As we monitor the 2024 Presidential campaign(s), and as we anticipate who the next POTUS will be; THE BIG QUESTION ON EVERYONE’S MIND …What is the main point of the last chapter of the first book of the Bible?

In Genesis chapter 50 we find the entire empire of Egypt weeping over the death of a Jewish immigrant. And it is a MAJOR national event, the Egyptians lament the death of this negligible nomad for 70 days! All the servants of Pharaoh, and all the elders of the land of Egypt lamented with a very great and grievous lamentation! And when the surrounding nations saw this great and grievous lamentation they said, “Abel-mizraim,” which means “Mourning of Egypt!”

What’s going on here?

Well, the undeniable and unstoppable savior of the world in those days was a Jewish slave and former convict named Joseph, and the aforementioned alien is Joseph’s dad. God had promised Joe’s dad that He would save and dominate the world through the lineage of this meager migrant; and here in Genesis chapter 50 we have a foretaste of the fulfillment of that promise. Every eye is affixed on the departure of the man to whom God has given the promise of world salvation and domination, and every knee bows to the son of that man (the undeniable savior of the world).

In Genesis chapter 50, the nation of Egypt represents THE WORLD. A corrupt, complicated, and often chaotic context that we cannot avoid. We must be in the world, but we must not become complacent within it, nor consumed by it. We are invited to work shrewdly and subversively amidst the hostilities and havoc of the world, but we must never become cozy or chummy with the world. And above all, we must always remember and relish that the world will bow to our Boss, our Maker, our Best Friend, and our Bridegroom – Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God!

So that’s what you see THE WORLD doing in the last chapter of the first book of the Bible. Whether they want to or not, everyone in Egypt is allocating their attention, and offering their energy (70 days worth) to the death of the man who stewards the promise of world domination, and who sired the savior of the world.

And then the last chapter of the first book of the Bible goes on to emphasize 2 things regarding our days in this debauched and ephemeral world…

#1. THIS WORLD IS NOT YOUR HOME.

Under no circumstance is Joseph’s father to be buried in Egypt. The burial of this meager migrant must be in the land of Canaan (i.e. the land promised to him by the Boss/Maker of the universe).

Furthermore, the bones of Joseph are under no circumstance to remain in the land of Egypt! Hundreds of years after Joseph dies, the sojourning society of God’s people will be obliged to carry Joe’s bones with them when they depart from the decadent land of Egypt.

This emphasis is meant to inculcate us with the fact that this world is not our home! But God’s people will flail and fail to grab hold of this fact; we will barmily pine for the pleasures and predictable patterns of Egypt (even as the world exploits and enslaves us). Wretched wretches we are! Who will save us from ourselves???

#2. GOD GIVES US SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER TO FIXATE ON

Perhaps the wretchedest wretches in Egypt were Joseph’s brothers. Joe’s bros had sold him into slavery, and they couldn’t fathom how on earth they might actually be forgiven; so they aimed their energies and efforts at attempting to manipulate their nonpareilly powerful brother.

But Joe told his bros, “Do not fear, what you meant for evil against me, God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus Joe comforted his abusers, and spoke kindly to the wretchedest wretches in the world.

What dominates and defines Joe? …His trauma? The fact that he’s been a victim of unrivaled abuse? The pain and suffering he has endured for decades? The political loucheness and cultural lasciviousness of the Egyptian empire? …NOPE, none of that stuff! What dominates and defines Joseph is the marvelous. mysterious, and masterful maestroing of The Maker!

And what is Joe’s invitation to people who have been abusive, and vulgar, and vituperative???

Joes says, “BE DOMINATED AND DEFINED BY THE AMAZING GRACE and FORGIVENESS OF THE AUTHOR AND ORCHESTRATER OF ALL THINGS! Obsess yourself with Him who leverages even what is meant for evil, and somehow employs it for good! Fix your eyes on God – who took on flesh and endured humiliation by submitting to the point of death by crucifixion; dying not for decent people, but for His enemies! Look to Him, the Author and Perfecter of your life, and your salvation, and your ability to believe in the true story of your salvation – to Him who has risen from the dead and now reigns with all authority over heaven and earth; to Him who is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, Him to whom every knee will bow, and every tongue confess – that He is THE BOSS, and He is the undeniable and unstoppable Savior of the world, and He is King of kings! And though you have never seen Him. And though you do not now see Him – BELIEVE in Him, and rejoice in Him with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.