^“After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial. But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. ‘Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,’ they said.” 50:14-15

Poor Joseph. The scene described of him throwing himself over his father’s body and weeping is heart-breaking. He lost so much time with his dad, time his brother’s robbed from him.

^“But Joseph replied, ‘Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” 50:19-21

God takes evil and turns it into good. He’s the Redeemer. I love that this dialogue closes out the book of Genesis. A book with one story after another of how mankind has drifted away from the relationship God intended. Remember how the book started out? It wasn’t suppose to be this way. Yet he is reconciling us to his initial plan and we will be welcomed back in his garden.

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What was something that surprised you about the book of Genesis this time around?

How did reading this book (again) shape how you see God? Did it change something for you? How?

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Join us tomorrow as we start the book of Daniel!

-Carly