Joseph died at age 110 and lived to see the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Joseph told his brothers that God will come to take them to the Promise Land. He made them swear to carry his bones out of Egypt and take him with them. He was embalmed in Egypt.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 29, Day 5: Genesis 50:22-26
16) God will come to take them to the Promise Land.
17) Joseph never doubted God and His promises. He knew the Israelites would be taken back to the Promised Land when the time was right.
18) Both died in faith surrounded by their family. It was a long journey, but God and His ways brought them both to Him. They were both honored and embalmed, and both will be buried in the Promise Land.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 29, Day 5: Genesis 50:22-26
Great ending to a life well lived.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 29, Day 5: Genesis 50:22-26
Joseph was led and blessed by God his entire life. He was 56 when Jacob died, and none of the details of Joseph’s live is recorded in scripture. We can presume that Joseph continued to lead the people of Egypt and his family. He lived 93 of his 110 years in Egypt. He was foreigner most of his life, but he was faithful to God throughout, and was rewarded for it.
It is said that Joseph was never buried in Egypt. His bones/coffin stood as a testament to the Israelites of the future of the Promise Land. Joseph would be taken out of Egypt by Moses to the Promise Land for burial in 400 years time. (Exodus 13:19)
Some promises of God take a long time to fulfill. The book of Genesis concludes with Joseph’s death — a death that looks forward to the future.
Jacob/Israel blesses Joseph. Joseph tried to move his father’s hands, being displeased that Jacob had switched the order. Jacob refused, saying Ephraim would be greater than Manasseh. Jacob told Joseph that God would be with him, take him back to his fathers, and he gives him the ridge of land he took from the Amorites.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22
13a) God is the God of Abraham and Isaac, has been his shepherd, and now may the boys be called by the names of Abraham and Isaac, too.
b) God has led him his entire life. To find his wife, Rachel, and now back to Joseph.
14) Jacob knows more than Joseph and he tells him so.
15) He used COVID-19 to move us so we can start a new life.
16) God would be with him, take him back to his fathers, and he gives him the ridge of land he took from the Amorites. Jacob believed God enough to switch the blessing and tell Joseph he would be taken back to Canaan too when he died.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22
Cruised through this lesson till I got here. This one is most definitely difficult to interpret because it involves God’s ways and not ours.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 5: Genesis 48:15-22
By Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons, he is blessing Joseph as well. Ephraim would be the greater tribe and that name was even used occasionally to refer to all of the northern portion of Israel.Isaiah 7:8, 7:17, and 11:13).
Fun Fact: We see the first time God as a shepherd is used in the Bible.
We see here that firstborn is more meaning first in position rather than a direct connection. For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn (Jeremiah 31:9).
Jesus was firstborn, but he was not created. (Colossians 1:15),
We see the last of the three patriarchs dying.
Joseph is now one portion above his brothers since his two sons each got a portion. On maps of the 12 tribes of Jacob, you will see that Joseph’s name has been left out, replaced by his two sons.
This Amorite land is not recorded in Scripture as being taken. Joseph’s descendants will see this land.
Spurgeon called Joseph the best picture of Jesus in the Bible. Indeed, there are many similarities. The highlights are here:
Both were hated and rejected
Both were condemned
Both were sold
Both were falsely accused
Both were betrayed
Both were given a Gentile bride
Both began their life’s work at the age of 30
Both blessed the world
Both saved the world
The firstborn normally receives the priesthood, the kingship, and the double inheritance. Here, Jacob’s 11th son, Joseph, receives the double inheritance. His 4th son, Judah, receives the kingship via the Messiah, and Levi, his 3rd son, gets the priesthood.
Jacob led a blessed life, indeed. He embraces his stages in life and made the most of them.
Pharaoh was very happy that Joseph’s brothers had come. He gave Joseph’s family the best of the land in Egypt. He gave them carts to travel in. Joseph gave his brothers the carts and provisions for their journey to retrieve their father and families. He gave them new clothes, but he gave Benjamin 300 shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. He sent 10 donkeys loaded with the best of Egyptian goods as well as 10 donkeys with provisions. He told his brothers to not quarrel along the way.
The brothers told Jacob that Joseph was alive and the ruler in Egypt. He did not believe them at first (understandable, since they have lied before), but after seeing all of the goods and hearing the tale, Jacob was convinced, and will go to Egypt.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 27, Day 3: Genesis 45:16-28
6) Pharaoh first welcomed foreigners into the land. He gave them the best land in Egypt with which to prosper. He gave them provisions for the journey and carts to ride in. He said the best of all Egypt will be theirs. Sometimes it pays to have connections.
