And so ends the story of Joseph. He began his service to the Pharaoh at age 30. He had his family with him by age 37, He served and lived another 70 years in Egypt, and was loved and honored to the end. His brothers were cared for and he saw his family grow to 4 generations. The great part of Joseph’s story was that there was no sad ending or stupid choice. He lived and died serving God.
He prospered in Egypt and helped Egypt to lead the world through the famine. After that, there was no family drama nor was there political intrigue. Joseph was as committed to the mission God placed him on as he had been at the beginning. He lived and died a true hero.
We need to live the same way. Our goal needs to be to serve the Lord and Him only. As we do that, we can endure the trials life gives us and we can love others as Christ loved us. When we do that, we will experience peace and joy seeing him work in our lives and the lives of our family. We will also encourage a legacy of faith that may be critical in causing revival in generations to come.
Joseph’s story teaches us that faith and faithfulness is a long-term life plan. As we journey with God, we can only control ourselves and our choices. God has got the rest. We are not to focus on the why of our circumstances, we are to focus on who we are and Whose we are in God. If we will, the Lord Himself will provide peace and joy in our lives no matter what group of circumstances we face.
God Bless You
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.
The Death of Joseph
22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.[c]
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”
26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
Walking With God 