored the life of their father, but theres so much more to be seen. Here, in the return to Canaan, we catch a glimpse of Gods future plan. Todays life in Egypt and the centuries of slavery that will soon begin arent the full story. There is a greater day ahead---a day when all of Gods people will return to this land of their fathers. Joseph knew it and he would make future generations promise to carry his bones back to this same place on that amazing day. In the same way, this world isnt our final stop either. A future is ahead for us, one that will explode in reality at the day of our resurrection. Now our days are filled with challenge and heartache, but eternal freedom is yet ahead. We bury our dead with the knowledge that there are still chapters to be written in the amazing story of Gods redemption. ---Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network
Posted on: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:07:28 +0000
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