Confidence And Resolve In Death

When Jacob had finished this charge to his sons, he drew his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and joined his ancestors in death. [Genesis 49.33]

Now, that's the way to do it!

Was Jacob sick? We don't know. We do know he was of poor eyesight though. We have every indication that he was certainly showing signs of his age. We have no reason to believe he still had the strength of his youth but that he was old, weak, nearly blind, and tired.

Jacob displayed something here that speaks to me regularly. He died with confidence and resolve. It was as if Jacob was completely at peace with his physical condition and knew it was the end of his life on earth. He was confident enough of this that he called his sons together for final words to them.

Every time I read Genesis 49.33 I am inspired. Every time I read Genesis 49.33 I aspire to the same. Every time I read Genesis 49.33 I am impressed with the testimony of it. Wow.

Father, I certainly do not feel today that I am at the end of my life. But when I get there, I want to sense the purpose of it all - my life, my family, and my death.