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19. Third and last
journey to Egypt. Jacob's death.
How the good old
father in Canaan felt when all his sons came back and brought him the
message: ‘Joseph is still alive’, and when they told him that the Lord
of all Egypt, whom they had seen and spoken to, was Joseph, his son. At
first he did not believe them. But when he saw the wagons and the gifts
his son had sent him, he revived and said, ‘I am satisfied that my son
Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.’
So Jacob departed from Canaan with his children and grandchildren,
sixty-six souls in number, and with all his possessions, that he might
come to his son Joseph in Egypt. Joseph went to meet his father, and
when he saw him, he threw his arms around his neck and could hardly stop
weeping. But Jacob said to him, ‘I will gladly die now that I have seen
your face, that you are still alive.’ O God, how can you turn sorrow
into joy and crown a long, sorrowful life with a happy old age! This is
the last joy of parents, when the earth has nothing more for them, their
children, when they walk in God's ways and are happy. This is the
greatest joy of pious children, that they can do good to their parents
in their old age and repay their love.
Joseph immediately spoke to the king and introduced him to his father
and several of his brothers. He made a good impression on the king and
the noble Egyptians with his old father, even though he was only a
shepherd. The king gave him and his children and herds the beautiful
pastures in the countryside of Gosen. He gave them the whole of Goshen.
Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt in a happy old age.
When he fell ill, Joseph visited him in the land of Goshen and took his
two children, Ephraim and Manasseh, with him. Jacob's eyes had already
darkened. He asked Joseph who he had with him. Joseph replied: ‘They are
my two sons whom God has given me.’ Then Jacob took them on his lap and
kissed and hugged them and said to Joseph: ‘I had not hoped to see your
face again, and behold, God lets me see your children too.’ God can do
exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask and understand.
Joseph took the children from their father's bosom and placed them
before him so that he could lay his hands on them and give them his
blessing. Jacob laid his hands on them and said, ‘God, before whom my
fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God who has nourished me all my life,
the angel who delivered me from all evil, bless the boys!’ He also put
them on an equal footing with his own sons. For he said: ‘They are mine.’
Joseph, the noble and rich man in Egypt, honoured his old father with
such piety and humility. He knew of no better inheritance to give his
own children than the pious blessing of his father.
‘Behold,’ said Jacob, ’I am dying. But God will be with you.’ He also
commanded that his bones should be brought to Canaan when he died, to
the bones of his fathers. For he did not want to be buried in Egypt.
After his death, Joseph and his brothers accompanied his body to the
burial place of their fathers in the land of Canaan. But when they
returned to Egypt, his brothers were afraid of him, for they thought he
had spared them only for his father's sake. It is so difficult to calm
an evil conscience. But Joseph said: ‘Do not be afraid. You thought to
do evil, but God has done good. - I will provide for you and your
children,’ he said.
That's right! Those who love their parents also love their brothers and
sisters. Those who recognise their happiness as a blessing from God are
also kind and friendly towards people.
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