“³Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned [literally: “wept”] for him seventy days.”

– Genesis 50:3 (NKJV)

“Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed (once again one cannot help but marvel how this historically pagan nation was led by The One True Creator God scientifically, artistically, medicinally, mathematically i.e. create-ively as His imagebearers, for such a time as this, that their embalming practice might not only prophetically announce Israel’s posterity as a symbol of longevity, but also that his body would linger upon the earth for the time period [namely forty days] oft’ associated with trial. One can merely speculate on such matters but I cannot help but wonder if this might not perhaps speak to the intensity of the wrestling and struggle A True Child, A True Prophet, A True Patriarch must sometimes endure to ultimately enter The Celestial City, The New Jerusalem, following his earthly death, should it occur preceding The Second Coming of Our Lord. I believe such a struggle is hinted at in John Bunyan’s “river of death” and also in Jude’s blessed epistle where the archangel Michael wrestles with the devil over Moses’s body); and the Egyptians ○ mourned for him seventy (symbolising completion: Israel seated in Heavenly Places [Eph 2:6] having finally entered his true rest [Heb 4:9] with his God) days.”

○ For the umpteenth time I exhort you Dear Reader to marvel at the evangelistic impact, example, and Christlike salvation that came through the life of our Joseph in this foreign land! For many an Egyptian came to Love those whom Joseph Loved as their own flesh and blood as only a redeemed believer can [1 John 4:8]. What we recognise here Dear Friend is a glorious salvation of gentiles out of season [Mark 11:13] on a scale I believe few understand the scope of, revealing God’s magnanimous nature in a manner heretofore I believe not fully recognised. Again, I implore you to stop and revel in the radical transformation of a once anti-Semitic [Gen 39:14], shepherd-hating [Gen 46:34] people unto those who deeply Love The People of God, as gently led also by their very own Pharaoh who Loved and received Our Joseph as A Brother in every sense of the word. Truly, truly what marvellous things Our God can do through the life of one yielded, obedient Child such as Joseph, called and equipped to represent The Christ at such a time and in such a place as this!