Genesis 49-Exodus 2

Genesis 49 contains Jacob’s final words to each of his sons before his death. These words act both as a foretelling of the future and as a summary, in a way, of what has happened in the book of Genesis. The line that stood out to me the most in reading this morning was: “I wait for your salvation, O Lord.” Waiting on God is perhaps what we have the hardest time doing in life. Yet, if we wait on God, he will bless us in the end.

I like the Lewis quote here dealing with death and our pilgrim status here on earth. The last two lines are the best: “All joy (as distinct from mere pleasure, still more amusement) emphasises our pilgrim status: always reminds, beckons, awakes desire. Our best havings are wantings.” (Letter to Dom Bede Griffiths OSB, November 5, 1954)

Genesis 50 wraps up the story of Jacob, of Joseph, and of Genesis (the beginnings) as a whole. In this reading, the emphasis on the embalming of both Jacob and Joseph’s dead bodies really struck me. Embalming was not the normal burial practice for the Jews, but it was for the Egyptians. Thus, embalming would have been the characteristic thing for Joseph, a prominent member of the court of Pharaoh, to do. It amazes me how some Christians are convinced that only one type of burial practice is right and others are wrong. Of course, attitudes are changing. However, why certain Christians are so committed to following an Egyptian practice of embalming their dead remains a mystery for me. If we wanted to follow ancient Jewish practice we would wrap our dead in linens and spices and then later put the bones in a bone box. Of course, such a practice would not even be allowed in many places in the world today. Personally, I cannot see why one particular burial practice should be viewed as Christian and the others not. Some Christians view cremation as a denial of the resurrection. I do not see it so. God can raise ashes as easily as he can resurrect bones. Thus, whether one chooses embalming, cremation, green burial, or some other practice, seems largely irrelevant to me and merely a matter of personal choice.

Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 sum up the spiritual lesson of his life: “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today.” This verse also sums up a very important theological principle, that of dual agency. God acts and we act. God chooses and we choose. Neither choice cancels out the other, but what humans mean for evil, God can turn around and use for good.

The beginning of chapter 1 of Exodus was, no doubt, written by one of the final editors of the Pentateuch in order to tie together what has gone before in Genesis with what will follow in the next book. The key verse is: “Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” It occurs to me that many of us have experienced this same thing in our lives. A new boss, a new teacher, a new parent, let alone a new leader of a nation, can change everything in our lives, either for good or for bad.

Exodus 1 also ties into Genesis with its emphasis on the multiplication of the people of Israel, in this case, despite suffering and persecution.

Exodus 2 introduces us to the main character of this book: Moses. He is a fascinating character right from the get-go. His life is miraculously preserved in infancy. He is a Jew growing up in the household of Pharaoh, like Joseph in some ways. Yet, the first real action we see him committing is an evil and rash one—that of murder. Still, at the same time, we feel sympathy for Moses because he is standing up for his people who are being treated harshly. Before long, Moses is running from the wrath of Pharaoh and establishes himself in the desert, marrying into a Midianite family. What an amazing cultural amalgam we see in one man!

All of this sets the stage for the story to unfold beginning in Exodus 3. However, I like the way chapter 2 ends. We have the death of one Pharaoh, the one who was pursuing Moses to kill him. Was this Seti I? Was his son, the next Pharaoh, Ramses II, the step-brother of Moses, and one of the main characters of the rest of Exodus? I am not certain that anyone knows for sure.

What we do know is that God heard the groaning of his people in slavery. God remembered his covenant with the Patriarchs. God looked upon Israel and God took notice of them.

In the same way, I believe God hears your groaning and mine. God remembers his covenant with us. God looks upon us, and takes notice of us, and that is truly amazing.

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