Genesis 47: Ending Well

²⁸ Jacob lived in Egypt seventeen years, and the years of his life were a hundred and forty-seven. ²⁹ When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried.”

“I will do as you say,” he said.

³¹ “Swear to me,” he said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. -Genesis 47:28-31

Many start well; few end well. Jacob had lived 147 years, an epic life that is narrated throughout much of Genesis. Yet as he prepared to die, he wanted to make sure he finished every detail God had led him to complete in his life. This final detail included his burial.

Jacob had access to his son Joseph, a leader second only to Pharaoh in Egypt. He could have been buried anywhere in the nation, yet he wished to follow God’s will and be buried in his land in his family’s tomb. He had Joseph swear he would take his body there. This would have been a major journey, but one Joseph was willing to make for his father.

Today, don’t focus on only today. Also think about how to finish well. What does God want you to fulfill before your final breath?

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Dillon Burroughs is the author and coauthor of numerous books and is handwriting a copy of all 31,173 verses of the Bible at HolyWritProject.com. Find out more about Dillon at Facebook.com/readdB or readdB.com.