7) Stunned. He was skeptical, but when he saw all of the goods and heard the tale, he was convinced.
8a) Times when we’ve moved.
b) Trust that God put us here for a reason and that everything will work out as planned.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 27, Day 3: Genesis 45:16-28
This shows just how valued Joseph was. Otherwise, I don’t see Pharaoh doing this for anyone else, especially non-Egyptians
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 27, Day 3: Genesis 45:16-28
We can think of carts as limos in today’s world. Jacob’s travels would be in luxury and a place of prominence to Egypt. Joseph warned his brothers not to quarrel since, as siblings, they may be tempted to.
Jacob is over-the-moon happy when he finally believes his favorite son is alive. Jacob goes from wallowing in self-pity Genesis 42:36) to a man of faith.
Tamar was desperate and knew Shelah would not be her husband. So she disguised herself to go and meet her father-in-law, Judah, at Enaim on the road to Timnah. Judah thought she was a prostitute so he offered her a young goat as payment to sleep with her. She asked for a pledge since he did not have the goat with him. He gave her his seal, cord, and staff. She slept with him and became pregnant.
Judah could not find her again to give her the goat. When he found out though that Tamar was pregnant, he ordered her death, thinking she sinned as a prostitute. She presented him with her pledge and Judah had to admit he was wrong not to give her Shelah. She had twin boys named Perez and Zerah.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 5: Genesis 38:13-30
13a) Tamar was desperate and knew Shelah would not be her husband. So she disguised herself to go and meet her father-in-law, Judah, at Enaim on the road to Timnah. She then tricked him into sleeping with her in order to have kids.
b) Too many ways to begin.
c) Judah at first was angry, but then he realized he was the one who sinned against her.
14) Jesus came from Tamar’s son, Perez, and Judah
15) It challenges me to do what is right, but not to use deceit to do so. Although, in Tamar’s defense, this was ancient times, and she didn’t have a lot of rights or say in any matter.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 5: Genesis 38:13-30
Now I see the significance of this story! I had forgotten about this until I read it again. Great stuff!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 5: Genesis 38:13-30
Tamar did not have a lot of options. It’s hard to blame her here. Judah was solely in charge if she would marry again, and it was painfully obvious he would not give her his last son.
God’s plan once again in action.
Judah fails to see his sin until he is confronted with it by Tamar. Wisely, he recognizes it for what it is.
Note this is another example of how God grants grace to sinners and how Jesus does not come from perfect examples of humanity (of which there are none). God can make all things work for the good of those who trust him (Romans 8:28), and for His redemptive plan.
Jacob sees Esau coming towards him with 400 men so he divides up the women and children, putting the maidservants first, then Leah and her kids and finally Rachel and Joseph in the rear (obvious preference here). He went ahead and bowed 7 times to greet his brother.
Esau ran to meet Jacob and welcomed him with open arms. They wept and kissed. Jacob introduced his family and then insisted that Esau keep his gift of animals, saying to see his face is like seeing God’s.
Esau offered to accompany Jacob the rest of the way home, which Jacob refused, citing the fact his herds had a lot of babies and needed to go slow. Esau offered to leave some of his men with Jacob, but Jacob refused that as well.
So Esau went back to Seir while Jacob went to Succoth to shelter. Then he ventured on to Shechem where he bought the land upon which to pitch his tent. He set up an altar.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 21, Day 5: Genesis 33
13) Esau is genuinely glad to see Jacob. He runs to him, embraces him, kisses him, and he weeps. He asks to meet Jacob’s family and he attempts to refuse Jacob’s gift of animals. A selfish man would have gladly accepted. He offers to accompany Jacob back “home” and to offer an escort of men as well. Esau has completely forgiven Jacob. Jacob, on the other hand, misleads his brother to where he is going, not trusting him or his men.
14a) Home to see his mother and father, Rachel and Isaac. Or to Bethel, where God directs him (Genesis 31:13)
b) He went to Succoth.
15) Depends on your definition of broken. I have relationships that could be improved, that’s for sure. None are broken. Reaching out to them is the answer.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 21, Day 5: Genesis 33
I love how Jacob had it all wrong and Esau is glad to see him and means him no harm. It shows how we are often afraid of things we shouldn’t be.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 21, Day 5: Genesis 33
We see Jacob’s preference in Rachel and Joseph here.
Note Jacob is in the lead here, a change in his character. Note too that if Jacob hadn’t deceived Esau, God’s words would have come true anyways. There is never a reason to justify sin, especially to help God along.
