Session 13
Joseph’s last request.
22 Joseph and his father’s family remained in Egypt.
Joseph lived 110 years.
23 He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation;
the sons of Manasseh’s son Machir were recognized by Joseph.
24 Joseph said to his brothers,
“I am about to die, but God will certainly
come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land
he swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
25 So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath:
“When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.”
26 Joseph died at the age of 110.
They embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.
Believers can assure others of God’s eternal faithfulness to His people.
highlight Joseph’s final request.
Highlight the blessings he received in seeing and knowing his descendants, as well as his prediction that God would eventually move His people back to the promised land.
Read Exodus 13:19.
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, "God will surely take care of you, and you shall carry my bones from here with you."
more than four centuries later, God fulfilled this promise through Joseph, and Moses made sure Joseph’s bones went with them.
how did the presence of Joseph’s coffin affect future generations of Hebrews in Egypt.
Ephraim and Manasseh
These were Joseph’s sons who were born in Egypt.
Each produced one of the tribes of Israel, giving Joseph’s family a double portion in the land.
The name Ephraim, who was the younger son, means “two pasture lands” or “two fruit land.” He received precedence over his older brother when Jacob blessed them.
Later, Ephraim’s descendants became the leading tribe of the Northern Kingdom.
Beginning in the eighth century BC, Ephraim often served as an alternate name for the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel.
The name Manasseh, who was Joseph’s older son, means “God has caused me to forget.” Although Manasseh was the older son, he did not receive the blessing typically belonging to the firstborn son.
In fact, Jacob resisted when Joseph tried to correct his father during the blessing (Gen. 48:13-20).
Joseph’s narrative closes the book of Genesis and the story of the patriarchs. Times have changed since Joseph lived, but, as believers, we serve the same God. And we are called to faithfully remember His plans and purposes for His people.
Review these points from Apply the Text on page 126 of the Personal Study Guide:
Lead the group to identify at least three-character traits exhibited by Joseph in Genesis 37-50. (Examples: leadership, forgiveness, faithfulness, purity, patience, trust) Record the traits on the board. Encourage adults to reflect on these qualities and to silently evaluate themselves in these areas.
Read aloud Genesis 50:20 as a group. Note that it is the memory verse for the session.
Close in prayer, thanking God for His blessings. Pray specifically for adults to accept forgiveness, exhibit God’s character, and assure others of God’s eternal faithfulness.
Reinforce the session by reflecting on true forgiveness. As the group anticipates moving to a new Bible study, send them a text or email that offers an invitation to people they know that are not involved in a Bible study group. Be sure to follow up with adults who may be on your roll but have not attended recently.
For Engage, provide several copies of the Baptist Hymnal 2008 and direct attention to No. 96, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” Sing or read aloud the words. Review the ways God revealed His faithfulness to the patriarchs in Genesis. Allow volunteers to share ways God has been faithful in their lives. During Challenge, close the session by singing the chorus together again just before the closing prayer.