Genesis Week 47

I Am Not God: Instruments in the Master's Hand

Introduction: The Bookend of Genesis

Genesis begins in a garden with a lie: “You can be like God” (Genesis 3:5).

Genesis ends in Egypt with the truth: “Am I in the place of God?” (Genesis 50:19).

From the serpent’s deception to Joseph’s humility—this is the arc of Genesis. Humanity tried to be God and failed catastrophically. But God didn’t give up. He chose a family, made promises, preserved them through famine, and positioned them for what’s next.

Joseph’s final words aren’t about himself. They’re about his awesome God.

Pastor Jack asks: Do you see yourself as a tool in God’s hand? Are you willing to be the instrument to share that story?

This is how Genesis ends—not with arrival, but with anticipation. Not with “we’ve made it,” but with “God will bring you up.”

And the question for us: Will you tell it?

Section 1: Genesis 50:1-6 Jacob’s Death and Joseph’s Request

Jacob has died. Joseph calls for embalmers—a process that takes 40 days. Then 70 days of mourning. This will be the first time Joseph has traveled outside of Egypt since arriving as a slave. Pharaoh gives permission: “Go.”

Genesis 50:1–6 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ‘My father made me swear, saying, “I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return.’” And Pharaoh answered, “Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
— Genesis 50:1-6 (ESV)

Discussion Prompts:

Observation:

Joseph weeps and kisses his father’s face. What does this display of emotion reveal about Joseph’s heart?
Embalming takes 40 days; mourning takes 70 days. Why does the text give us these specific timeframes?
This is the first time Joseph will leave Egypt since being brought there as a slave. What significance does this journey hold?

Reflection:

Joseph honors his father’s dying wish to be buried in the Promised Land. What does this commitment reveal about Joseph’s character?
Pharaoh immediately grants permission. How has Joseph’s faithfulness over the years built this trust?

Personal:

Joseph prioritizes honoring his father even though it requires a difficult journey. When have you had to make sacrifices to honor a commitment?
The Egyptians mourn for 70 days—a pagan nation mourning a Hebrew patriarch. How does faithful living impact even those who don’t share your faith?

Section 2: Genesis 50:7-14 The Journey to Bury Jacob

Joseph returns Jacob to the Promised Land with a massive entourage: high-ranking officials, servants of Pharaoh, elders of Joseph’s house, and a military escort. They stop east of the Jordan River at Atad to mourn for seven days. The locals call it “the mourning of the Egyptians.” Then Joseph returns to Egypt.

Genesis 50:7–14 So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim; it is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.
— Genesis 50:7-14 (ESV)

Discussion Prompts:

Observation:

Who accompanies Joseph on this journey? What does this massive entourage reveal about Jacob’s significance?
They take a looping, indirect route and stop east of the Jordan to mourn. Why might they take this specific path?
The Canaanites call it “the mourning of the Egyptians.” What does this name reveal about how the procession appeared?

Reflection:

Pastor Jack notes: This is the same route Moses will eventually lead Jacob’s descendants on. How does God often prepare the path before we walk it?
Joseph honors his father publicly with this grand procession. How does public honor matter in addition to private respect?

Personal:

Joseph kept his word even though it required significant effort and resources. When have you had to follow through on a commitment that became more costly than you expected?
The military escort suggests this journey had risks. When have you had to take risks to do what’s right?

Section 3: Genesis 50:15-21 Forgiveness and God’s Providence

After Jacob’s death, the full reality sets in for Joseph’s brothers. Will Joseph take vengeance now that their father is gone? They send a message claiming Jacob asked Joseph to forgive them. Joseph weeps. His brothers come and bow before him. Joseph’s response is powerful: “Am I in the place of God?” He’s moved on, but sees his brothers have carried guilt for years. He reassures them: You meant evil, but God meant it for good.

Genesis 50:15–21 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but 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 he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
— Genesis 50:15-21 (ESV)

Discussion Prompts:

Observation:

The brothers fear Joseph will take vengeance now that Jacob is dead. What does this fear reveal about their guilt?
They send a message claiming Jacob’s dying wish was for Joseph to forgive them. Do you think Jacob actually said this, or are the brothers inventing it?
Joseph weeps when he hears their message. Why does he weep?
The brothers offer to become Joseph’s servants. How does this fulfill his original dreams (Genesis 37)?

Reflection:

Genesis 3:5 (the lie): “You will be like God”
Genesis 50:19 (the truth): “Am I in the place of God?”

This is the bookend of Genesis. What has humanity learned from Adam to Joseph?

Pastor Jack says: Joseph has moved on, but his brothers have been carrying guilt for years. How does unforgiven guilt affect people differently than forgiveness does?
Joseph says “You meant evil…but God meant it for good.” How does this theology of God’s sovereignty help us process suffering?

Personal:

The brothers lived in fear of future punishment even after being forgiven. When have you struggled to accept forgiveness and stop expecting punishment?
Joseph sees God’s hand in everything—even his brothers’ betrayal. How does this perspective change how we view our own painful experiences?
“Am I in the place of God?” When are you tempted to play God in someone else’s life—judging, controlling, or taking vengeance?