We see one of the most touching scenes in the Bible where Jacob and Esau embrace and weep. Esau shows that he had forgiven Jacob by questioning the gifts and refusing them at first.
Esau is content here, a wealthy man as well. God kept Isaac’s promise to bless him, too. Esau accepted Jacob’s apology when he accepted the animals, showing them to be friends and not enemies.
Jacob misled Esau on where he was going, still not trusting him or his men. This was the old Jacob acting, not the new Israel who trusted in God. Instead of going south to Seir, he heads north to Succouth.
Jacob is to return to the Promised Land, but he does not go far enough, and we are not told why. He is to go to Bethel (Genesis 31:13). He delays, and we know that there are consequences to delays. Perhaps he is still afraid of Esau. He definitely doesn’t trust him.
Fun Fact: This is the second piece of Promised Land purchased by the patriarchs (the first being when Abraham bought the place to bury Sarah in Genesis 23).
God gave Leah children because she was unloved. Rachel was barren. Reuben was named because Leah was miserable, his name meaning “he has seen my misery.” Simeon was named cause she was unloved, his name meaning “one who hears.” Levi means “attached.” Judah was named for “praise” of the Lord.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 5: Genesis 29:31-35
14) Jacob to love her.
15) God shows us all kindness in difficult times. God shows kindness by continuing to be present, to guide, to lead, to be merciful, to forgive, and to give us hope through his son, Jesus.
16) She grows in her faith like we all do and realizes God is there for here when Jacob, her husband, is not emotionally.
17) God is faithful.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 5: Genesis 29:31-35
I continue to be baffled as to why Jacob still sleeps with Leah besides the physical/procreation side. He knows Rachel is hurt by this, so why do it? Another sin since sex is meant as bonding as well as procreation. Sadly, sex is physical for all too many men today.
BSF notes takes the position that Jacob is fulfilling his duty by giving Leah an opportunity to bear children for status purposes. I can see this for maybe one or two kids, but to continue to have sex with her for all those years and watch his supposed beloved, Rachel, suffer heartache with each successive birth is nothing but selfishness in my eyes.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 5: Genesis 29:31-35
Here we see Leah forced into a marriage with a man who will never love her, and she suffers because of it, hated by her sister, Rachel, yet she can’t change it. It’s not like she could leave or get a divorce. God loves her as he blesses her with children, so important in those times.
Isaiah 54:5 “For the Maker is your husband — the Lord Almighty is his name…”
Reuben is the first born son of Jacob, yet he would not inherit the promise.
We see Leah’s hope shift to God instead of Jacob, which she would never have.
Note the priests (the tribe of Levi) and the royal line (the tribe of Judah) comes from Leah, as well as the Messiah (from Judah). Leah was blessed for her circumstances and for her faith, indeed.
Jacob asks for Rachel’s hand once his 7 years is up. Laban throws a feast, but when evening came he substitued Leah for Rachel. He gave Leah a servant named Zilpah. When morning came, Jacob realized he had been tricked. When he confronts Laban, Laban says the custom is to take the older daughter first. Jacob agrees to keep Leah as his wife, but he then marries Rachel in exchange for 7 more years of labor. Rachel’s servant is Bilhah.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 4: Genesis 29:21-30
9) Laban may have been worried no one would marry Leah is she was uncomely. He also knew he could get free labor from Jacob basically for another 7 years. When he confronts Laban, Laban says the custom is to take the older daughter first.
10) Leah is now married to someone who does not love her. Rachel is favored. Rachel has to share her husband. No one trusts Laban.
11) Jacob deceived Esau out of the blessing, and he pretends to be Esau to receive Isaac’s blessing. Galatians says that Jacob sowed a sinful nature and reaped destruction because of it.
12) Just because you are forgiven does not mean you can change what happened. You cannot undo anything in this world. Actions reap other actions. You are responsible for your choices.
13) Unsure. It’s hard to see this from my eyes.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 4: Genesis 29:21-30
I’m wondering how this went down and how both women felt about this. Leah was forced to marry someone who did not want her. Rachel was forced to allow her sister to take her place that night. I’m wondering too how Jacob did not notice this before he slept with her. Assuming there was no light, and no one said anything or Jacob would have recognized her voice. Still, the logistics of this deceit baffle me. You would think someone would know here.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 19, Day 4: Genesis 29:21-30
Leah would have been veiled until they were alone together and with no artificial light….still….
Neither girl had a say in this deceit. It was all Laban. Leah may have been happy, sad, angry. We just don’t know.
The morning must have been a shock. Everyone was angry probably — all because of original sin — Jacob’s.
Many Bible scholars believe that Laban’s excuse was made up and was no custom or law at that time.
