A few years ago I listened to an iTunesU course on the Civil War from Yale University, taught by Professor David Blight. He is an incredible lecturer with this fantastic drawl, and he ended almost every lecture on a cliffhanger saying, “I’ll leave you here.”
I’ve thought that often this week as Genesis concludes and Moses concludes with a cliffhanger saying, “I’ll leave you here.” Where does he leave us? Notice 50:26, “So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” The book that began with life ends with a coffin. It seems the serpent has won. But in reality God is providentially setting the stage for the great revelation of His power by redeeming His people from Egypt. So, where does the covenant with Abraham stand? God is making Israel into a great nation (just turn the page to see how large they are in Exodus 1), they are already a blessing to at least one nation as Egypt prospered because of God’s kindness through Joseph, but they have yet to occupy the Promised Land. So Genesis ends with God’s people in the wrong place—in Egypt.
We might ask, “Why did God choose Egypt?” We know from Genesis 15:16 part of the reason for God not yet bring His people to the Promised Land is “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” But the real answer to, “Why Egypt?,” is to protect His people’s holiness. Egypt was notoriously prejudiced towards other nations and so they were more than content to let Israel do their own thing in Goshen, growing in great number away from the consistent threat of intermarrying with the unholy, idolatrous Canaanites.
Genesis and The Story of God
What then does the story of Joseph reveal about the story of God? In many ways our text encapsulates all the highlights of God’s dealings with his people in Genesis. So, let me mention them briefly as we close.
God is the ever-present Lord. He never leaves nor forsakes His people. He is with you in your humiliation and he is with you in your exaltation.
God is the ever-subtle King. Have you noticed throughout our story how God so often works out His promises over long periods of time, often preferring to move in the background—in part to increase His people’s faith. The time will soon come when Christ will split the heavens and God will no longer be subtle. But remember these truths from Joseph’s life: He is not overlooking some of the details in your life, rather He is orchestrating all of the details in your life. Oh, what trust this ought to grow in our lives that we are not forgotten, but He has a specific purpose with every event, every thought, and every action.
God is the ever-faithful Savior. If Genesis teaches us nothing else we see how God keeps His promises and preserves His people. How amazing and awesome is the providence of God! Not one promise has failed for He reigns sovereign over all. Our God is the Lord of providence.
This post is adapted from my recent sermon, “Joseph,” on Genesis 37-50.