Section 4: Genesis 50:22-26 Joseph’s Death and Final Request

Joseph lives to 110 years old and sees three generations of descendants. As death approaches, he makes a request similar to Jacob’s: “When you go up from Egypt, take my bones with you.” No grand procession for Joseph—just a simple request. He’s placed in a coffin in Egypt, waiting. His last words are about his awesome God who will bring them up.

Genesis 50:22–26 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
— Genesis 50:22-26 (ESV)

Discussion Prompts:

Observation:

Joseph lives 110 years—considered the ideal lifespan in Egyptian culture. What does this detail suggest about God’s blessing?
Joseph’s last words aren’t about himself but about God’s promise. What does he emphasize?
Unlike Jacob’s grand procession, Joseph simply says “When you go, take my bones with you.” Why the difference?
The book ends with Joseph “in a coffin in Egypt.” Why does Genesis end this way instead of with arrival in the Promised Land?

Reflection:

Pastor Jack notes: Joseph in a box (coffin) vs. tablets in the Ark of the Covenant—one is death, the other brings life. Yet Joseph was living the commandments before they were given. What does this reveal about Joseph’s character?
Joseph’s faith looks forward: “God will bring you up.” How does this forward-looking faith sustain us when we don’t see promises fulfilled in our lifetime?
The famine and drought are probably over by this point, yet Joseph still says “I will provide for you” (v. 21). What does this teach about God’s ongoing provision even after crises pass?

Personal:

Joseph’s final words focus on God’s faithfulness, not his own achievements. What do you want your final words or legacy to be about?
Joseph lived as an instrument in God’s hand. How do you see yourself—as someone God uses, or as someone trying to accomplish things for God?

✅ Wrap It Up: Are You Willing to Be the Instrument?

From “You Can Be Like God” to “I Am Not God”

The arc of Genesis is complete:

Genesis 3:5 - The serpent’s lie: “You will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 50:19 - Joseph’s truth: “Am I in the place of God?”

What happened in between?

Humanity tried to be God:

Adam and Eve grasped for divine knowledge
Cain played judge over his brother
People at Babel built a tower to make a name for themselves
Jacob schemed and manipulated to secure his future

And it all failed.

But Joseph learned something different:

“Am I in the place of God?” = I am NOT God.

And because I’m not God:

I don’t take vengeance (that’s God’s role)
I don’t control outcomes (that’s God’s sovereignty)
I don’t judge hearts (that’s God’s prerogative)
I don’t secure my own future (that’s God’s promise)

I am simply an instrument in God’s hand.

God Takes Something Horrible and Makes It Good

Pastor Jack says: God takes something horrible and makes it into good—over and over again.

Look at Joseph’s life:

Betrayed by brothers → Became second-in-command of Egypt
Sold into slavery → Positioned to save nations
Falsely accused and imprisoned → Met cupbearer who introduced him to Pharaoh
Separated from family for 20+ years → Family preserved and multiplied in Goshen

“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” (v. 20)

This isn’t just Joseph’s story. This is God’s method:

The cross looked like defeat → Became our salvation
Death looked like the end → Became resurrection
Our sin looked like disqualification → Became an opportunity for grace

God is in the life-saving business.

Not just physical life (though He saved Jacob’s family from famine). But eternal life—saving us from sin and death.

God Wants to Restore—Will You Be Restored?

Joseph says to his brothers: “Do not fear.” (v. 21)

After everything they did—the betrayal, the lies, the years of deception—Joseph says: Don’t fear.

Why? Because restoration is possible.

Pastor Jack asks: God wants to restore—will you be restored?

What does restoration look like?

For Joseph’s brothers: Freedom from guilt, provision for their families, relationship with Joseph
For us: Freedom from sin, provision through Christ, relationship with God

Verse 21 - “I will provide for you” is ultimately God saying this to us.

Not: “I’ll provide IF you’re good enough” Not: “I’ll provide AFTER you earn it”

But: “I will provide for you.” Period.

Through Jesus:

Provision for our sin (His death)
Provision for our future (His resurrection)
Provision for our needs (His presence)

Will you be restored?

Or will you keep living in fear like Joseph’s brothers, unable to accept the forgiveness already offered?

Joseph: Living the Commandments Before They Were Given

Pastor Jack notes something stunning:

Joseph in a coffin vs. tablets in the Ark of the Covenant:

One is death
The other brings life

Yet Joseph was living the commandments before they were given.

Think about it:

The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20):

Honor your father (Joseph honored Jacob)
Don’t murder (Joseph spared his brothers)
Don’t commit adultery (Joseph fled Potiphar’s wife)
Don’t steal (Joseph managed Egypt’s resources faithfully)
Don’t bear false witness (Joseph told the truth)
Don’t covet (Joseph was content with God’s provision)

Beyond the commandments:

Love your enemies (Joseph forgave his brothers)
Bless those who curse you (Joseph blessed those who harmed him)
Do good to those who hate you (Joseph provided for his brothers)

Joseph lived by the Spirit before the Law was given.

Romans 8:3-4 - What the Law couldn’t do, God did by sending His Son, “in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Joseph shows us: The goal isn’t external law-keeping. It’s internal heart transformation that leads to righteous living.

