When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last… the Egyptians wept for him seventy days. Genesis 49:33, 50:3
This was an extraordinary outpouring of affection—the Egyptians wept for Jacob for seventy days! This is another evidence of the remarkable change that took place in the later years of Jacob’s life. The miserable old man who arrived in Egypt lamenting his years were “few and evil” proved to be such a blessing, not only to his family, but also to his Egyptian neighbors, that when he died they wept for him for over two months.
If God can make Jacob such a blessing to the Egyptians, then He is able to make you a blessing to the people around you, whatever your difficulties and sorrows may be.
Cultures have very different grieving customs, but there is something noteworthy about the Egyptians’ lengthy grieving. There is “a time to mourn” (Ecc. 3:4). Jacob was the focus of attention and conversation for more than two complete cycles of the moon. People were talking about him, sharing both stories and recollections.
When a person is grieving a loved one, you may hesitate to speak about the deceased, because you don’t want to upset the person who is grieving. Almost always, it is helpful to speak of the one who has died to their loved one. The loved one who has died is constantly in the mind of the person who is grieving; and a bond is formed when it becomes evident the one who has died is in your mind, too.
Jacob’s life was so twisted at the beginning, so sorrowful in the middle, and yet so wonderfully fruitful at the end. Jacob stands as a wonderful testimony of what God’s grace can do.
What is holding you back from being a blessing to others? What one step could you take, in faith, today to be a blessing to those God has placed around you?