Polygamy was a sin of ignorance in Abraham’s day. The example was Adam and Eve, but there was no law against more than one wife. Here Jacob is forced to have 2 wives in order to save Leah from a life of solitude, but it is still a sin.
Jacob most definitely reaped what he had sown, and while Jacob was the younger chosen by God to receive the blessing, he married the older instead.
God disciplined Jacob by allowing this to happen as a consequence of his previous sins. Still, Laban is guilty of sin as well. He used his own daughters for free labor and to ensure Leah was married.
The second 7 years was probably a lot tougher than the first. This was definitely a harder pill to swallow, especially considering Jacob’s age.
Laban gets what he wants initially, but, like always, he’ll get his later. God gives people what they want even when they use sin as a means, but they still have consequences.
In this time, Leah was not defiled and could not be married to another. Jacob was obligated to keep her. That being said, I don’t see how he was obligated to sleep with her and have children with her, especially if he didn’t love her EXCEPT for God’s mandate to be fruitful and multiply. Still, I don’t see how he continued doing this.
Having multiple wives was not uncommon in this culture at that time.
Jacob awakes the next day, declaring that this place is the house of God. He poured oil on top of the stone he was sleeping on and called the place Bethel, which means House of God. Jacob vows the Lord will be his God if God is with him and watches over him and gives him food and clothes so that he can return safely home. He declares he will give God a tenth as well.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 5: Genesis 28:16-22
12) It’s as if Jacob finally realized that God is with him here. I don’t like how it seems like God will be God to Jacob only if God is with him and watches over him and gives him food and clothes so that he can return safely home. It seems like Jacob’s promise is conditional; whereas, God’s promises are not.
13) Every day.
14) Just to trust that I am where I need to be at this time in my life and doing what He wants me to do even though I’d like to be doing something else.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 5: Genesis 28:16-22
I like how Jacob has completely changed after this encounter with God. So it is for Christians, but we need to hold onto that when life does get us down.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 5: Genesis 28:16-22
Fun Fact: Bethel is mentioned more times in the Old Testament than any other place except Jerusalem.
God grasps its significance to Jacob by calling himself the God of Bethel. (Genesis 31:13).
You can translate this as “Since God is will be with me.” However, most Bible scholars believe if is accurate. Jacob is still not confident God will be with him, which is why he puts condition on God being His God. He had to see God do what he said he would before he would believe. Sadly, many are like this instead of just believing God. (Philippians 4:19) (Nahum 1:7).
Laban will help teach Jacob submission.
God did not back down from His promises despite Jacob’s response. He still is the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6).
God’s promises were not good enough for Jacob. Are His promises good enough for you?
When Jacob stopped to sleep, he had a dream of a stairway to heaven that angels traversed. God appeared and told Jacob He would give him the land on which he was lying. His descendents will be numerous and fill the earth. All people will be blessed through him. God is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will bring him back and not leave until He has done what He has promised He will do.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 4: Genesis 28:12-15
9) When Jacob stopped to sleep, he had a dream of a stairway to heaven that angels traversed. God appeared and told Jacob He would give him the land on which he was lying. His descendents will be numerous and fill the earth. All people will be blessed through him. God is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will bring him back and not leave until He has done what He has promised He will do. John 14:6 is where Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to God except through him. Hebrews 10:19-20 tells us that we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. The stairwell is the way to heaven, namely Jesus, a descendent of Jacob’s. Jesus is the stairway.
10a) God would give him the land on which he was lying
b) His descendents will be numerous and fill the earth.
c) All people will be blessed through him
d) God is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will bring him back and not leave until He has done what He has promised He will do.
11) I love how God tells Jacob He is with him and will watch over him no matter where he goes. God will not leave him until His work has been completed. This is very comforting to know God is with you always as I still struggle to follow His will for me.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 4: Genesis 28:12-15
Love how God appears here and promises never to leave. I think He does this for us in subtle ways every day that we need to capture and hold on to when life does not go our way.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 18, Day 4: Genesis 28:12-15
(John 1:51) is where we see Jesus speak of the angels going back and forth on the Son of Man. Jesus is the only way to heaven. Jacob sees access to Heaven but not yet that it is Jesus.
God is repeating the covenant to Jacob that He gave to Abraham and Isaac before him. (Genesis 12:1-3) (Genesis 26:2-5). See the promise here: Philippians 1:6: God completes His work in us.
God is with Jacob, He will be with Jacob, He is faithful, and He will continue His work after you are gone.(Genesis 31:3) (Genesis 31:5) (Genesis 48:21)