His Last Words: About His Awesome God

Joseph’s final words aren’t about himself.

Not: “Remember me” Not: “Look at what I accomplished” Not: “I was second-in-command of Egypt”

His last words are about his awesome God:

“God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” (v. 25)

Even in death, Joseph points to:

God’s faithfulness to promises
God’s future action
God’s plan beyond Joseph’s lifetime

This is the legacy that matters.

Not what we build. Not what we achieve. Not what we accumulate.

But: Do we point people to God?

Do You See Yourself as a Tool in God’s Hand?

Pastor Jack asks the defining question:

Do you see yourself as a tool in God’s hand?

Like a conductor guiding an orchestra:

The conductor doesn’t make the sounds. The instruments do.

But the conductor:

Knows the score
Understands each instrument’s role
Brings everything together
Creates harmony from diverse parts

God is the conductor. You are an instrument.

The question isn’t: Can you make beautiful music alone?

The question is: Will you let the Master Conductor use you?

What does this look like practically?

Obedience - Playing your part when directed
Submission - Following the Conductor’s lead, not improvising
Harmony - Working with other instruments, not competing
Humility - Recognizing the Conductor makes the music, not you

Joseph was a tool in God’s hand:

Interpreting dreams → God’s message
Saving Egypt → God’s provision
Forgiving brothers → God’s grace
Preserving Israel → God’s promise

Joseph didn’t create the plan. He participated in it.

Our Community Needs What We Have

Pastor Jack brings it home:

Our community needs a relationship with Jesus—something we have and know about.

Think about this:

Your neighbors, coworkers, family members—they’re living without:

Forgiveness (carrying guilt like Joseph’s brothers)
Purpose (not seeing themselves as instruments in God’s hand)
Hope (no confidence that “God will bring you up”)
Restoration (trapped in their sin and brokenness)

And you have the answer.

Not because you’re better. Not because you’re holier.

But because you know the Story:

We tried to be like God (Genesis 3)
We failed catastrophically
Nothing we can do can undo our wickedness
God’s plan: Come live among us (Incarnation)
Give His life so we can live (Crucifixion)
Bring broken people back to a Holy, Loving God (Reconciliation)

That’s the Story.

Do you know it? Will you share it?

Are You Willing to Be the Instrument?

Pastor Jack’s final challenge:

Are you willing to be the instrument to share that Story?

Not:

Are you eloquent enough?
Are you trained enough?
Are you holy enough?

But:

Are you willing?

Joseph was willing:

To honor his father (even requiring a difficult journey)
To forgive his brothers (even after years of pain)
To provide for his family (even when it cost him)
To point to God (even with his last breath)

Jesus was willing:

To leave heaven
To live among us
To die for us
To rise again

The question is: Are you willing?

Willing to:

Tell the Story
Share what you know
Be used by God
Point people to Jesus

Not perfectly. Just willingly.

Tell It!

Pastor Jack’s final word is simple and direct:

Tell it!

Not: Think about it. Not: Prepare more. Not: Wait until you’re ready.

Tell it!

Tell it to:

Your neighbor who’s struggling
Your coworker who’s searching
Your family member who’s far from God
The person God puts in your path this week

Tell it because:

God has restored you
God has used you
God has given you a Story
Our community needs Jesus

Genesis ends with Joseph in a coffin in Egypt—waiting.

But Exodus begins with God bringing them up—fulfilling the promise.

The story doesn’t end. It continues.

And now, you’re part of the story.

🕊️ From Genesis 3 to Genesis 50, from “be like God” to “I am not God”—we’ve learned we need a Savior. And you know His name. Will you tell it?

💬 Final Discussion Questions:

Joseph’s brothers lived in fear of punishment even after being forgiven. Why is it sometimes harder to accept forgiveness than to ask for it?
“Am I in the place of God?” When are you most tempted to play God—judging, controlling, or taking vengeance in someone’s life?
Joseph says “You meant evil…but God meant it for good.” What situation in your life are you still struggling to see God’s hand in?
Joseph’s last words were about his awesome God, not his own achievements. What do you want your legacy to focus on?
Pastor Jack asks: “Do you see yourself as a tool in God’s hand?” How does this change your approach to daily life?
“Our community needs a relationship with Jesus—something we have and know about.” Who specifically in your community needs to hear the Story from you?

Action Steps for This Week:

Choose one to practice:

UP (Intimacy with God):

Spend time this week asking God: “Where do You want to use me as Your instrument? How can I point someone to You?”

IN (Investment in Community):

Share with your small group one way God has taken something horrible in your life and made it good. Let them see God’s faithfulness in your story.

OUT (Influence in the World):

Tell it! Identify one person in your community who needs to hear about Jesus. This week, tell them the Story: We tried to be God, we failed, God came to save us through Jesus. Just tell it.

Remember: You’re not God. You’re His instrument. He’s the Conductor. You’re the tool in His hand. And your community needs what you have. So tell it!

Congratulations on completing Genesis! What a journey from creation to Joseph in a coffin, waiting for God’s promises to unfold. Now go be part of the continuing story.