You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done

Genesis 50:1-26

Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.” That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years

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.” 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.”

Joseph returns to Canaan at last, but only to lay his father to rest in the family tomb at Hebron - still their sole possession in the promised land.

The huge canvas of Genesis, begun with the greater strokes of creation and pulsating life in Eden, continued through destruction, promise, and the birth of a new nation in Canaan, closes with the death of Joseph in Egypt, Yet there will be more to tell. 'God will not fail to ... take you from here to the land which he promised,' Joseph says, full of trust and hope to the last.

Why?

Joseph gave honor to his father Jacob and bury him in the land of Canaan. There was a solemn ceremony of mourning the Canaanite said.

Joseph's brother afraid of their father dead, and Joseph will harm them, but Joseph knew it the hands of the Lord intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done. 

Joseph asked Israelite to swear bring his bone back to the promised land. He knew the Lord will bring them back to the promised land.

How?

Do not forget the promise of the Lord through Jesus Christ, this world is tent to us, our promised land is in heaven.

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埃及人為雅各死哀哭70天，法老是72天。

雅各生前的吩咐是相信神的應許必成就。雅各若葬在埃及墳墓一定很大，但是他要葬在迦南地。

約瑟也相信神的應許，棺材停在埃及。創世記停在盼望中，有個偉大的吩咐。也告訴我們讀者，今天我們的盼望不是在這世界而在天上的應許之地。今天是要為了成就更偉大的使命。

約瑟的哥哥假借父親話來求情，其實約瑟早以饒恕他們了。神透過我們來祝福他人。約瑟讓埃及有糧，也讓各國人也可來買糧。這就是祭司國度的概念。