Made for Family

Genesis 50:23 (ESV) 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.

We usually end our studies of Genesis by looking only at Joseph's words concerning the things his brothers meant for evil but God used for good. But the book doesn't end there. There is something more to be said. Before the end of the story, there is this curious mention of Joseph's life as it comes to a close. He sees his children's children's children's children. 

What does Joseph get as a result of the work of God in his life?
He gets a big family. 

The Hebrew wording of Genesis 50:23 is unique. The english version above doesn't translate well. The idea is of intimate familial relationships. It is literally translated, "the children of Machir (Joseph's grandson) were born on Joseph's knees." That is, as a great-great-grandfater, Joseph bounced those children on his knees in fatherly enjoyment. What a blessing Joseph gets. He gets to end his life surrounded by lots of family. 

And so we see Joseph actually become the first man in the Bible who truly enjoys what God intends for mankind from the beginning. God never said Creation was VERY good until He enabled the human race to multiply and produce a family. The first command of God is not something to avoid but something to embrace, "be fruitful and multiply." God's first blessing falls NOT on an individual Adam alone in the Garden, but on man and wife together. 

Genesis 1:28 (ESV) And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it"

Genesis 1:31 (ESV) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

God's plan was for His people to enjoy His presence AND the presence of each other in perfect harmony. David will confirm, "God settles the solitary in a home" Psalm 68:6 (ESV)

Think of how many ills of society are rooted in the breakdown of the family. How often alcoholism or addiction rides through generational genes. Think of the horrendous impact of divorce upon children. Think of how much money in our national budget is put towards welfare and assistance because of the breakdown of the family. 

God is pro-family. His plan from the beginning was for all of us to love Him and love each other. It is still His plan today: 

1 John 4:20–21 (ESV) If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

It is why salvation is spoken of in familial terms. We are "born again". We are "adopted" into the family. We are "accepted" into the beloved. Jesus most famous parable revolves around an estranged son from his family. God's in the family building business!

You gotta have a family. That's what Genesis is teaching us. But it's also showing us how we get a TRUE family.

Genesis closes with a man that suffered terribly at the hands of family but ultimately rises from seeming death to rule and provide for a new glorious family.

Likewise, our true and better Joseph, Jesus dies and rises to save God's glorious new family. So Jesus will see His family down through the generations of history's past in the new creation forever. It's not often brought up, but part of what makes heaven heaven is that we will be there TOGETHER.

And we will feast.