Genesis 47 A Solemn Promise
Jacob is nearing the end of his life and he has Joseph swear a solemn promise to him. “Don’t bury me here. Bury me in the land of Canaan.”
Jacob didn’t turn to his eldest son. He didn’t turn to this whole family. He turned to his favorite son. Not as a father telling his child to do something. But as a one who recognizes the authority placed within Joseph. As one pleading for an all-consuming desire. Let’s join father and son for this profound moment.
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Jacob knows that his life is drawing to a close. His eyes have grown dim. But his own Abba’s eyes grew dim MANY years before he breathed his last. He remembers the day when Isaac thought he was nearing the end of his life. The day he stole his brother’s blessing. That day still haunts him. He believes Esau’s forgiveness was genuine, but he still feels the shame of his actions that day. “Let it go!” he reminds himself. “It’s time to look forward, not backward.”
Jacob recenters himself on the task at hand. He has lived in Egypt for close to 17 years. He is grateful for God’s provision for his family. He KNOWS that without God’s hand, his family would have died during the famine. He is grateful for the possessions he and his family have accumulated while in Egypt. But this is NOT his home. He LONGS to ‘go home’, if only in death. He cannot bear the thought of his body being buried in this foreign land. He wants to lay down with his Abba and his Abba’s Abba. To lie forever in the land that the Lord God promised him.
There is no way Jacob can do this on his own. His sons have grown content in this land. They don’t understand his longing for ‘home’. “Maybe Joseph will understand. Surely, he longed for ‘home’ while in this land” reasons Jacob.
Joseph was a very busy man. Even with the famine resolved, Joseph still had much to do in service to Pharaoh and the people. Yet, when his Abba sends word for him to come to him, NOTHING would stand in the way. Joseph regularly visited his family, but his duties kept him living outside the land of Goshen. He had moved his family as close to Goshen as was possible, under the circumstances. His sons would grow up to know their grand Abba and cousins. Their heritage was Hebrew, and even Egypt would not let them forget it.
This is one of the days when Jacob reaches out to Joseph. Bela has come to the court of Pharaoh, seeking an audience with Joseph. The guard immediately recognizes him as one of the Hebrews; the family of Zaphenath-Paneah. He knows to treat him with deference. Pharaoh himself welcomed these men among them.
Bela approaches the guard. “I bear a message from my grand Abba for my uncle Joseph; Zaphenath-Paneah.”
“You can give it to me and I will pass it to him.”
“I appreciate the offer, but my grand Abba asked me to deliver it to him personally” pleads Bela.
The guard lets out a sigh and his shoulders slump. “It may be a while. Zaphenath-Paneah is with Pharaoh right now.”
“I will wait.”
The guard shrugs his shoulders, does a head tilt to the side and says; “Suit yourself” before turning his attention away.
Bela finds a bench to sit on and wait. Waiting is not Bela’s strong suit. He fidgets, swings his legs, crosses and uncrosses his ankles and arms, and looks about at everything he can to pass the time. The guard watches him out of the corner of his eye. He understands how he feels. If it were not for the tasks of his day, he would be doing the same things as he stands a post all day.
Two hours go by before Zaphenath-Paneah is spotted by the guard. He appears to be walking towards the garden and he is alone. The guard signals a runner over to himself.
“Go and speak with Zaphenath-Paneah. Tell him that one of his family wishes to speak with him. Let him know that he is waiting at the gate.”
The runner reverently approaches Joseph. Joseph turns as soon as he sees him. A smile is on his lips. The runner bows low; waiting to be acknowledged.
“What news do you bring” asks Joseph.
“My lord, I bring news that one of your family awaits an audience with you. He is at the gate.”
Joseph lifts his head and sees the guard looking his way. He is very familiar with this guard. Joseph smiles and the guard nods his head in greeting. “Thank you for your service” Joseph tells the runner. Joseph then raises his hand to the guard and signals for him to allow his family member to enter.
The guard turns to Bela and says, “Zaphenath-Paneah will see you now. Go through that gate and he will meet you there”, while pointing the direction for Bela.
“Thank you” Bela says as he quickly gets to his feet and follows the guard’s direction.
As soon as Joseph sees Bela, he welcomes him with a smile. “Bela, it is good to see you.”
“And you also my lord.”
“Is all well with my Abba” asks Joseph.
