Part IV The Life of Joseph

Based on Genesis 46; 50:15–26

One thought yet came to Jacob’s mind,
This one answer he must find,
How his sons the bloody coat of colours found!
Is there something that does sound suspicious in that matter—
were they hiding something from their father?
So, he called them to his tent, one by one they came and bent
their knees to fall before him, for they knew,
this was the hour to be true….
With deep remorse, humility, they confessed
the terrible conspiracy of their anger, jealousy.
With heads bowed down in awful shame, they dared not look in Jacob’s face,
to see the shock about their ruthless scheme.
Truly broken hearted begged for pardon and forgiveness,
To have caused to him their father, so much grief and heaviness.
O, yes, Jacob was disturbed, shaken and perturbed,
But because that Joseph did not die but is alive, He was ready to forgive.
For he saw the change in all his sons that through the years had taken place.
Then reconciled they all embraced, peace and gladness written on their face.
Jacob thought about his own great sins,
Of deception, lies and cheatings, and how he suffered, paid for all.
But God forgave! And Jacob conquered, receiving the new name of Israel.
Therefore, his heart was tender to his offspring; but was shocked
how deep in man is sin ingrained, what evil his own seed brought forth.

………………

Pleading for the Lord’s protection, Jacob’s band did leave their home,
Trekking to a new horizon.
In Beersheba Jacob offered sacrifices, to the God of Isaac his dear father.
Then in the night God in a vision, spoke to Jacob not to fear,
He will make of him a nation great,
in that new land far, He will be with him, all the way and near.
Jacob, wives and little ones, nestled in good comfort in the wagons,
men and cattle, goats and asses at their side,
marching, travel in good stride, with angels over them to watch and guide.
After weeks of journey, entering the land of Egypt,
Jacob did sent Judah well ahead,
to Joseph for direction to the land of Goshen.
Then Joseph quickly took his chariot, made haste to meet his father,
who waited at a certain spot, where all the souls arrived did gather.
The moment came when both of them,
Jacob, Joseph fell on each other’s neck, father, son, sank in each other’s loving arms,
holding tight and held not back, the stream of tears that did break forth,
healing separation’s pain of many, many years endured…

………………..

And God blessed Israel, his sons, the fast expanding family, his graced posterity,
many years with health and Joseph’s caring for prosperity,
till Jacob’s eyes would close.
Once more the brothers did suppose, now Joseph would avenge himself,
and give revenge, (Genesis 50:17, 26), but he wept, because distrusting him,
Joseph gently comforts them, not to fear, for his love for them is very dear.

…………………

And the years of Joseph were hundred and ten,
he saw his children’s children, and their children,
he had dangled them upon his knees.
All was at peace and full of years, his life one day did cease.
Long before, an oath he took from all his brethren, that, when God shall visit in the future
far ahead His people, to be led into the Promised Land,
God did sware to Abraham and Isaac, Jacob; to carry there his bones.
Ages forward, Moses then would take them (Exodus 13:29), in the Exodus
out from the land of Ham.
And Joshua did bury them to rest at last,
in a parcel Jacob purchased there in Shechem,
it became inheritance to Joseph’s children (Joshua 24:32).

 Epilogue:
The story of the life of Joseph and his brothers, for the youth and others,
is a theme to ponder, and to wonder,
what evil can the heart beget, to carry out without regret,
malicious, dark, sinister projects.
Because of envy, to impose hurt and wounds to one so close.
But the victim with God’s love in heart would never take part
in devising his own plot, for his mind was stayed on God.
Throughout his life, love and faith, humility, noble responsibility,
virtues of Christlike dignity,
Shine like a thread of gold—in a story—worthy to be told! Amen.

 Edda Tedford,
Canada