The End - of the Beginning.

Genesis Chapter 50

Jacob is embalmed in Egypt with full ceremonies, which took forty days and then there is an official mourning period in Egypt of 70 days, Jacob is then carried to Canaan to be buried with with his ancestors. Jacob must have made an impression, or it is a measure of Joseph's power that many prominent Egyptians make the journey.

Jeseph’s brothers make one more request – in the name of Jacob they ask Joseph to forgive past wrongs, but Joseph appears to have forgiven the bad they did to him and was happy to look after them and their families in Egypt.

The book ends with the death of Joseph at the age of 110 and surrounded by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren

Joseph arranges that his bones will be carried out of Egypt when Israel finally leave and is embalmed and buried in a coffin – the only person in the Bible recorded as having a coffin.

This is the end of the first book of the Bible 

What have I learned from Genesis? The main characters in this book are all somehow flawed, whether it is Noah getting drunk, Abram lying about Sarai, Isaac lying about Rebecca, Jacob is extremely tricky and not averse to underhand tricks, Jacob's children are kind of messed up in one way or another, however God chooses those who are "normal" to reveal himself to, that is as true today as it was for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

If you, dear reader, have found something new and feel like sharing, please feel free to leave a comment.

Tune in next for Exodus – Egypt, plagues, Moses, Passover, and the 10 commandments (Proof that God likes the metric system if it were ever in doubt – if not there would have been 16 commandments!)