“It is my lord. But grand Abba wishes for you to come to him.”
“Did he say why he wishes to see me?”
“He did not. Only that he would like you to come as soon as you can” replies Bela.
“I will come to him soon. I must beg leave of Pharaoh first. Go and tell my Abba that I will be there soon.”
Bela bows before turning to leave and carry Joseph’s message back to his grand Abba.
It took another two hours before Joseph completed his tasks and could break free to visit his Abba. Joseph hurries to his chariot to begin his journey to Goshen. With his horses, he should arrive shortly after Bela gets back to the family encampment.
Jacob is in his tent, waiting, when Joseph arrives. Joseph sees Bela sitting outside the door to his Abba’s tent. Joseph smiles at him as he approaches the threshold. “I’m glad to see you arrived home safely” Joseph offers Bela.
“And I’m glad your duties did not detain you too long” replies Bela. Bela rises to hold the door for Joseph. As soon as Joseph passes into Jacob’s tent, Bela releases the door and leaves to give Jacob and Joseph some privacy.
“I’m here Abba” Joseph says as he approaches Jacob.
“Is that you Joseph?”
“It is me Abba; Joseph. I received word that you wanted to speak with me.”
“Come close to me my son. I have something important I need to ask of you.”
“Anything Abba. You have but to ask.”
“If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me…”
Joseph quickly kneels down beside his Abba and slips his right hand under Jacob’s thigh. He knows well the meaning of this. It signifies a solemn oath between two men.
As soon as Jacob feels Joseph’s hand in place, he continues. “…Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place” (verses 29b-30a).
“I will do as you have said” (verse 30b) answers Joseph.
Jacob needs more than this from Joseph. He needs a solemn promise. One he knows will survive after his death. “Swear to me” (verse 31a).
Joseph recognizes the depth of his Abba’s conviction to be buried with his ancestors. “I swear it, Abba. I will personally carry you out of the land of Egypt and place you with your Abba and grand Abba in the cave grand Abba Abraham purchased for a burying place for his beloved Sarah. I will lay you down beside Ima Leah.”
Satisfied, Jacob bowed himself down on the head of his bed. He knows that Joseph will do for him this final request.
Joseph sees the tension ease out of his Abba’s shoulders. “Rest Abba” Joseph says as he gently rubs his Abba’s back. Once Jacob is snoring, Joseph quietly leaves his tent.
Several of Joseph’s brothers are waiting outside the tent as he emerges. He smiles at them all.
“What did Abba want” asks Simeon.
“He asked me to make certain that he is buried in the cave grand Abba purchased in Canaan. He does not want to be buried in the land of Egypt, but in the land that the Lord God promised to give to him and his descendants.”
“Why would he not ask this of me” questions Reuben.
“I’m not certain, but it probably has to do with the power I hold in this place. I can see that it happens, where as it might pose more difficulty for you to do this.”
Reuben nods his head. He understands. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t sting a little. They all know that Joseph is their Abba’s favorite, but none raise that point right now.
“I would like to stay and visit, but I have work I must return to. I will be back later. Please keep me informed of Abba’s health.”
The brothers bid farewell to one another. Joseph knows that there are things that must be attended to before his Abba sleeps with his ancestors, but that is for another day.
(to be continued)
Joseph is the one with all the authority in this land. He is second only to Pharaoh. He can make his father’s wishes become reality. Did you notice though how Jacob asked his question? “If I have found favor in your eyes” sounds like a strange thing for a parent to ask a child. Joseph’s relationship with his family was complex. He was a son, a brother, and a savior too. He held a position above them all. Yet, he knew that he was merely an instrument God was using. He never treated his family as his servants. They were never subject to him, but protected by him. He was proud of them when he presented them to Pharaoh. He wasn’t ashamed of where he had come from. And, as we will see later, he shared his father’s longing to return to the land God had promised for his descendants. He wanted to go home too.
Father God, thank You for my parents. Thank You for my children too. Thank You that I am in a position to be able to help, even a little, with my family. Thank You for my children’s desire and ability to help me when I am in need too. We lean on one another, just as You intended for us to do.
In Your family, we are to lean on one another too. You put this into our hearts when Your created us. The desire to be with and to help one another. Let me be a ‘good sister’ to those in Your family; in whatever way You choose for me to do so.
