Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15
Text: Genesis 50:1-26
HEARTFELT SORROW
Jacob had always loved Joseph best of all. That love was not given in vain. Joseph sought to reciprocate that love when he was in a position to do that effectively. His father would have suffered terribly, and would probably have perished during the famine years has it not been for Joseph’s timely intervention. Israel lived out the remaining years of his life in great comfort if not in luxury! But all too soon, Israel breathed his last!
“Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him,
and kissed him.”
GENESIS 50:1
Tears and kisses – all that represented Joseph’s deep love for his late father! The years did not dim the special love that existed between father and son.
ENBALMING OF JACOB
Jacob had expressed a definite desire to be buried in Machpelah. Joseph would of course see that his father’s last wish was fulfilled. But how was he going to do that? Machpelah was in Canaan. It would take several days before they arrived there. By the time, the brothers reached Machpelah, Jacob would deteriorate badly.
There was only one thing left to consider. Joseph would give command to have Jacob embalmed.
“And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians
to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.”
GENESIS 50:2
Not everybody could afford the embalming process! Joseph certainly could. The process of embalming was long and costly. But how else would he be able to fulfil his father’s last wish to be buried in Machpelah?
The embalming process commenced and that took more than a month to complete.
“Forty days were required for him, for such are the days
required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians
mourned for him seventy days.”
GENESIS 50:3
For forty long days, the physicians worked on the embalming of Jacob. The process was long and arduous. The internal organs had to be removed carefully, including the brain. The skin had to be carefully preserved in the difficult process. (Imagine the cost of engaging a team of skilled physicians working for a full forty days to embalm a body)!
THE LONG PERIOD OF MOURNING
Because of the high standing of Joseph, Egypt observed 70 days of official mourning for Jacob! He was given all the honours that Joseph wished him to have! The bond of love between father and son was nothing short of being legendary!