Genesis Part 3 Week 10

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 49:13-15 

¹³ “Zebulun will settle by the seashore and will be a harbor for ships; his borders will extend to Sidon. ¹⁴ Issachar is a sturdy donkey, resting between two saddlepacks. ¹⁵ When he sees how good the countryside is and how pleasant the land, he will bend his shoulder to the load and submit himself to hard labor.” 

Jacob continued to tell his sons about what they were doing and what their descendants would be like in the future. In this passage, Zebulun was covered in just one verse. Inasmuch as the tribe of Zebulun had a landlocked territory, this promise must look to the future Millennium. Issachar’s descendants had hard labor in their future. 

REFLECT 

Have you ever had an ancestor suggest what it would be like for you and your descendants? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 49:13-21. This passage tells of the character and future of the descendants of Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher and Naphtali.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 49:22-23 

²² “Joseph is the foal of a wild donkey, the foal of a wild donkey at a spring—one of the wild donkeys on the ridge. ²³ Archers attacked him savagely; they shot at him and harassed him.” 

One wonders what all was in the heart and mind of Jacob as he told about his son Joseph. He never expected to see him again but now Jacob is with Joseph and his other sons. Jacob alludes to the harsh treatment Joseph had experienced.  

REFLECT 

What do you think was in Jacob’s heart and mind as he now told about his son Joseph? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 49:22-26. Jacob said more about Joseph than his other sons. He wanted Joseph to have many blessings from God. Jacob considered Joseph “a prince among his brothers.”  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 49:27-28 

²⁷ “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, devouring his enemies in the morning and dividing his plunder in the evening.” ²⁸ These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said as he told his sons good-bye. He blessed each one with an appropriate message. 

Benjamin is mentioned last as he was the youngest son. The tribe of Benjamin was a tribe of fighters. This was the last Jacob said as he realized he was near death. Although some of his comments are hard to understand, the text inspired by God says, “He blessed each one with an appropriate message.” 

REFLECT 

Do you see in Jacob an example of calling children around you at the time of death to give them your godly wishes? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 49:27-32. This passage contains Jacob’s message about Benjamin and his instructions where he wished to be buried. His choice was not in Egypt but with his ancestors in the field of Machpelah in Canaan. Verse 31 tells why it was a special place to Jacob: “There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried. There Isaac and his wife, Rebekah, are buried. And there I buried Leah.” 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 49:33 

³³ When Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death. 

This brings the reader to the end of Jacob’s life. The record of his birth is seen in Genesis 25 and his death in Genesis 49. The Bible tells us he “joined his ancestors in death.” This is a vivid reminder that all die because of the sin that has entered the world through one man (see Romans 5:12). This is also a reminder that after death comes judgment (see Hebrews 9:27). Jacob had many flaws but the basic desire of his heart was to please God. 

REFLECT 

Think about the truth that physical death is the end of life on this earth for everyone. Believers can know that God has numbered their days as David said of his days in Psalm 39:4. But they can also live in appreciation each day for salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

RESPOND 

With your friend read again Genesis 49:33 and talk about the end of life. Covenant with each other that you will make each day count for God while you have life. 

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 50:1-3 

¹ Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. ² Then Joseph told the physicians who served him to embalm his father’s body; so Jacob was embalmed. ³ The embalming process took the usual forty days. And the Egyptians mourned his death for seventy days. 

Joseph was overwhelmed with compassion when his father died. He “threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him.” Embalming was a process used in Egypt but not in Israel. Even the Egyptians mourned over the passing of Joseph’s father for 70 days. This reveals the great respect they had for Joseph. 

REFLECT 

What has it been like for you when a dear loved one has died? 

RESPOND 

With your friend read Genesis 50:1-9. This passage tells of Pharaoh giving permission to Joseph to take his father’s remains to Canaan. A large company of Pharaoh’s officials accompanied Joseph who took all of his relatives except the little children. Their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. It’s hard to imagine what the large group looked like as the chariots and charioteers headed to Canaan.