Year of the Bible: Part Two of Twelve Sample

Jacob's Death and Burial in Canaan.

Jacob died in Egypt, where his family had lived for many years. Before he died, he had asked Joseph to bury him in his father's land, Canaan. As soon as Jacob died, Joseph had the Egyptians embalm him and asked for permission to travel to Canaan to bury his father.

The Embalming took 40 days, and then the land of Egypt mourned for Jacob for 30 more days. Pharaoh granted Joseph's request, and all of Pharaoh's officials went to Canaan with Joseph to bury his father. The funeral procession was probably pretty impressive! Joseph, all eleven of his brothers, officials from Egypt, Chariots, and horse-mounted warriors. The scene was quite a sight!

When they arrived in Canaan, they buried Jacob in a cave in the field Abraham had purchased as a burial place. Joseph observed a seven-day mourning period for his father, and the wailing was so loud that the people of the land renamed the area "Abel Misraim," which means "Mourning of the Egyptians." After they finished mourning, they returned to Egypt.

Question: In what ways was Jacob's passing significant to the Egyptians? In what ways was Jacob's passing meaningful to his sons?

Prayer Focus: Your life matters to those who love you, the place you serve, and the nation you live in because your influence is most potent among those you have regular contact with.

Ask God to help you live in such a way that the world is left different than it was before you arrived. Ask Him to leave His mark through you to bless the generations after you.