Joseph mourns deeply for his father, honoring him with a sacred burial in Canaan, just as Jacob had requested. Grief is holy when it’s wrapped in love and obedience. Joseph’s tears and reverence remind us that honoring legacy is part of faithfulness. “So Joseph went to bury his father. All of Pharaoh’s officials, personal advisors, and all the older leaders of Egypt went with Joseph.”  Genesis 50:7

It reads in Genesis 50:1–14 Easy:  When Israel died, Joseph was very sad. He hugged his father and cried over him and kissed him. Joseph commanded his servants to prepare his father’s body. (These servants were doctors.) The doctors prepared Jacob’s body to be buried. They prepared the body in the special way of the Egyptians. When the Egyptians prepared the body in this special way, they waited 40 days before they buried the body. Then the Egyptians had a special time of sadness for Jacob. This time was 70 days. After the time of sadness was finished, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s officers and said, “Please tell this to Pharaoh: ‘When my father was near death, I made a promise to him. I promised that I would bury him in a cave in the land of Canaan. This is the cave that he prepared for himself. So please let me go and bury my father. Then I will come back here to you.’ Pharaoh answered, “Keep your promise. Go and bury your father.” So, Joseph went to bury his father. All of Pharaoh’s officials, personal advisors, and all the older leaders of Egypt went with Joseph.All the people in Joseph’s family, his brothers, and all the people in his father’s family went with him. Only the children and the animals stayed in the land of Goshen. So, there was a large crowd of people with him. There was even a group of soldiers riding in chariots and some on horses.They went to Goren Atad, east of the Jordan River. There they had a long funeral service for Israel, which continued for seven days. When the people who lived in Canaan saw the funeral service at Goren Atad, they said, “This is a time of great sorrow for those Egyptians.” So now that place across the Jordan River is named Abel Mizraim. So, Jacob’s sons did what their father told them. They carried his body to Canaan and buried it in the cave at Machpelah. This was the cave near Mamre in the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite. Abraham bought that cave to use as a burial place. After Joseph buried his father, he and everyone in the group with him went back to Egypt.

Father God You were keeper of promises of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,  and the One who walks with us through sorrow and honor. As Joseph wept over his father, so we bring our grief to You, not as those without hope, but as children who trust Your eternal plan. Thank You and praise You for the gift of legacy, for the sacred duty of memories, for the strength to carry loved ones to the place You have prepared. Let our mourning be holy, our vows be faithful, and our journeys be marked by Your presence. Teach us to honor those who came before, to walk humbly in their footsteps, and to believe that even in death, Your covenant endures. May our lives echo the reverence of Joseph, who fulfilled his father’s final wish with grace, courage, and love. Keep walking knowing life never ends. Love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.